Best Christmas gifts for couples

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Take the stress out of shopping for two Wand

You've possibly already ticked off presents for your mum, dad, and the dog. But what about the couple that seems to have everything? Finding the perfect gift can be a difficult task, especially when you're shopping for two.

Before you give up and settle for a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine (again), why not consult the experts? Our GHI experts and editors have put their heads together to come up with the best gifts for couples. Scroll down for the full gift shop but if you need some quick, last-minute inspiration, take a peek at our top recommendations below.

When it comes to shopping for couples, the challenge is finding something they’ll both love equally. Do you go down the practical or personal route? If they’re both into the same things – be that cooking or travelling – finding that goldilocks present may be a little easier. But, if it’s more of an “opposites attract” pairing, you’ll have to get a bit more creative. But don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you. Combining the GHI’s tried and tested favourites with our editors’ picks, we feel pretty confident we’ve got something for everyone – from smart kitchen appliances and meal kits for couples who cook together, to comfy blankets and bedding for loved-up duos who like curl up together.

Every year, we put hundreds of products through their paces to see if they measure up to their claims. Only those that pass the test in our specialist lab or stand up to the scrutiny of our panel of readers, will be recommended to you. In other words, any item that features the GHI Approved logo below has been rigorously tried and tested, so you can shop with confidence. Our editors have also included their favourite gift ideas, so there’s something for every taste and budget.

This recipe box from Brindisa includes all the store cupboard ingredients they’ll need to prepare an incredible Spanish paella – leaving them to source their own finishing touches, from smoky chorizo to shellfish. Alongside the fragrant saffron, rice and special Brindisa olive oil, the kit also features a proper paella pan for added “wow factor”.

Not only does the pan look pretty impressive, but our testers found it helped develop a deliciously authentic “socarrat” (the crispy, savoury crust found on traditional Spanish paellas). Plus, it makes a great keepsake.

Coffee machines can be pricey, but this one from Nespresso comes in at less than £100 and impressed with its perfect score for consistent espressos. It pre-heats in a speedy thirty seconds and it’s quick to pour, making it a great choice for busy couples who are always on the go.

It’s the most compact model available from Nespresso, at just 25cm, but the 600ml tank serves enough for couples to enjoy coffee time together. Note that the milk frother is sold separately so you may need to consider purchasing for cappuccino or latte lovers.

Transform their morning routine with Philips’ sunrise alarm clock, which uses sunrise simulation and calming, natural sounds to wake users up gently. Our testers loved the sleek design and responsive controls, which made it easy to cycle through the 20 different levels of intensity and personalise your wake-up call.

It also features a handy “midnight function”, which is designed to provide just the right amount of light to allow you to move around in the dark without disturbing your partner – so you can both wake up on the right side of the bed.

It may be cold right now but if you know a couple with a serious case of wanderlust, they’re sure to have an upcoming trip planned – and they’ll need a suitcase they can rely on the next time they jet off.

This Tripp suitcase is just a fraction of the cost of many we reviewed, but still performed well in our durability tests. It survived almost entirely unscathed, with just a tiny bit of scuffing, and the main panels emerged perfectly intact.

There was some water leakage through the zips, but as long as they don’t leave it out in a downpour, they’ll be fine. Otherwise, it’s roomy, easy to manoeuvre over different surfaces and a bargain buy that doesn’t compromise on quality.

Winter means hot chocolate season. And when it comes to making indulgent, cocoa-rich drinks, there’s one product our testers love: The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser.

It’s super easy to use and performed consistently in our tests, crafting delicious hot chocolates time after time. Available in a choice of copper, charcoal or white finishes, it makes a stylish gift for couples who care about the aesthetics.

Weighted blankets are increasingly popular and can help to provide warmth and comfort – their glass bead filling and additional weight are meant to mimic the feel of a loving hug.

