It’s a good idea to take a hint from the things they already love, too. Boyle suggested considering someone’s real interests and finding the thing that needs improvement. For example, her husband—who loves to make sourdough bread—was using a subpar dough scraper until she upgraded it to a more ergonomic and beautiful version. “When things hit the sweet spot of something that you actually need and something that someone put some thought into,” Boyle said, “those are my favorite gifts.”

We asked her how to find a gift that would be cherished for years, and her advice was simple: Think practically. “I like to give people things that I know they really need or they really want,” she said. “Those are the things that wind up lasting forever.” A pragmatic gift might not immediately seem appealing, but taking the time to notice a need is ultimately more meaningful than following any trend.