Choosing Secret Santa gifts for colleagues can be surprisingly tricky. You want something they’ll enjoy opening, but you might not know their hobbies, favourite colour or even whether they drink tea or coffee. There’s also the small matter of finding it before the office Christmas lunch.
The names have been drawn. The budget has been agreed. And you’ve picked someone whose entire personality, as far as you know, is “works on the second floor”.
Brilliant.
At Gift + Home, we love helping people find a thoughtful little present when they’re not quite sure where to start. Our advice? Look for one small clue, keep the budget sensible and don’t put yourself under pressure to find the gift of the century!
From cheerful stationery to something for their Christmas break, here are our ideas for getting office Secret Santa sorted.
How to choose a Secret Santa gift for a colleague
Before you start shopping, think about the little things you do know.
Perhaps they mention walking the dog on Monday mornings. Maybe their notebook is full of colourful doodles, or they’re always first to suggest a team quiz. You don’t need their life story. One interest is enough to give you a starting point.
Stick to the agreed spending limit, too. If everyone’s buying a £10 present, turning up with something much more expensive can make the exchange feel awkward. A small, well-chosen gift is absolutely enough.
And if you really have no clues? Go for something easy to enjoy, without needing to know their size, home décor or favourite fragrance.
Secret Santa gifts 1: For the colleague who’s always making a coffee
If your conversations mostly happen while you’re waiting for the kettle, you already have your first clue.
Our Peanuts Mug is a lovely option for someone who rarely starts the day without a brew. At £11.95, it fits a £15 Secret Santa budget and brings a bit of personality to their next coffee break.
A mug is easy to take home or keep at work, and you don’t have to know much about someone to choose one around a familiar habit.
If there’s money left in the budget, you could add a small packet of biscuits. Or simply wrap the mug nicely and let it do the job. There’s no rule saying every present needs extra bits tucked inside.
Secret Santa gifts 2: For the stationery lover
Some people borrow whichever pen happens to be nearby. Others have a favourite, a spare favourite and very strong feelings about anyone walking off with either.
For someone in the second group, our Erasable Gel Pen – Bee is a cute little starting point. It’s £1.95 and has an erasable tip for tidying up those inevitable mistakes.
If your budget stretches further, the 2-in-1 Silicone Pencil Case is £11.95 and doubles as a desktop pen holder. Handy for someone who likes their desk accessories with a little character.
Together, they come to £13.90, making a sweet pairing for a £15 exchange. We’d choose this for the colleague whose desk already has a few playful touches, or someone who gets rather excited about a new notebook. You know the one!
Secret Santa gifts 3: For the colleague who loves a weekend walk
Their Monday morning update involves muddy boots, a flask and somewhere lovely you’ve never heard of.
Sound familiar?
Cheshire: 40 Favourite Walks is a thoughtful choice for a colleague who enjoys exploring the local area. At £6.99, it sits comfortably within a £10 budget.
It gives them something to browse over Christmas and ideas for getting outside when they fancy a break from the sofa.
Obviously, this works particularly well for someone based in or near Cheshire. It’s also a nice idea for a colleague who has recently moved to the area and is still exploring new places.
Secret Santa gifts 4: For the office quiz enthusiast
There’s usually someone who takes the pub quiz very seriously. They’ve already chosen the team name, appointed themselves captain and disputed an answer before the first drinks arrive.
Our After Dinner Trivia is £4.95, making it an option for a £5 Secret Santa exchange or part of a slightly bigger present.
It’s an easy way to acknowledge something they enjoy, without needing to know which books they’ve read or what they already own at home.
Just be prepared for them to start testing everyone before the wrapping paper has been cleared away.
Secret Santa gifts 5: For the colleague who’s always talking about their dog
You might not know their job title, but you definitely know their spaniel’s name.
When someone’s phone is full of dog photos, there’s a fairly obvious place to start. Our Dog Lover Pocket Puzzle is £4.95 and gives a little nod to their favourite subject.
It’s a good fit for a smaller Secret Santa budget, especially when you want something more considered than grabbing the first festive novelty you see.
Choosing a present for the owner also saves you having to guess what their dog can eat or which toys it likes!
Secret Santa gifts 6: For someone with a creative streak
Perhaps they draw during lunch, make their own birthday cards or have handwriting that puts the rest of the team to shame.
Our Brush Markers are a colourful choice at £9.95. The set includes 12 markers with flexible brush tips and water-based ink, giving them something to experiment with away from the keyboard.
We’d pick these for someone who already enjoys drawing, lettering or other creative hobbies. They don’t need to be an accomplished artist! Enjoying a bit of colour is a perfectly good start.
There’s something lovely about giving a colleague a present that recognises what they enjoy outside work. Especially when December has been full of deadlines and their creative projects have had to wait.
Secret Santa gifts 7: For the music lover
They’ve always got a gig booked, know who’s playing every festival and take the office playlist very personally.
Our Peanuts Mug is £11.95 and makes an easy choice for a £15 exchange. Music gifts can be difficult when you don’t know someone’s favourite artists well enough to buy a record or book. Something with a broader musical theme lets you acknowledge their interest without guessing which album they already own.
This is also a useful reminder that Secret Santa presents don’t have to look Christmassy. A gift they’ll happily use in February is just as welcome as something covered in reindeer.
Should you buy a funny Secret Santa gift?
A little humour can work wonderfully, but aim for a smile rather than a room full of nervous laughter.
Our funny Peanuts Mug, priced at £11.95, could suit the colleague who’s always helping everyone untangle a spreadsheet or solve a problem.
It’s a friendly way to say you appreciate them, with a bit of a wink.
A few finishing touches
You’ve found the present. Lovely! Now give yourself five minutes to wrap it properly.
A gift bag, tissue paper or neatly folded wrapping paper can make even a small gift feel special. Add their name clearly, particularly if everyone’s presents will be piled together under the office tree.
We have plenty of bits to help at our shop in Altrincham!
Check the exchange date before ordering, too. Your office Christmas celebration might be several weeks before Christmas Day, and nobody wants to arrive holding a picture of the gift that’s still on its way.
If you’re buying early in November, put a reminder in your calendar so your carefully chosen present actually makes it into the office on time.
Prices and availability can change, so check the product page before buying.
Our stock at our Stamford Quarter store changes frequently, so make sure you pop in when you can to find that perfect something!
Find your colleague’s Christmas gift at Gift + Home
Still looking at that name and drawing a blank? We’re happy to help.
Visit us at 19 George Street in Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter, or browse Gift + Home online. Tell us your budget and whatever you know about the person, even if it’s simply that they love dogs and a decent cup of tea!
We’ll help you find something that feels right, without turning a little Christmas tradition into another job on your to-do list.
Secret Santa sorted. Now, who’s organising the Christmas lunch?
