50 Great Gifts Under $50
Our favorite budget-minded holiday gifts for the design lovers on your list
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Many of us are on tight budgets this year, and not all of us are crafty enough to make our holiday gifts. So, we've rounded up our top 50 stylish finds you can score for less than $50. Whether you need to scoop up a hostess gift for a holiday party, help a design-challenged bachelor spruce up his pad, or make sure a sleepy loved one gets up on time, there's plenty to choose from here. Take a look, then tell us: What's on your gift list?
More: 50 Flat or Foldable Finds
More: 50 Flat or Foldable Finds
by Anthropologie
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A creative loved one will enjoy creating custom notecards with this unique set of number stamps.
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This clever salt-and-pepper set has changed the way we'll pass the salt. The cute figures attach to the pole via magnets on their feet.
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This graphic pillow will add modern-cabin chic to your giftee's home without involving bullets or taxidermy.
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I cannot say enough good things about this documentary about Frank Gehry. The late director Sydney Pollack broke stodgy doc rules by taking an active part in it, and it's so much more interesting because he did. Gehry even allowed Pollack access to his therapist. Even someone with no interest in architecture will find this a fascinating addition to his DVD collection.
by Generate Design
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This amazing vase set will inspire your loved one to create a gravity-defying modern tablescape. The slender vases each hold one stem. Magnets at the base keep them upright.
by UncommonGoods
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Your friend can keep this slate vase plain and fill it with bright daisies, scribble a birthday wish to a guest of honor, or doodle a flower or two on each side. The possibilities are endless.
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| Here's a tea infuser for the geek who loves a piping hot cup of Earl Grey. The only person it may not be fit for is the Queen of England. |
by Furbish Studio
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This vibrant tray is a good find for the friend still moaning over missing out on all that great Missoni at Target. It has the same kind of approach to bright colors, but everyone else won't have the same one.
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| I love a gift that looks like a thousand bucks but costs less than $50. These elegant bowls bring on a subtle bling. |
by Orla Kiely
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Sweet notebooks from Orla Kiely offer a stylish way to keep track of project ideas, to-do lists, recipes, what happened that day, and what to be grateful for.
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Design types need the most basic of tools, and the aesthetics of these items is almost as important as their functionality. These beautiful drawing pencils will be a welcome addition to someone's stocking.
by Jonathan Adler
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What's more fun than a covered dish full of gumballs? This retro design is a mix of Scandinavian and circus style. The gumballs are included, so after your giftee opens it, you can all sit around and chomp.
by Textile Arts
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Design fans need to protect themselves from inclement weather in style. The eye-popping pattern of Marimekko's UNIKKO umbrella will keep them happy and dry.
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What's a gift guide without one of these little guys? Thanks in part to the hilarious Travelocity commercials, this classic kitschy garden icon is experiencing a new ironic hipness.
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A friend who loves to garden or hit the farmer's market at the crack of dawn will love this cheerful produce print for kitchen or pantry.
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Do you know someone crazy about fonts? These placemats will bring graphic style to his table.
by Naked Decor
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Russian nesting dolls portrayed on glasses that nest. Clever!
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A journal is a good gift for budding oenophiles; they can keep track of the wines they taste and take notes on oakiness, finish and whatever else wine showoffs like to blather on about.
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If your pal prefers a pint to a pinot, this funny and striking "Origins of Beer" poster may be more appropriate.
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by Shop 4 Rwanda
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| This set of placemats is a wonderful way to help a host or hostess add texture to the table. This design has a global look that's also very modern. |
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The Suzani craze shows no signs of waning. This runner will let your giftee bring the exotic pattern to the dinner table
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Speaking of exotic tablescapes, these wood napkin rings are a wonderful accent choice. Napkin rings are a luxury people are not apt to buy for themselves; they're the jewelry of a place setting.
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A trio of birch candleholders is a wonderful accent for the mantle or dining table. Pick up one of those big bags of tealights from IKEA to wrap up in the same package.
by Rare Device
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You know who this person for this gift is: the one who scours through cabinets and pockets looking for a tattered book of restaurant matches whenever she needs to light a candle or the fireplace. The jar holds the matchsticks and has a strike plate on the bottom.
by Jonathan Adler
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This little matchbox is a good bet for folks who miss the '80s. If the first cassette your friend bought was by RUN-DMC, he is going to like this.
by Rifle Paper Co.