Our panel praised this blanket's soft, fleecy finish, which helped them feel cosy and soothed. Ideal for snuggling up under on the sofa or for adding extra warmth to your bed, it added a good amount of weight without making our testers feel claustrophobic. It's also machine washable, ticking all the boxes.

Our joint winning smoothie maker makes a great gift for couples on a health kick who enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, whipping up everything from smoothie bowls to nut butters.

This powerful appliance comes with four pre-programmed settings – blend, crush, mix and powermix – so they can adapt it to suit most ingredients. It’s an impressive appliance that’s sure to get a lot of use post-Christmas and beyond.

This U-shaped vibrator impressed our panel with its ability to stimulate the G-spot and penis simultaneously for the ultimate in shared pleasure. The longer arm can be inserted into the vagina, while the outer arm vibrates against the clitoris. It features nine vibration settings and a wireless remote so you or your partner can take charge.

Our testers loved the silky-smooth material and how the toy moulded nicely to their bodies. The battery life is short (one hour), but this wouldn’t stop our panel recommending it – it’s lightweight, can be used in the shower and comes with a handy travel pouch for taking on any romantic breaks.

Combining a mini Perfect Pot and Always Pan, this set is a winner for couples with limited storage space and would make the ideal housewarming gift. Our Place achieved Instagram fame with the larger versions of these pans, so we love the fact it has recreated them in miniature, without sacrificing on aesthetics.

Using the brand’s special Thermakind™ non-stick ceramic coating, these pans cooked mince and onions with zero sticking in our tests, while cleaning was effortless. The set is also oven-safe, compatible with all stove tops and comes with a wooden spatula that sits neatly in the handles.

If they haven’t got an air fryer yet, now’s the time. These mini super ovens have taken the world by storm, and you can see why with this affordable Salter model. Everything from chicken to cupcakes came out of the fryer perfectly cooked and deliciously golden in our tests.

The controls are clear and easy to use, and the non-stick coating makes it a dream to clean. While it’s not as large as other models we’ve tested, it’s the perfect size for couples looking for their first air fryer.

This electric blanket kept a steady temperature throughout the night and impressed our panel during testing. Its USP, however, is its dual controls, which can be used to customise the heat on each side of the bed – making it ideal for couples who sometimes disagree over the optimum temperature.

Because of the dual controls, it is a bit more expensive to run than regular electric blankets, but if they’re not using it all the time, it shouldn’t be an issue, and it could avoid any lovers’ tiffs.

This may be a pricey gift, but it promises authentic stone-baked pizza all year round – and increases your chances of being invited round for pizza night. Tepro’s tabletop pizza oven is quick to set up and start using, reaching optimum cooking temperature in just 17 minutes.

Once heated, our pizzas cooked in a speedy one minute and 48 seconds on average, with delicious results. The open-faced design allows you to keep an eye on your pizzas while you entertain your guests, and it’s compact and easy to store.

This scratch-off poster is a great way of shaking up date night. It features 100 date ideas, from traditional options like the cinema to more adventurous plans such as rock climbing or go-karting. Once the activity has been completed, they simply scratch off the grey box to reveal the illustration underneath.

With a whole poster full of activities, it promises to keep things varied. Plus, once they’ve scratched off all the boxes, they’ll have a colourful reminder of some great nights out.

Whether their tastes are sweet or savoury, this mini fondue set is an easy way to upgrade any midweek meal. Simply pop two tealights in the base of the pan and fill up the steel cooking pot with your choice of cheese or chocolate.

It will take around three minutes to get to melting point, but once the fondue has gone oozy, you can dive right in.

This mini projector will bring the cinema into their living room. It features a full HD 1080p display and the latest NTSC colour technology so you can project clear, vivid images of your favourite films and box sets. All you have to do is connect your phone via WiFi and it will project the image with a 100%-25% zoom function (meaning the display is clear and easy to watch).

It's not the most high-tech projector out there, but for upgrading movie nights or taking on camping trips for alfresco viewing, it’s a great pick.

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall

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