10 Best Unusual Gifts and Unique Present Ideas
Admit it: no matter how close you are with your friend, shopping for them is one of the most nerve-wracking things ever.
Don’t feel bad, though. It happens to the best of us.
Over time, you start running out of unique and creative gift ideas that they will actually like.
That’s where this post comes in!
Whether you’re shopping for a music lover or a dog parent, there’s something in here for everyone!
Heat Changing Constellation Mug
Remember when custom-made photo mugs were a thing? Or when people would unironically exchange “world’s #1 friend” mugs?
Luckily, we’ve come a long way since then.
Also known as magic mugs, heat-changing mugs utilize thermochromatic ink to produce an enchanting effect as it comes into contact with a hot liquid.
Watch your friend drink their morning coffee with stars in their eyes with this heat changing constellation mug from the Unemployed Philosophers Guild.
As you pour your hot beverage into this mug, images of 11 different constellations, along with their name, slowly begin to manifest. The constellations include Cassiopeia, Perseus, Sagittarius, Hercules, Andromeda, Scorpius, Taurus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, and Gemini.
Now, none of that might seem like a huge deal to you. But trust us; if your friend is an astrologer, astronomer, stargazer, or hardcore zodiac lover, or they simply enjoy drinking hot beverages, this celestial mug is the perfect gift item for them.
The mug itself is made out of matte black ceramic. With a capacity of 10 ounces, this mug is perfect for coffee, espresso, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, or any other hot beverage.
Additionally, the mug is microwave-safe, so your friend can indulge in a little midnight microwave dessert binge.
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HP Sprocket Select Portable Photo Printer
Imagine if you could instantly print out photos as soon as you take them.
We know what you’re thinking; isn’t that what instant cameras are for?
But while instant cameras certainly have their appeal, they are a technology of the past. If you’ve ever tried to capture a photo with a Polaroid, you’ll know how cumbersome it can be. And most of the time, you don’t even get a good output.
Still, you can’t deny the appeal behind being able to capture the small moments and have them in print form in less than a minute.
Enter this portable technology of the future, a pocket-sized photo printer to do justice to the high-quality photos taken from your smartphone.
The Sprocket portable printer by HP is the perfect present for anyone. If your friend is a known shutterbug, they’ll be blown away by this handy and unique addition to their photography gear.
The way that it works is that you connect with the HP Sprocket app via Bluetooth. Once you’re connected, you can print out photos from your phone.
What’s more, the printer uses a 2.3x3.4 inches HP Zink photo paper, which is a paint-safe sticky-backed paper that can be easily pasted onto walls.
But it gets better. The sprocket app allows you to modify your photo by using exclusive design features such as customized frames and filters.
This way, you can use the printer to print out custom-made stickers to embellish your phone cases and laptops.
Floately Flying Lamp
Watch your friend’s face light up with this antique-style floating lamp by Floately.
When it comes to gifts, home decor items are typically a safe option. But there’s nothing typical about this floating lamp from the future.
By combining modern technology with a vintage design, Floately’s floating lamp gives a new dimension to aesthetic indoor lighting. But does it really levitate in space?
Yes, it literally floats a few inches above its platform.
Basically, the lamp uses a combination of modern levitation technology and wireless induction technology to produce a hypnotic levitation effect.
The bulb itself is meant to replicate an antique filament bulb. Only, it utilizes power-efficient LEDs instead of actual filament wires.
If you ask us, it’s the best of both worlds.
The best part is that the lamp’s minimalist design and neutral colors allow it to look good with anything. Whether your friend prefers contemporary decor, modern decor, or a creative mixture of both, this floating lamp will never look out of place.
Portable Home Gym
For the fitness aficionados whose lives revolve around working out, can you imagine a better gift than giving them their own portable at-home gym?
Scheduling your personal and professional life around your fitness goals can be extremely challenging. Work, travel, and global pandemics can restrict frequent access to the gym.
Luckily, this portable home gym ensures that you never have to miss a workout again!
The unit consists of a padded base, resistance bands, wrist and ankle bands, and workout bars. Basically, it has everything you could possibly need for full-body resistance, strength, and weight training workouts.
Whether you’re on the road or you can’t go to the gym, this compact home gym will keep you on track.
Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-up Light
Did you know that nearly 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder? Chances are, your friend is part of that unlucky demographic.
Show your friend you care about their well-being by giving them this all-in-one smart sleep aid developed by Phillips.
Essentially, SmartSleep is a way to track your sleeping patterns so that you can optimize your sleep space. This involves creating the perfect light, temperature, and noise levels in your bedroom.
As a night light, SmartSleep adjusts its hue and intensity to replicate the sunrise and sunset. But the real kicker is that you personalize it to your own schedule.
For example, you might like to awaken before the sun rises to get an early start. By adjusting the light’s length, intensity, and color, you can have your own personal daybreak inside your room.
To really sell the effect, SmartSleep will also play soothing sounds, from ambient music to the sound of birds chirping.
But SmartSleep is so much more than just a nightlight.
