The exact reason why we celebrate Valentine’s Day is a little unclear. But one of the most popular beliefs is that February 14th marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Valentine. He was a Roman priest who – when marriage was outlawed under the rule of Claudius II in the third century – performed secret marriage ceremonies for young couples.
Others, however, claim that Valentine’s Day actually has its roots in an ancient pagan ceremony called Lupercalia, which involved dark caves, animal sacrifices, and setting up couples by pulling random names from an urn.
Whatever its origin, nowadays, Valentine’s is a day for celebrating the people we love or care about in our lives – and this often involves getting them a gift. But sometimes it can be difficult to come up with something that they will not only enjoy, but that will express our love and affection.
With this in mind, we’ve come up with a few Valentine’s Day gift ideas to give you some inspiration…
1. String of Hearts - Happy House Plants
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for your loved one that’s an interesting alternative to the classic bouquet of roses, then why not consider getting them a String of Hearts Plant?
Officially named Ceropegia woodii variegata, this lovable succulent goes by many names, but is most commonly known as a ‘String of Hearts’. Not only will it make a tasteful and charming addition to your loved one’s living space, but its heart-shaped leaves make it a great gift for expressing your Valentine’s Day affections.
Though String of Hearts are beautiful, they’re also easy to care for because they only need watering occasionally and will grow happily in pretty much any light condition. So, it’s still an ideal choice for someone who’s short on time, or doesn’t consider themselves to be particularly green-fingered.
If you’d like to buy a pot to go with your leafy gift, then Happy House Plants recommends this one.
2. Engravable Round Ridge Locket Necklace - Missoma
Lockets have been exchanged as symbols of love and adoration for centuries. In fact, during Tudor times, the very wealthy would employ artists to paint miniature portraits of themselves or their loved ones to be set in lockets.
Nowadays, with the invention of the camera and the printer, we don’t need to sit for a portrait in order to get our hands on an image to sit inside a locket. But this doesn’t make giving one to a loved one on Valentine’s Day any less special.
This Round Ridge Locket Necklace from Missoma is a great choice because not only is it beautiful, but you can also get it engraved for no extra charge – adding yet another layer of personalisation that’ll leave your recipient feeling loved.
And remember, you don’t need to put a photo of yourself inside if you don’t want to. You can use an image of your loved one’s children, parents, pet, or you could even leave it blank, giving them the opportunity to fill it with whatever they’d like.
3. 365 Track Pants - Pangaia
For some people, the perfect Valentine’s day involves dressing up and going out for a few drinks and a maybe nice meal. But for others, February 14th is the perfect excuse to snuggle up on the sofa with a loved one and watch a film or read a book. If the latter sounds more like your significant other’s preferred Valentine’s Day, then why not think about getting them some comfy new loungewear?
These unisex 365 Track Pants from Pangaia are comfortable and made for chilling out around the house. Plus, they’re also made from 100% organic cotton using sustainable practices. And with what seems like an endless choice of colours, you’re sure to find one that your Valentine will like.
4. Debut Carbon Vinyl Record Player - Pro-Ject
Music is one of the most enjoyable (and, at times, romantic) things in life. So if the special someone in your life is a music-lover, why not think about getting them a vinyl record player this Valentine’s Day?
If you like the sound of this idea, then you can’t go wrong with the Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon. Chosen as Tech Radar’s best entry-level turntable for vinyl enthusiasts, this sleek and stylish bit of kit won’t only make a great addition to the decor of their home, but will give their favourte songs a unique sound quality – because as the saying goes, you haven’t truly listened to something unless you’ve listened to it on vinyl.
You could also consider buying your loved one a record to go with it. This could be their favourite album or one that’s attached to a fond memory that the two of you share.
5. Always Pan - Our Place
If your valentine is a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, then why not get them something to help them along on their culinary journey?
The Always Pan from Our Place is a cult-favourite among amateur chefs because it’s chic and stylish, comes in a range of trendy colours, and it’s essentially nine cooking utensils in one.
It’s a frying pan, saute pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and a spoon rest. So there’s no limit to what you can make with it.
