Everyone has one: the person who says they don't need anything and means it. The trick is to skip the things they already own a better version of and go for something they would never buy themselves, something that makes them laugh or that the whole house can enjoy. Here are 8 unusual Christmas gifts for someone who has everything.
1. A window that writes their messages
Most people own fairy lights; few have a window that can write. Smart curtain lights turn it into a screen of 400 LEDs: more than 100 animated scenes in the app, their own drawings, or a message typed in, from MERRY CHRISTMAS to their name. The music modes make it move to their playlist.
Shown: designs on the smart animated Christmas lights, 2 × 2 m or 3 × 3 m, USB 5V.
2. A tree that dances to the music
Smart pixel tree lights put an app in charge of the Christmas tree: every LED is controlled on its own, so the tree can show moving colours, text and pictures, and with music sync it moves to the beat. They come with a star for the top, the controller and a remote; the tree itself isn't included.
Shown: smart Christmas tree lights, 1.8 m or 2.4 m strands with 256 LEDs, USB 5V.
3. Candles on the tree, without the flame
Real candles on the Christmas tree are a tradition few people still dare. Wireless LED taper candles clip onto the branches, each with its own battery, so there's no cable from candle to candle, and the remote switches them on, dims them and makes them flicker. Off the clip, they stand in a candlestick.
Shown: wireless Christmas tree candles, sets of 10, 20, 30 or 40, each candle 10.8 cm tall.
4. An Advent calendar nobody else will give
Chocolate calendars are everywhere; a squishy one isn't. Behind each of the 24 doors waits a soft dumpling figure, some in Santa hats or reindeer antlers, so by Christmas Eve there's a whole row of them on the desk.
Shown: the open dumpling squishy Advent calendar with its 24 figures.
5. A face for the slopes
For the friend who skis, cycles or works outside in winter: a thin balaclava printed edge to edge with a hyper-real elderly face. Walrus Walt, Toothless Ted or Smokey Sal: from a few metres away, people really do look twice. It fits under most helmets.
Shown: the three faces of the Snowmug face ski mask.
6. A snowstorm for the party
A small projector turns a wall or the ceiling into turning snowflakes, Santas, snowmen and reindeer, through 16 designs, which makes any December party look planned. It runs on USB and works from about 1.5 to 5 m away.
Shown: the Christmas light projector at a party.
7. Their name in lights
Something they can't already own: their name, or a word that means something to them, in 22 cm marquee letters. Each letter runs on two AA batteries, and there's a red heart and an “&” for couples.
Shown: light-up marquee letters, A to Z, sold one letter at a time.
8. A little tree with a train
For the person who has everything but misses the Christmases of their childhood: a light-up tree with coloured bulbs, a glowing star and a little train circling the base. At about 19 cm tall it fits on a desk or a windowsill.
Shown: the light-up Christmas tree with train, battery operated.
Before you order
- Batteries: the tree candles take one 1.5 V battery each and the letters 2 × AA each, none of them included, so put a pack in the box. The tree with a train is battery operated.
- USB: the curtain lights, the tree lights and the projector run from a USB adapter (5V; 5V/2A for the projector), which isn't in the box.
- How many candles: as a guide, 10 to 20 for a tree up to 150 cm (5 ft) and 20 to 40 for a tree of 180 to 210 cm (6 to 7 ft).
- The Advent calendar has small parts and isn't for children under 3. The countdown starts on 1 December, so order it by mid-November.
- Delivery: free tracked shipping, dispatched in 1 to 3 business days and delivered in 7 to 12. Order by 10 December to have it in time for Christmas.
- Not quite right? Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery.
More gift ideas
- Shopping for your friends? Here are 8 fun Christmas gifts for friends.
- Shopping for your other half? Here are 8 romantic Christmas gifts for your partner.
- Want the lights to put on a show? Here's how to make a Christmas light show at home, no programming.
Looking for a present? Browse all our Christmas gifts.
Shopping on a budget? Here are 8 Christmas gifts under $50 that light up.