Editor’s Note: Because Amazon frequently changes its product prices, we have omitted them in this article. Please check Amazon for details.
Valentine’s Day isn’t an occasion we typically associate with practical gifts. After all, the holiday is known as a time to give presents that tend to be a bit impractical:Roses, lingerie, perfume and jewelry are all popular Valentine’s Day gift ideas. But, counterintuitive though it may be, Valentine’s Day lends itself beautifully to giving a practical gift. With its red and pink palette and motifs of hearts, cupids and roses, it’s easy to find practical gifts for Valentine’s Day that feel really special.
As lovers of giving great gifts, we especially love products that hit that sweet spot of truly useful and totally delightful. Of course, getting a practical Valentine’s Day gift right can be tricky. There’s a risk of picking out something that disappoints or outright offends the recipient! So, to help you get it practically perfect, we’ve rounded up our favorite practical Valentine’s Day gifts for everyone in your life.
It’s no fun holding hands when the hands are dry and chapped! This heart-shaped solid balm can be used to soothe and moisturize hands (or any other body part) and comes with a display dish that can be reused as a soap dish or trinket tray.
It doesn’t get much more practical than a new pair of socks! This gift set comes in a decorative box and includes five pairs of quarter crew socks embroidered with a heart motif. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day but can be worn year-round.
Pajamas are up there with socks on the list of standard practical gifts, but they’re there for good reason! Everyone could use a new set of PJs, especially when they’re as cute (and affordable!) as this two-piece number with a sweet heart pattern.
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You know what’s even better than a warm hug? A warm towel. A towel warmer feels like such a luxury, but it turns out that it’s a pretty affordable luxury that your loved ones will use well after Valentine’s Day has passed.
Home chefs know that a really good pepper grinder is a must-have kitchen accessory. This bright red pepper mill is the perfect way to remind your sweetie that you’re hot and spicy long after Valentine’s Day has come and gone.
Valet trays and trinket dishes are eminently useful items that come in handy in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or home office. This white and gold tray from Jonathan Adler is adorned with a lips motif that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting.
Roses are a Valentine’s Day staple, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to giving the ones with stems! Go beyond the bouquet with this organic rose syrup that offers a fun twist on the traditional present of roses.
The demand for the super-popular Stanley Quencher continues. It makes a great gift in any color, but Rosewood (a gorgeous metallic red) and Rose Quartz (a lovely pale pink) are an ideal fit for the holiday.
Delight your sweetie with a surprising take on traditional Valentine’s Day roses. Rose-scented products like bubble bath or body lotion are one way to think outside the bouquet, as are gifts that feature a rose motif or design, like this spiral journal in a super-pretty pink-and-blue rose pattern.
Jewelry is the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift, but don’t sleep on giving the gift of a really beautiful jewelry box. This ultrasuede jewelry box has a luxe feel and can be personalized for an even more upscale look.
A heart-shaped serving platter makes a great gift for the person in your life who always puts out the most perfect charcuterie boards. This one is budget-friendly and can be personalized with a name, date or loving message.
If your Valentine is a big reader, a gift relating to their favorite pastime is sure to be a hit. We’ve got loads of great gift ideas for readers, but for Valentine’s Day we especially love this set of white resin cupid-themed bookends.
Workout enthusiasts are obsessed with Bala Bangles. The super-popular wrist and ankle weights come in loads of colorways, including Blush, that make them a fantastic gift option for Valentine's Day.
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A telescoping claw scratcher is the key to getting that spot on your back that always itches — and that’s always just out of reach. This inexpensive back scratcher and massager is a great tool, and the bright pink handle makes it perfectly on-brand for Valentine’s Day.
Home fragrance is another way to incorporate roses without giving actual flowers or perfume. We love giving a Pura set for holidays and celebrations, especially because the scents can be tailored to fit the occasion. For Valentine's Day, try Blush Rose or Rose Noir & Oud.