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Aren't you tired of opening the mailbox and discovering nothing but bills and junk? Inspire your friends and loved ones to rediscover the joy of sending and receiving handwritten notes with these cheeky cards.
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This classic clock from L.L. Bean will add practicality and beauty to your giftee's nightstand, shelf or office.
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And this clock is perfect for that friend who sleeps right through the alarm even after hitting "snooze" 10 times. It rolls off the nightstand and goes wild all over the floor, making noise and forcing the snoozer to get up to make it stop.
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I've been looking forward to The Perfectly Imperfect Home's release for months. It's the book for that friend still mourning the loss of Domino magazine, full of decorating advice from editor Deborah Needleman and charming illustrations by Virginia Johnson.
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Here at Houzz, we're a bit nuts about decorating with maps, so this atlas tapestry is a no-brainer. Its wonderful blue and white palette and graphics are perfect for a renter who is not allowed to paint white walls but is dying for some color.
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This is a fun, personalized gift for a person who likes maps and also enjoys a good puzzle. Send L.L. Bean your giftee's address, and they'll create a jigsaw puzzle from a USGS map of their hometown.
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| There's nothing like a clever throw pillow for changing the look of a sofa or bedscape. |
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This breadboard makes fixing a sandwich fun. Perhaps its cloud shape will inspire your giftee to come up with new sammy ideas that involve marshmallow fluff!
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This charming print is fun for a friend who dreams of the sea and enjoys serene coastal style.
by Z Gallerie
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This bold graphic is a super find for that friend who loves the look and function of vintage cameras.
by Indego Africa
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Handcrafted items from Rawanda change the lives of the artisans while adding great style to homes around the world.
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This friendly fellow may seem owl-lover specific, but its lovely white feathers and adorable figure have mass appeal. (Just to be clear, it's faux.)
by Olive & Myrtle
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A friend who loves to scout for cardinals and chickadees out the window will love this modern bird feeder. Throw in a bag of birdseed to help your bird-loving recipient get started right away.
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If you've noticed a pal has empty shelves in need of contemporary style, these shapely rubberwood sculptures could be just the accessory.
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by Olive & Myrtle
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| Sometimes people need to be reminded how much fun old-fashioned games can be. There's no cable bill, internet connection or joystick required for a simple game of cribbage, and this board is fashioned of reclaimed ash "wood from the hood." |
by Laurel Denise
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A beautiful vase fashioned like an apothecary jar offers a sweet reminder to appreciate the little joys.
by Paper Source
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This is a perfect gift for that dude who grows out a 'stache with pride every November. While it's the perfect weight for swilling coffee, it can also add an interesting touch to a bathroom if your giftee decides to corral his razors or toothbrushes in it.
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A uniquely patterned soap dish will add global style to the bath.
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If someone you know has a drab bathroom or just a sad shower curtain liner hanging outside the tub or shower, brighten up her bathing experience with this gorgeous shower curtain from West Elm.
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Is the previous curtain too girly? Here's another option, which will let your recipient study how to navigate beneath the streets of NYC while primping. Boston, Chicago, D.C. and London versions also available.
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Roll out this Lacoste bath mat for that preppy person who grew up wearing alligator shirts. It costs much less than the shirts and it will be used and enjoyed every day.
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Everyone with pierced ears needs a good spot to keep her earrings on display. This one resembles a popular design accent piece right now: the birdcage.
by Anthropologie
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For the lady who loves to wear rings, this adorable little raccoon dish is the perfect place for her to keep track of them. It's a wonderfully whimsical design in an elegant cream and gold finish.
by Brookstone
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Here's a gift idea for your favorite germaphobe. The sleek design of this hands-free soap dispenser makes it a stylish as well as functional accessory for the kitchen or powder room.
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Find a photo meaningful to your friend and put it in this modern frame from IKEA. It will be a gift to treasure for under $5.
More: 50 Flat or Foldable Finds
50 Ways to Wrap Your Gifts in Style
Browse more gift possibilities in the Houzz Product section
More: 50 Flat or Foldable Finds
50 Ways to Wrap Your Gifts in Style
Browse more gift possibilities in the Houzz Product section
Ideabook updated on Nov. 29, 2011.
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Watercolors by Laura Trevey
35 art prints under $20 http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauratrevey
http://shop4rwanda.com/products-page/homeware/set-of-5-placemats/
Another good suggestion for gifts (I know because I bought five of these last xmas!) http://www.etsy.com/shop/Heathered
Check out this unique gift set at http://butterandfly.weebly.com