These gift ideas show your partner you’re on the same page
If we were genuinely as nonchalant about love as we claim to be, Bridgerton would have ended after one season and been banished to Netflix’s content graveyard. Instead, it keeps returning with tighter corsets, new scandals, and an unwavering commitment to yearning, which says far more about us than about Regency romance. It’s proof that passionate romance, the kind that made Carrie Bradshaw endlessly wonder, still holds enormous appeal.
So this year, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, we’re not acting like love is an administrative inconvenience. We’re retiring the argument that love should be celebrated every day. If that were true, birthdays would be unnecessary and cake would lose its relevance. But we allow ourselves the one designated day to be indulgent and giddy about being alive. Love deserves the same courtesy. Capitalism can win this round and we can still be intentional with our V-Day purchases.
The best Valentine’s gifts acknowledge where your relationship is right now. They show your partner you see them, understand what you have between you right now, and crucially, that you’re both on the same page. Who wouldn’t love that reassurance?
But we understand that’s a tall order for a gift and that you’ve got your Q1 KPIs to max too, so we put together a guide to help you get it done in time for Valentine’s Day. Feel free to share it with your partner, too, if you think they need the nudge, unless you’re emotionally prepared to receive a foam roller.
30 Valentine’s Day gifts for whichever relationship stage you’re in
1) Factor Notes spill the truth card game, ₹799; 2) Farmley date bites pack of 3, ₹1,200; 3) Boofootel sooperboost face serum,
You like labels, just not in relationships
You share fries with each other, not feelings. You borrow their hoodie, but haven’t reached a stage where you can call it yours. You text every day but blank out when someone asks what you two are to each other. And those dates that you plan meticulously, you’re careful to call ‘just chilling’. When you are in a situationship, Valentine’s Day can feel like a game of emotional saanp seedi—one wrong move and you’re back to square one.
The best gift here is something thoughtful but low-stakes, and definitely not too expensive or mushy. Like the Factor Notes Spill The Truth card game that says I want to know more about you, but in a fun, casual way. The Farmley Date Bites set will do the same trick as chocolates, only without the romantic connotation. These come with the goodness of dates, almonds, pistachios, cashews, honey, and ghee, and are completely sugar-free. They are casual but also show you care. And you can never go wrong with the Boofootel Sooperboost face serum that makes your skin bright, glowing, hydrated, and repaired. Even if the situationship ends, they’ll thank you for the memories and the glow on their face, which takes just three weeks of usage, according to the brand.
1) Nestasia rosetta crochet bouquet throw, ₹7,290, 2) Zariin heart in heart photo locket, ₹3,999, 3) The Plated Project framed puzzle, ₹2,375
It’s your first year together
Early love is hard to contain and everything feels heightened. Getting to know each other is thrilling, being wanted feels intoxicating, and you’re still discovering more about each other.
This phase is tender but uncertain, which is exactly why symbols matter. You can lean fully into romance without any self-consciousness. A heart-shaped photo locket will put them in mind of a good ol’ fashioned romance. A bouquet of crochet roses that unfolds into a throw is both cutesy and comforting when they’re missing you. A framed couples’ puzzle you complete together is like the intimacy between you that is building slowly, without rush.
1) Dyson Airwrap i.d.™ multi-styler and dryer, ₹49,900, 2) Forevermark embrace earrings, ₹1,34,500, 3) Coach Brooklyn 34 shoulder bag, ₹49,999
Things have been a bit bumpy lately
You’ve been preoccupied, missed their birthday dinner, and didn’t even meet their bestie who came visiting. Your partner is upset and if you want to fix it, you need to show them you hear them. Repair begins with acknowledgement. A gift won’t replace an apology or sustained effort, but it can signal earnestness.
Give them extra affection, plan a romantic date, and choose a gift that shows you’re serious about doing better. Have they been eyeing the Dyson Airwrap for months? Splurging on it shows you’re attuned to their wishes and whims. A luxury shoulder bag that can be reserved for special outings becomes a reminder of being cherished and doted-upon. Diamond earrings carry weight because they are not casual, and you’d buy them only for someone truly special, whom you want by your side for a long time.
1) Kimirica midnight masquerade bath and body set, ₹1,199; 2) Tucked In cotton weighted blanket, ₹4,499; 3) Giva glowing in love couple rings, ₹7,299
You are celebrating Valentine’s Day via video call
Being in a long-distance relationship means keeping the romance alive through WhatsApp texts and FaceTime. It means thinking about how to communicate your feelings without the benefit of elaborate settings and physical expression. Like when you see something funny, but all you can do is send them a text and wait for a reply instead of laughing about it together. It is a constant cycle of ‘I miss you’s and ‘I wish you were here’s. The set-up is not ideal and therefore the emotional stakes are higher.
Your Valentine’s Day gift should be able to telegraph that even though you’re not physically close, they (and their happiness) are never far from your thoughts. A Bridgerton-themed bath and body collection says you want them to take care of themselves, and a weighted blanket that relaxes the muscles envelops them in a way that’s reassuring. Matching couple silver rings is a precious gift that says no matter where you both are, you proudly proclaim who you belong with.