Coffee people are often perfectly happy to own two, three or even four different coffee makers. Add one to their collection with this cherry-red pour-over set, which comes with a ceramic dripper, glass server, scoop and filters. Learn more about pour-over coffee here.
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A slightly different take on the gift of coffee is coffee itself! Show you’ve been paying attention by buying their favorite brand of coffee, or go with something truly adventurous, like this coffee subscription. Atlas Coffee Club can send your valentine a new bag of coffee from a different country every month.
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Beware the perils of giving a vacuum as a gift! Vacuums are a great practical gift idea, but you have to be very, very sure that the recipient won’t be furious with you for giving them a household appliance. One way to get it right is to think small, and red, like this chili-red handheld vac.
Tech gadgets and accessories make great practical gift ideas for anyone on your Valentine’s Day shopping list. Look for options like this USB charging brick that come in red or pink to make them feel appropriate to the occasion.
If you’re one half of a couple that loves to snuggle up on the couch, a beautiful oversized throw blanket in a pretty shade of pink or red is a perfect Valentine’s Day gift idea because it gives you a great excuse to get closer to your honey.
A small tape measure is one of those items that is absurdly handy. This red faux-leather tape measure is retractable and super stylish and can be easily tossed in a bag or junk drawer.
Really good sheets are such a great gift. For Valentine’s Day, look for sheet sets in pink or red hues, or opt for something with a heart motif that perfectly fits the vibe of the holiday. For more recommendations, check out our guides to the best linen sheets and the best cooling sheets.
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A luxe upgrade is a great way to make a mundane-seeming item into a knock-their-socks-off present. For example, pillowcases aren’t especially giftable, but silk pillowcases are. In addition to being ultra glam, silk pillowcases are also a practical investment — they’re easier on your hair and skin than their cotton counterparts because they’re less drying. Our favorite comes in 13 different colors, including burgundy and rose.
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Buffy’s Wiggle Pillow is a floppy yet supportive, tie-able pillow that offers full-body support for sleeping or lounging. A removable, machine-washable cover is available in Bubblegum pink that’s perfect for giving on Feb. 14.
Kitchen shears are such a useful thing to own, but they’re a bit on the practical side to give as a gift — unless you elevate the form. These red-handled kitchen shears fit the bill perfectly. They feature a micro-serrated blade edge that allows you to cut through anything with ease and have a bottle opener built into the handle.
Everyone needs to wash their hands! We know everyone is tired of hearing it, so say it with a gift of super-fancy rose-scented hand soap.
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If your Valentine is an exercise nut, getting them a gift they can use during their workouts is a sure way to their heart —and a fun way to reinterpret the traditional gift of Valentine’s Day lingerie. We named this zip-front Nike bra the absolute best sports bra, thanks to its inclusive size range, breathable and sweat-wicking fabric and the fact that it’s still remarkably affordable.
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Serving spoons are endlessly useful items, and they’re an easy way to add a bit of whimsy to your kitchen. This hand-carved heart-shaped wooden spoon is the perfect gift for the cook or hostess on your Valentine’s Day gift list.
Instead of giving flowers that will only last a few days, gift your sweetheart a set of pretty pink planters. Elevate the present by picking out flowering indoor plants to give the gift of flowers all year long.
Bath bombs and salts are old Valentine’s Day standards, but if you want to up your gift game for a bath-obsessed loved one, this full-body bath pillow will take the experience to a whole new level.
An extra-long phone-charging cord is one of those “how did I ever live without this?!” items. This 6-foot charging cord comes in red and pink, elevating it from a mundane tech accessory to a holiday-appropriate gift that also happens to be super useful.
If you have to do dishes, which you probably do because doing dishes is just a part of life, why not add a little sparkle to the job?! This set of two Casabella sponges in a sparkly pink shade offers an unexpected twist on an everyday item.
Because Amazon frequently changes its product prices, we have omitted them in this article. Please check Amazon for details.
