Whether you’re shopping for a housewarming, feting a pal who’s survived renovation hell or getting started on your holiday shopping, nailing the right decor gift can be tricky. A candle can be obvious, flowers too ephemeral, something genuinely useful (snow shovel, anyone?) yawningly practical.

That’s why we’ve taken this conundrum directly to an expert: Shauna Walton, a Toronto-based interior designer and founder of her own eponymous design firm.