12 Creative Birthday Gift Ideas for Husband in 2019, Handpicked for the Indian Man

How often do you end up scouring the internet for gift ideas for you man only to be disappointed time and again to find most gift suggestions are not suited to our lifestyle? Golf clubs, season tickets to a sporting event and the latest barbecue tools all sound nice, they sure do, but how many of us here in India come across men who actually use these? The most appreciated gifts are those that can actually be used by the receiver and the Indian man is quite clear about what he likes.

Be it a festival, his birthday or an anniversary, he will enjoy gifts that suit our lifestyle, fit in with our cultural values and things he can openly appreciate. For instance, while drinking is fairly common, in many cultures drinking in front of elders of the family is considered quite impolite if not downright unacceptable. Since birthdays, like most celebrations, are family affairs, gifting him a bottle of wine or whisky will leave him and everyone else in the room feeling very uncomfortable. Keep the context in mind when selecting a present.

His dressing sense is conservative, fine. For years you have been telling him he should try new styles and often you buy him things to try and turn things around. If he hasn't changed his style after all that effort, what makes you think he wants to do it on his birthday? Gifts on days like his birthday are meant to make him happy, celebrate the special occasion and pamper him, so buy things you know he will like. Keep his preferences in colour, style, material and design as top priority.

Men's dressing has become extremely refined with big fashion houses devoting a lot of effort to develop fashionable clothes and accessories exclusively for men, so there is a lot of choice. By all means select things you will look smart on him but be sure that he too will be pleased by them. Just because a certain item is the latest in fashion all over the world does not mean he will like it or want to use it.

Practical gifts are always great because they can be put to use and everyone likes being able to use their gifts on a frequent basis. Since we are a land of many, and extremely different seasons, buy him something he can use immediately. For instance if his birthday falls in the summer and you decide to knit him a scarf, however lovingly you make it and as great as it may be, he will not be able to use it for the next several months and that kind of makes it fall flat.

On the other hand if you give him something suited to the current weather, he will be delighted he can put his gift to immediate use. Since out weather is so widely varied, there are a lot of special seasonal products and activities which cannot be indulged in any other time of the year. Make the most of these by including them in your gift. From scarves and gloves, to fresh summer fragrances, mangoes and strawberries to taking a romantic walk in the rain, let the season help you decide.

Culture and customs, religion and traditions all play a very important part in our daily lives and these must be kept in mind when selecting birthday gifts for your husband. Gifts show a person how much they are loved and cared for and keeping his cultural background in mind when buying him gifts will please him immensely.

A phone today is a precious possession that we are rarely without in any given moment of our life. Protective phone covers help save the mobile from getting affected by accidental falls, bumps or scratches. Gift him a cover that is uniquely his - personalise the mobile cover with few of his favourite photos or images and make it a wonderfully thoughtful gift. Check out nutcaseshop.com which offers personalisation of covers for a huge range of phone models. So just pick the images, pick your husband's phone model and start designing! Prices start at Rs. 499.

Is you husband fond of traditional art and Indian handicrafts? He may enjoy stationery, sculptures, paintings, clothing and pieces of furniture made in a traditional Indian style. Determine a style he is particularly fond of and try match that to things he may be in need of for a memorable birthday gift. If you cannot think of a particular need at the moment we suggest this beautiful Block Printed Ring Folder available on Itokri. Block printing is a traditional cotton printing art form, where metal or wooden blocks are used to create gorgeous designs on cotton fabric. These folders have replicated some of the designs on a variety background. He can use the folder on a daily basis for work or use it to store important files at home. Buy it for Rs.390 on the site.

Jaipuri quilts can be used in the winter and are light enough to use even in summer if the air conditioning gets a little too cool. Because they are stuffed with cotton and covered with soft, washed cotton they are very breathable thus comfortable to use. If your husband complains you take up most of the blanket or quilt then you can gift him his very own quilt. He can even use it as a throw when he sits down with his morning newspaper on cool mornings.

Famacart Double Bed Size Jaipuri Silk Quilt is a good option. It features a traditional Rajasthani sanganeri gold print against a navy blue backdrop. Made with pre-washed pure cotton, this quilt is very comfortable and soft against the skin, and the cotton filling makes it feather light. Buy this handmade quilt for Rs.999 on Amazon.

If your husband is a spiritually inclined man, nothing will give him more pleasure than the gift of an idol of his favourite god. Based on his beliefs and worship look for idols of gods and goddesses that he most revers. Not only is it auspicious to give him such a gift, it will bring him luck and spiritual blessings.

Does he already have a puja room or shelf in the room with various idols, then perhaps give him an idol to keep in his car or at his desk at work. He may be pleased with this charming Radha Krishna statue. Made of aluminium with gold finish, this statue has a height of 8.25 inches making it perfect to adorn his room or his personal space at work. Buy it for Rs.969 on pepperyfry.com

Most homes have a secret safe installed somewhere to keep valuables in and in an age of increasing robberies and thefts it is a smart idea to have a safe. But the thing about a big safe is it can be conspicuous, even when installed inside a wardrobe so give your husband a unique Clock Safe to keep small belongings protected on a daily basis.

