Dear dads, grandads and fatherly figures, why must you be so tricky to buy for? As we approach Father’s Day once again (this year it falls on Sunday 16th June) people the world over are scratching their heads as they search for unique Father’s Day gifts. If you’ve exhausted socks and hobby-related paraphernalia, allow us to offer a little advice with this Father’s Day gift guide of presents he really wants. For the men who love to share a sarcastic quip instead of a helpful gift idea, we’ve curated a guide that takes those requests seriously, completed with the help of the men of OKA who have suggested their gift ideas and their preferences if they were to be the lucky recipient. His wish is your command.

What do most men want for father’s day?

If you’re searching for simple Father’s Day gift ideas, the drinks cabinet may well be a very good place to start. Being in need of a “a stiff drink” is a classic dad-ism typically delivered dripping with sarcasm, but it could also serve as excellent Father’s Day inspiration. Whether his tipple of choice is an ice-cold beer, a glass of the finest whisky or a well-bodied red wine, he’ll be sure to appreciate a bottle of his go-to drink or an accessory to go alongside it.

Beady Eyed Gecko Bottle Opener

Picked out by Arjun Anand, our Sustainability Lead, this nifty bottle opener is a wonderful gift for the hard-to-buy-for: “my father is a difficult man to gift for, he enjoys functional, utilitarian items, but loves a quirk. This piece is perfect for cracking open a beer, but it also provides the perfect muse upon which to make a poorly timed dad joke.” And, as Arjun says, if you want to follow it up with something similar next year, there’s always the matching lizard bookends.

Ranelagh Tumblers

“These are ideal for whisky or negronis, you can never have enough glasses”, says Bruce MacArthur, our Head of Store Design and Visual Merchandising. So what better gift for the man who wants to sit and relax with his favourite tipple. The regency-era design will have him feeling like the ultimate discerning gentleman.

Lysander Bone Bar Set

Perhaps he likes to share his drink of choice with friends and family, and so this set will allow him to do so in style. “This handcrafted bar set provides you with the perfect setup for a refreshing cocktail on Father’s Day”, says James Turner, our Visual Merchandising Manager stateside. This might also allow you to gift him not only the set, but a cocktail to go with it (though that would require delving into the luxurious box yourself…)

Mini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and Shade 

Not a beverage-related gift in itself, but proving popular as the suggestion of not one but two of our staff and the perfect accompaniment to entertaining, is our Mini Grisewood Table Lamp. Bruce suggests that “multiple of these are ideal for dinner parties, placed down the centre of a dining table” and Arjun likes to think his father would enjoy using this for “outdoor barbeques or drinks in the garden with his friends. Not only is it the perfect present for the constant entertainer, but also for the avid reader, as their wireless form also allows them to function as “a portable reading light to take wherever you are in the home”.

 

What’s the best surprise you can give this Father’s Day?

The best Father’s Day gifts are the ones that allow you to show your love and appreciation, sometimes that might be in the guise of something less expected, but still either thoughtful, sentimental or useful.

Pinya Table Lamp

Our Content Creator Alex Hunt has a particularly illuminating reason for choosing the Pinya Table Lamp as his ultimate Father’s Day gift, seeing as this celebratory day always falls as we enter summer (a period which doesn’t always give us the sunshine we expect). “I love the Pinya because it reminds me of being on the beach… if the UK won’t give us summer, he can find it via waking up to this on his bedside table every morning.” And, as Alex rightly says, it doesn’t matter if his style is quirky or quiet luxury, the neutral base allows it to match with any lampshade of any print or colour.

Themis Marble Bowl

Give him the gift of organisation and a mind relieved of the constant stress of looking for his possessions before stepping out the door. James suggests our marble bowl as “the ideal place for a wallet, change and keys – both functional and oh so stylish”.

 

Adam Lippes X OKA Set of Three Everett Box Files

Does he like his gadgets? This one might be for him. On a similar vein of function and form, this suggestion from Bruce might be just as good a gift for everyone around him as it is for dad as it will help to keep things tidy, “these are ideal to store all those memories or any clutter… I personally like to use mine for remote controls for TV and entertainment systems”.  

Ollin Framed Wall Art

Does he enjoy a particular colour palette, or is he perhaps lacking decoration in his office at home or otherwise? “I love all the tones within the Ollin. I try to choose four colours maximum that work harmoniously together, I also love the expressive shapes and textures that the artwork features and find that these can also act as inspiration for other pieces of furniture that will be within the same room,” says Alex. If the man you’re buying for has similarly strict rules on his colour palette and style inspiration, a piece like the Ollin may fit right into his curated space.

Elena Counter Game Set

If you’re striving for the position of favourite child this year, spending one-on-one time with the fatherly figure in your life will no doubt secure you the top spot. Bruce suggests this one “for those days in the countryside”, a game to play together and pass the time with limitless fun, especially for the man who already has everything.

 

 

George Club Armchair

And if you’re feeling particularly generous this year, for the uncomplicated fatherly figure in your life who simply wants to relax in front of the TV as the day passes without a single DIY request, look to comfort. “The George really stands out on his own four feet, he doesn’t need any overcomplicated accessories or surroundings, you can just let him be the star of the show. Perfect for cosy evenings,” says Alex. Let him settle into his newly established favourite armchair – newspaper, remote control or cup of tea in hand – to enjoy some much wished for time on his own.

Discover all our best Father’s Day products