A plant, very nice hand soap, or (bear with us) a trivet. For the unfamiliar, that’s a surface designed for setting hot pots on so that you don’t mark your countertops or table. In other words, it’s incredibly practical, and thus easily gifted to everyone from your co-worker to your in-laws to that friend who hosted you for the weekend.
Yes, IKEA sells round cork ones in packages of four for $5, but you should absolutely not gift those. Instead, seek out elevated, sculptural takes on the trivet in marble, wood, concrete, or cast iron — whatever best reflects the personality of the person you’re shopping for.
