The short answer to a gift for the man who has everything is: give something he wouldn't think of buying himself, or give a better version of something he uses every day anyway. Think categories like drinks, humour and the home, not yet another practical item from his own shopping list, and let his hobbies and reactions point you in the right direction.
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There's a certain type of man who already has everything sorted. He's got the jacket he needs, the tool that works, and a coffee machine he's carefully chosen himself. When it's time to find him a gift, you often fall into the same trap: you look for something he's missing, and find nothing, because he sorted out the practical stuff long ago.
The solution is to change the question. Instead of asking what he's missing, ask what he'd never spend money on himself, even though he'd appreciate it. Here are some concrete places to look.
The short answer
Give something he wouldn't buy himself, or give a clearly better version of something he already uses. The man who has everything rarely lacks anything practical. On the other hand, he rarely picks out a disco ball for the living room or a set of gold cocktail glasses himself, because that sort of thing isn't something you just bring home on an ordinary weekday. It's exactly that kind of thing that surprises, because it doesn't solve a problem, it adds a joy he hadn't thought of himself.
Why is it so hard to find a gift for him
It's difficult precisely because he has the practical side covered. He already has a jacket, a coffee machine and the tools he needs. The gifts that most often end up in a drawer are the ones that try to solve a problem he's already solved himself. The trick is to look for the opposite: decor, fun design objects and serving pieces for guests. These are things he could easily buy, but never prioritises himself, because they don't feel necessary, even though they make everyday life or a party a little better.
Upgrade the everyday
A safe way in is through something he does every day anyway. Most men drink coffee or tea without giving a thought to whether the cup is anything special. Swap it for a mug with a bit more personality, and you give him a small joy every morning, without him ever having asked for it.
The same logic applies when he has guests over. A serving board for cheese, tapas and bread makes serving easier and nicer, without him having to think about it himself. A chopping board from EJA is hand-cast in resin and made for exactly that kind of serving, not for heavy chopping work, so it's perfect for the evening when friends come round.
Tip: Think of something he already uses every day, a cup, a board or a jug, and find a version of it he'd never choose in the shop himself.
For wine, drinks and good taste
If he enjoys a glass of wine or a good cocktail, there's a whole world of gear he rarely invests in himself. A wine cooler keeps the bottle at the right temperature at the table, and a tulip-shaped wine stopper from &Klevering makes it easy to seal the bottle neatly when the good glass needs to be saved for tomorrow.
For cocktails, there's cocktail gear, where a steel and gold cocktail shaker from Bloomingville or a gold Yuichi ice bucket from Bloomingvilleadds a touch of class to the home bar, without him ever thinking to ask for it.
Find more surprising ideas for drinks and the home, all handpicked by Dinna.
See gift ideasThe fun and personal
The fun and personal option often works best, because it shows that you've thought about him as a person and not just solved a gift problem. A guinea pig money box from Quail or a dachshund money box from Quail is the kind of gift that gets a laugh when the paper comes off, and that still sits out and makes him happy long afterwards.
The same humour is found in a salt and pepper set shaped like a pug from Quail or a salt and pepper set shaped like mushrooms from &Klevering, which makes the breakfast table a little more fun. If you really want to surprise him, a large disco ball in lots of colours from Rice is hard to go wrong with. It's not something you'd hang up in the living room yourself, unless someone gives it to you as a gift.
For the home
For the home, it's about things that make the living room cosier, without it just being decoration for decoration's sake. Candlesticks set the mood at an entirely ordinary weekday dinner, and a throw over the sofa or armchair gets used again and again when the evenings turn cool. These are the kinds of things he rarely thinks to buy himself, but that he happily uses once they're there.
How to choose the right gift
Take your starting point in his hobbies, the words he uses himself, and what you've seen him stop and look at at friends' places or in a shop. If he's mentioned that he'd like better cocktails at home, or you've seen him eyeing a serving board, that's a good lead to follow.
The gifts in the shop are divided into the ranges DKK 1-200, DKK 200-400, DKK 400-600, DKK 600-800, DKK 800-1000 and DKK 1000-1500, so you can choose according to budget without searching blindly. If you don't know his taste at all, a gift card is an honest solution, even though it's less personal than a gift you've chosen yourself. The gift card comes in amounts of DKK 100, DKK 175, DKK 250, DKK 400, DKK 500, DKK 600, DKK 1000 and DKK 1200, so there's room for both the small gesture and the grand one.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give the man who has everything?
Give him something he wouldn't buy himself, like a serving board for cheese and tapas, cocktail equipment or a fun design object for the home. It often works better than yet another practical thing he already has.
What do you give a man who doesn't want anything?
Look for categories rather than specific wishes, such as an upgrade to his mug, serving items for guests, or something fun and personal like a money box or a salt and pepper set with a sense of humour.
Is a gift card a bad gift for a man?
No, but it's less personal than a gift you've found yourself. It's an honest solution when you don't know his taste at all, and the gift card from Dims Studio comes in several amounts, so you can hit the right level.
What do you give a man who isn't into things?
Choose gifts that get used in everyday life rather than objects he has to store away, such as a better mug for his coffee, a throw for the sofa, or candlesticks that make the living room cosier when he's sitting there anyway.
What do you give the man who has everything for Christmas?
The same principles apply at Christmas: go for everyday upgrades, drinks equipment or something fun and personal, and use the shop's price ranges to find something that suits your Christmas gift budget.
How much should a gift for him cost?
It depends on budget and occasion. The gifts in the shop are divided into the ranges DKK 1-200, DKK 200-400, DKK 400-600, DKK 600-800, DKK 800-1000 and DKK 1000-1500, so you can choose according to what you've set aside.
Summary
The man who has everything rarely needs anything practical, but he's surprised by what he'd never spend money on himself: an everyday upgrade, good drinks equipment, something fun and personal, or little things that make the living room cosier. Take your starting point in his hobbies and reactions, use the price ranges to keep track of the budget, and let the gift card be the solution when you're in doubt.
Read also
- Gift for him: 8 ideas he'll actually use
- Gift for dad: Ideas he didn't know he wanted
- Christmas gift for him: Guide to the perfect gift
- Wrapping paper and packaging: Make the gift complete
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