Here’s a trick to choosing unique Christmas gifts for a boyfriend or someone else who feels so hard to shop for: go beyond who they are to you or what they do for work. Think about 3 adjectives you’d use to describe the person to direct your gift search. Maybe he’s spontaneous (bingo: experience gift!), funny (think on humor), or sweet (sentimental gift all the way).

Even something ordinary feels extraordinary when you choose a stand-out color or pattern. Socks go from ho-hum to totally rad. Winter accessories from blah to bright-and-happy. Keep in mind everyone has favorites (and I-would-never-wear-that picks) when it comes to color or choosing polka dots over stripes. Do a little undercover snooping on Instagram to see what colors your loved one’s wearing these days.

Another way to deliver on unique Christmas gifts for him is to be unpredictable. Especially with guys, since gifts for dudes are so predictable. Look for the weird, the unexpectedly cool — in gadgets, accessories, or even a just-for-fun game.

With a wee bit of research on your part, you can take something you know about her and really wow her with unique Christmas gifts for her. Take her sweet tooth, as one example. With a little sleuthing online, you can find out about some delicious-sounding-artisanal treat that’s made in small batches in her home state. Score!

One way to to deliver unique Christmas gift ideas is to give a stylishly chic version of something that’s completely utilitarian. (You can even find stylin’ power cords these days!) Plus, people can always use extras of useful things — so you don’t need to know what they already have.

She prefers antique shops over the mall, so unique Christmas gifts for mom need to line up with that vintage style she loves. The good thing is you can now find old-timey cool pieces online — not to mention modern versions of vintage pieces (likes the classic record player.) Search “vintage” or “antique” to start shopping.

Presentation is key, and you want your gift sitting pretty under the tree. If you’re feeling less than confident that your gift matches the “unique” criteria, go for uniquely cool with the gift wrap. Because first impressions set the tone.

We've got you covered with unusual and fun gift ideas:

Your Guide to Scoring the Most Unusual Christmas Gifts

How to Amuse Anyone with Funny Christmas Gifts