As the name suggests, SmartlSleep uses smart technology to monitor your sleep environment. The built-in AmbiTrack sensor keeps track of your bedroom’s temperature, noise, light, and humidity levels.
You can then refer to this record on the SleepMapper app and use it to optimize your sleep environment. If you’re not sure how to do so, the app suggests multiple ways to create the perfect environment for a deeper, more restful sleep.
Touchscreen Glove Stickers
We all know the struggle of trying to use our phones while wearing thick winter gloves. Spoiler: it never works!
After countless failed attempts, you’re forced to yank off your warm gloves and risk getting frostbite just to make a simple call.
Well, no more!
These nifty touchscreen glove stickers prove that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars for a thoughtful and unique gift.
It’s as straightforward as it sounds: the stickers are meant to provide increased touch sensitivity. By making your gloves touchscreen compatible, you can use your smartphone while keeping your fingers warm and toasty.
The acrylic adhesive sticks to any fabric, be it motorcycle, leather, safety, winter, liners, ski, snowboard, or bicycle gloves.
Once the stickers are on, you can use your phone as you normally would. There is no need to press hard; a light touch will do the trick!
Link AKC Plus Smart Dog Tracker
Ask any dog parent, and they’ll tell you that one of their biggest fears is losing their furry friend and never finding them. So, put your dog-owner friend’s anxieties at ease with this smart GPS tracker collar so they can keep tabs on them 24/7 from the comfort of their phones.
The collar uses a GPS tracker to keep track of your dog’s location in real-time. If your dog ever wanders off, all you have to do is log in to the app and find out its exact location.
Apart from keeping tabs on your dog, the app also provides a comprehensive activity manager for busy dog parents.
Basically, you can set activity goals such as daily walks, playtime, and grooming. Moreover, the app helps you customize these activity goals according to your dog’s age, breed, size, and health.
Another useful feature is that you can store vet records and set healthcare reminders so that you’ll never neglect your dog’s health.
Additionally, you can also document those special adventures you have with your canine companion by logging pictures and videos. Instead of having an unorganized cluster of dog photos in your gallery, everything is now in a neat and tidy archive!
But wait; it gets better. Since dogs are super prone to overheating, the collar keeps track of their surrounding temperature. If it gets too hot or too cold for your furry friend, the app will immediately notify you!
Floately Floating Bluetooth Speaker
There was a time when Bluetooth speakers were the pinnacle of modern acoustic devices. But these days, they’ve become commonplace.
But trust us, there’s nothing ordinary about this futuristic floating Bluetooth speaker by Floately.
On the contrary, the levitating technology takes a new spin (literally) on the traditional speaker design.
Let your audiophile friend experience music like never before with this floating Bluetooth speaker that lights up as music plays. The visual stimulus and superior sound quality with open surround sound add a whole other dimension of emotions to your auditory experience.
The speaker comprises a levitating orb with an exquisite black and gold marble finish. A ring of ambient light surrounds the orb, creating hypnotizing visuals.
With the room lights off, the spinning orb illuminated by a ring of soft light resembles a miniature black hole. Combined with your favorite music, this floating Bluetooth speaker creates a mesmerizing ambiance.
Charging Cord Bracelet
We all have that one friend that has terrible phone charging habits, in that their battery is somehow always drained.
Fortunately, this handy charging cord bracelet will ensure that they never miss your call again.
You might be wondering: “is it a charger or a bracelet?”
Well, it’s both. Talk about bringing a new meaning to phone accessories!
Basically, this two-in-one charging cord also doubles as an exquisite leather bracelet. The braided faux leather conceals the charging cord underneath.
Moreover, the minimalistic design and neutral colors ensure that the bracelet can be worn with any outfit.
Additionally, the cables are compatible with iPhones, iPads, and other Apple accessories.
This way, your friend will always have a spare charging cable on hand.
Connected Friendship Lamps
Long-distance taking a toll on your friendship? Let your friend know that you’re thinking of them with this unique connected friendship lamp.
Let’s face it: staying connected with friends and family can be very difficult. And a global pandemic hasn’t made it any easier.
In such unprecedented times, a simple gesture can go a long way, such as letting your friend know you’re thinking of them.
The connected friendship lamps are a new and innovative way to keep in touch with your loved ones. But how do they work?
Basically, whenever you want to check-in and say hello, all you have to do is tap your lamp. Then, a second connected lamp lights up to catch their attention.
Imagine for a moment that you’re going about your day, and you see your lamp light up. You’ll immediately know that your friend is thinking about you at that exact moment—no words, no conversations, just the momentary acknowledgment that your loved one is thinking about you.
Wouldn’t that put a smile on your face for the rest of the day?
Since the lamps are touch-responsive, you can even come up with secret codes to have full conversations!
Conclusion
Honestly, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your loved ones’ reactions as you hand them a present. Unfortunately, the same can not be said about choosing and buying said gift.
Hopefully, this post gave you some useful ideas for unique, creative, and thoughtful gifts.
Whether it’s the holiday season or a birthday, these gift ideas are bound to elicit a gasp of delight.