Picking out a gift for someone is a very personal decision. You have to make sure your chosen gift is both appropriate for the type of relationship you have with the other person, as well as being appropriate for the occasion.

There is a time when giving flowers is the way to go, and there are other times when a gift basket is more appropriate. Flowers are great for many occasions, be it a birthday, graduation, funeral or just letting someone special know that you care. When choosing the flowers, it is important to keep in mind the other persons preferences because this can have a marked effect on how they perceive the gift. If the flowers are going to a friend rather than a significant other, it is best to keep them understated. This prevents them from getting the wrong message, and keeps things from becoming awkward later on. It is also important to keep in mind what the occasion is, for example giving someone a dozen roses at a funeral is not the best form.

If giving flowers seems a bit too risky, a gift box is always a wonderful option. The great thing about gift boxes is that you can make them as personal or impersonal as you desire, giving you total control over the message you are trying to send. It is still important to choose items for your basket that are appropriate for the occasion.

Gift baskets are also appropriate for a much wider variety of occasions, and there is less chance of it being misconstrued into something it isn’t by the recipient. The best gifts are the simplest, so keep that in mind. Most of the time it is a great idea to come up with a theme, such as a certain brand of food, and then fill the basket with items that fit with that theme. Just remember not to go too far, you want the basket to be big enough to be appreciated, but stay within reason. A good medium sized basket should do the trick.

To wrap things up, both flowers and a basket are wonderful ideas for a present. Which one you choose depends on the occasion, the taste of the recipient and your own budget. Whichever you choose, it is important to keep the recipient and the circumstances in mind and choose the appropriate gift accordingly for it to be the best it can be.