From the outside it looks like an ordinary clock but a hinged design enables the clock face to swing away and reveal a hidden compartments which is ideal for things like watches and small pieces of jewellery or cash. These are the things that get stolen most often and he can use it at home or put it up in his office. It retails for Rs.999 on Giveter.

Wallets are one of the few indispensable accessories for men. Even the simplest of men who do not keep track of the latest fashion trends will own and use a wallet, everyday. On the other hand it is also a fashion accessory and a well crafted wallet can enhance the look of its wearer. Does your husband have a good wallet that not only helps him stay organised but is slim and well designed so that it’s bulge is not visible through his trousers or jacket pocket?

If the answer is no, look no further than the handcrafted Jack Double Billfold Wallet, made of genuine leather. The beautifully rugged wallet will appeal to his masculinity and it has plenty of slots to accommodate all his currency notes, cards, and bill receipts - 2 main compartments, 6 slots for cards, 2 slots on both sides for receipts, and with poly jacquard inners for slim finish. Buy it for about Rs.1,875 on urby.in

More and more men are taking to keeping beautifully manicured beards, and even if they have a scruffy one, there is a lot of work needed to maintain it. If your husband too has a lush beard then you know it could do with a little softening, nothing that some TLC cannot accomplish. Give him beard grooming products that will keep his beard soft and comfortable.

Beardo The Ultimate Beard Combo has everything he needs to groom his mane - Godfather Beard Wash , Godfather Beard Oil , Beard & Mustache Wax-Extra Strong. These specially formulated products will keep him fresh, disinfected and moisturised without compromising on volume. Enriched with natural oils and soothing agents like Aloe vera the wash and oil combination will transform his rough dry facial hair into a luxurious, soft and shiny beard that he, and you, will love to touch. Order it on beardo.in for Rs. 899

The best part of summer, indeed what makes it bearable, is the coming of mangoes. This king of fruits is a national favourite and no home will a summer go by without indulging in either the fruit or delicious treats made from it. If your husband is particularly fond of mangoes, gift him a box of his favourite, be it alphonso, totapuri, raspuri, badami or dussehri. You may be wondering if this is a good idea since you normally get a few boxes home each summer for the family. As any mango lover knows, you can never have too many mangoes and the box will be for him and him alone. You can even whip up some of his favourite mango preparations as an extra treat. Prices vary across varieties, buy them from your local vendor or order them online. You can order a basket of 12 mangoes for Rs.1,041 on indiagift.in

Not so long ago it was customary for the women to knit pullovers, scarves and hats for the family but now fewer and fewer people seem to carry on this tradition. Since there is such a wide variety of beautiful woollens easily available at nominal prices, it is easy to see why the painstaking effort of hand knitting a sweater has started losing its charm.

However, if you do know how to knit you can consider making your husband a cardigan as a birthday gift. Knitting is fairly simple, all you need is a pair of knitting needles and plenty of yarn. Even if you know the basics, you can follow a tutorial video online to guide you how to make a cardigan. Choose a good design and a colour that he likes so he will be proud to wear it out. Since this has become such a rare gesture he will be touched you took so much effort, and even if he ends up wearing it at home, it will delight him every time he puts it on.

Spirituality and religion are very deeply ingrained in our culture; starting the day with a puja at home or visiting the temple to get blessings of the divine is an excellent way to begin his birthday celebrations. The idea will appeal to a religious man, and even a not so religious person will welcome a spiritual start to his birthday.

Indian men are often not very keen on making a big deal about their birthday especially after a certain age, and may be shy or uncomfortable about the idea of a big party. Many may even want to simply go to work and go about their daily business like it was any other day, so a visit to the temple or church, or organising prayers at home will be a nice way to mark the day.

Many people don’t eat eggs for religious reasons and that also rules out most cakes and pastry. There is a huge market for eggless cakes that you can order for his birthday, but for a personal touch make a cake yourself. You can follow the recipe below for a vanilla eggless cake, and frost it with chocolate ganache.

The way to a man’s heart is said to be through his stomach and this holds very true for most Indian men. If every year you treat him to a lavish meal of all his favourite dishes or go out to eat at a nice restaurant, spice things up by planning a picnic instead. Being out in the open, sitting on the grass or under the cool shade of a tree and enjoying a meal together as a couple or as a family is an immensely pleasurable experience.

You may have often gone on picnics in your childhood but the busy lifestyle of today rarely affords us such pleasure so if you haven’t been on a picnic in a while, the novelty is sure to delight him. Depending on where you live, scout in advance for a suitable picnic spot so you are not disappointed on the big day. Check weather predictions, organise a mat, perhaps some portable music and fun activities. Make dishes that lend themselves well to being packed and transported - you want to fuss over your birthday boy rather than worry about spilled food. You can also surprise him with a small gift while on the picnic.