PRESENTS FOR THE HOME

Make your surroundings a little more comfortable and connected with these wonderful gift ideas from Claire Young.

1. Himalayan Salt Platter Set

The Himalayan salt platter is a new twist on cedar planking for the grill. This unique grilling accessory can be heated or cooled to extreme temperatures for both cooking and serving presentations. The salt block is rich in minerals and free from chemical additives and can cook meats, seafoods and vegetables and can keep the chill on sushi and even ice cream. $89.99. Available at Home Depot and Barbecues Galore. Napoleon.com

2. The Rogue

Don't be fooled by its roguish good looks; this Rogue grill by Napoleon can handle the heat. The Rogue 425 gas grill boasts precise temperature control, cast iron cooking grids and stainless steel sear plates. The sleek black exterior is highly durable and easy to clean. The Rogue series, with three variations, starts at $599. Available at Home Depot and Barbecues Galore in Calgary. Napoleon.com

3. Ikea's Gingerbread Home

No Allen key required! As a gift to gingerbread house builders, Ikea is offering free downloadable cookie patterns to make delicious furniture. You can build the classic Strandmon chair, the Malm bed frame, the Billy bookshelf and more. Find the cookie stencils and assembly instructions at Ikea.ca/ holiday. Free!

4. Feather your Nest

Keep on top of your home's energy efficiency with a Google Third Generation Nest Learning Thermostat. This is the first Energy Star rated thermostat, and it learns the temperatures you like, programs the heat, and turns it down when you're away from home. It's also remotely adjustable from a phone, tablet and laptop, and you can track your home's energy consumption. This Nest thermostat comes in three colours. $329, available at Home Depot.

5. Laser TV

Make your own movie theatre with a Hisense L5F 4K Laser TV. This next generation projector boasts 4K HDR on screens up to 100 inches. Unlike traditional projectors, it doesn't mount on the ceiling or at the back of the room — it sits about eight inches in front of the screen (sold separately from the projector). The TV comes with a superior sound system. Starts at $4,999.99, available at Visions Electronics, Costco, Walmart Canada, Amazon.ca, Brault et Martineau