Smeg TSF01 2-Slice Toaster

Smeg's TSF01 is the toaster people buy for the way it looks, and for a design-conscious recipient it can be the gift that ties a kitchen together. It offers two extra-wide slots with automatic centring, six browning levels and defrost, reheat and bagel functions, in a rounded 1950s enamel finish across a wide colour range. It sits at number five because, while well-built and widely admired, it is a clear case of paying a premium for design: at around £150 (RRP £149.95) it costs far more than a functionally similar toaster, which is why its value score is the lowest here. The trade-off versus the glassware and candle above is that those offer more gift value per pound, whereas the Smeg wins purely on aesthetics and brand cachet. Choose it only when you know the recipient's style and colour scheme, and it becomes a standout present.