1) Ugaoo mini lite room air purifier, ₹4,699, 2) Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, ₹16,999, 3) The Skin Diet Company barrier building box with lip barrier tints, ₹2,100
You’re past the corny and embracing the functional
Every long-term relationship reaches a point where dates stop being performances and turn into humdrum routines that fill your heart with joy. Morning badminton sessions together, evenings on the couch, and choosing comfort over ceremony without regret. This phase is grounded and deeply intimate, but it can risk becoming stagnant if it slips entirely into autopilot mode.
Here, romance looks like practicality but with attentiveness. It’s about understanding what would slot right into your partner’s daily life and make it just that little bit better. A Kindle, if they’ve been trying to get back into reading. A compact air purifier that doubles as one (or several) plants because that’s genuinely the need of the hour. And if they love makeup, a thoughtfully curated set that nourishes while it indulges will show you see and support whatever brings them joy.
1) Ikea tarnaby table lamp, ₹1,790; 2) Sleep Rituals girls night in set, ₹4,999; 3) Humanhood couples vision board kit, ₹1,799
You just moved in together
You’re trying to navigate this new living situation and find your rhythm while making sure your partner also feels at home. This is a phase where love finds its new shape between assembling IKEA furniture together and lovingly (sometimes not) arguing about which shelf is actually yours and who will be responsible for putting out the kachre ka dabba every morning.
Gifts right now should reflect your new, shared normal and the joy of building a life together. The kerosene-style lamp from IKEA will bring a touch of retro romance to the house. It can go in the bedroom, on the bedside table of whoever reads before sleeping, so the other isn’t disturbed. Or be the centrepiece for a romantic candlelight dinner at home. A silk pillowcase and eye-mask set will ease your partner’s disturbed sleep as they try to adjust to a new room and bed. And the Humanhood couple’s vision board is the perfect gift to start plotting your dreams together.
1) Nobero chasing horizons oversized co-ord set, ₹3,999; 2) The Golden Theory bulldog tray stand, ₹3,999; 3) boAt stone 1200 pro bluetooth speaker, ₹4,999
You no longer pretend that you poop glitter
Have you reached that phase in your relationship where no one needs to be in ‘best behaviour’ mode anymore? You have already seen them at their best, worst and weirdest. You know their allergies, pet peeves, period cycles and exactly how they’ll react in any situation. Inside jokes, subtle glances and absolutely unhinged conversations bring the romance in this comfortable season.
Your gift should feel like an extension of that ease—familiar, thoughtful or even hilarious in a way they would get. Give them a unisex loungewear set that is as cosy as you are with them (that you can also steal from them). Or a novelty tray stand that you can have a chuckle over when they’ve had a bad day at work. Or you could gift them a Bluetooth speaker because you know they get cranky if they don’t have their favourite tunes playing every second of the day.
1) Gifting Studio filmy photo frame with date, ₹1,399, 2) Joules by Radhika sovereign statement necklace set, ₹6,625, 3) Charlotte Tilbury mini viral beauty icons, ₹5,600
Your want to impress your to-be in-laws
When you’re getting married, you’re not just getting a future spouse, but their family too. And this Valentine’s Day, you should take that into account. There’ll be more eyes on the date plans and gifts you give your partner, and possibly some scrutiny too because everyone is curious and excited about the new member joining the tribe.
Match that energy with a gift that reflects your future with your partner such as a photo frame featuring your wedding date. It tells them how thrilled you are to start your life with them. Or pick up a minimalistic choker your partner can wear to a pre-wedding dinner, or a makeup kit that keeps them stocked through the endless celebrations. Their family will be glad their child is tying the knot with someone who is excited to be with them and cares for them in little ways.
1) Kodak mini shot instant camera, ₹13,999; 2) Beauty by Bie 24k gold vibrating face massager, ₹1,499; 3) Seva Home The Vibes scented candle set, ₹3,495
Your conversations revolve around soiled diapers
When you’re new parents, your life revolves around changing diapers, midnight marathon feeds, and disinfecting everything all the time. Valentine’s Day is not about late-night dates or long walks. It is about treasuring the new phase of your life and stealing quick moments for some quiet time together.
So gifts that celebrate this chaos or let you sneak in some rest will go over well. The ones that say, “I see you surviving on three hours of sleep and still managing to love us both.” Like the Kodak instant camera, which will allow them (and you, by turns) to capture these precious moments with your cute bundle as well as your transformation into Mom and Dad. Or you could encourage them to take a self-care break with the Beauty by Bie face massager or the Seva Home scented candle set while you watch the baby.
1) Leezus too hot to handle bundle, ₹1,498, 2) MyMuse link+ app-controlled massager, ₹6,999, 3) Luv (un)Arranged by N M Patel, ₹799
You’re trying to spice things up again
Adulting looks very different as the years go by. Between managing a household, making enough money and caring for ageing parents, life gets busy and exhausting. Add kids into the mix and intimacy often takes a backseat. The fun you used to have together is fading into a distant memory.
If you’re trying to bring that spark back, start playfully. A naughty couple’s game can ease you back into intimacy. Handcuffs instantly raise the temperature. Take it a step further with an app-controlled massager which lets you flirt from across the room and deliver a truly memorable ending. And to keep the mood going, a smutty read never hurts.