The Always Pan is great value for money and it’ll help keep your loved one’s kitchen neat and organised.
6. Wavelength - Palm Court Games
If your significant other is into board games or you’ve got an intimate night in scheduled for February 14th, then why not get a game for the two of you to play? Wavelength is a social guessing game that’s perfect for couples to play, as well as larger groups.
Described as a ‘telepathic party game’, Wavelength pits two teams against each other to try to read one another’s minds.
It’s not only great fun and will provoke interesting conversations, but whether you’ve been together for years or you’re just getting to know each other, Wavelength will also give you a unique insight into how your partner thinks about and sees the world.
7. Virgin Experience Days Gift Card - Virgin
Although material gifts can be a great way to express your love for someone special, we can all probably agree that the best way of all is undoubtedly spending quality time with them. So, instead of a traditional gift, why not consider doing something special with the person you love and getting them a Virgin Experience Day Gift Card?
Essentially, Virgin Experience Days are ‘days out’ and there are over one hundred of them to choose from. Just load up a gift card with anywhere between £1 and £500 and let your recipient choose from the wide range of activities and mini trips.
They might opt for something fast and wild, like a day racing supercars or bungee jumping. Or they could choose something low-key and relaxing, like a day at the spa or a leisurely ride on a hot air balloon.
So, whatever they’re into, they’re sure to find something they’ll love and the two of you can look forward to making a memory together that you’ll treasure forever.
8. A Dozen Roses - Waitrose Florist
Chocolate eggs at Easter, mistletoe at Christmas, sometimes you just can’t go wrong with the classics – and the same is true for Valentine’s Day.
Roses have long been associated with feelings of love and desire, and the ancient Greek Goddess of love, Aphrodite, was traditionally symbolised by a rose. People have been giving them to one another as symbols of love, affection, and devotion for centuries – so why not continue the tradition?
This Bouquet of a Dozen Roses from Waitrose Florist is a top choice if you’re looking to treat your loved one to some flowers this Valentine’s Day because not only is it beautiful, but Waitrose will deliver it on a day of your choice. So it’s perfect if you’re spending Valentine’s Day apart from your significant other and want to send them some love. Plus, it’ll save you some time on a trip to the florist.
9. Polaroid Onestep+ - Polaroid
While making memories together is probably the most important thing you can do with a loved one, taking a few snaps for you both to remember them by can be important too. And with this Polaroid OneStep+, you can capture your favourite moments and print them out in seconds.
Like a record player, a Polaroid camera is a throwback to a stylish and, maybe, more romantic time. So not only will it help your loved one capture memories, but it’ll also provoke some as well.
The Polaroid OneStep+ model is a popular choice because it’s a modern device (complete with autofocus, which will help you take the best photos possible, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, so you can control it from your phone) but it still captures and prints beautiful photographs with that classic Polaroid look.
10. Photo Book - Mixbook
With most of our images stored either online or in the endless recesses of our phones, it’s easy to forget the simple pleasure of holding photographs in your hand. So why not give the gift of reminiscence to your loved one this Valentine’s day and get them a Photo Book including all of your favourite photos and moments together?
A Photo Book will not only get your loved one feeling nostalgic and appreciated, but it’s also a chance for you to get creative; after all, if a picture speaks a thousand words, think of how many words a picture book can speak.
If you like the sound of making a Photo Book for someone this year, then it’s worth heading over to Mixbook. Their easy-to-use software gives you complete freedom to build whatever kind of photo book you like. With over 500 different themes, a wide variety of paper, size, and cover options, and loads more customisable options, the possibilities truly are endless.
Final thoughts…
We hope this list of Valentine’s Day gift ideas has offered you some inspiration if you’re finding it difficult to choose the perfect gift for your loved one. Though as most of us know, often the best way to express your love and affection for someone isn’t through gifts, but by spending quality time with them.
So if you’re still stuck on how to show someone you care this year, then why not consider cooking them a nice meal or going for a wintry walk? They’ll surely appreciate the initiative you took to plan ahead and the time you’ve set aside to spend time with them.
Do you have any Valentine’s Day gift tips? What are your plans for the day, if any? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
