Especially for birthday gifts for your sister-in-law, you want to first consider her age. Then think about where she lives — is she just starting out in college and sharing a space with roomies? Or is she settled in a 3-bedroom home with wee ones? The basic stats are a start. For example, a practical gift for a cash-strapped college student makes more sense than something non-essential.

Think about what role consumes the most energy for your sister-in-law right now — whether it’s a busy career, young kids, studying for school or an advanced degree. She most likely wears many hats, but thinking about her main focus at the moment can inspire what to give as gifts.

Do you ever notice your sister-in-law complaining about something? Being cold all the time? Not being able to find her keys? Find a gift that solves her problem and you’ll look like the most thoughtful sister-in-law around.

Ask around (partners, siblings) to find out how your sister-in-law spends her weekends. Does she love to host friends over for a dinner parties, hit up live music shows, or stay at home with wine and a great Netflix documentary? Sleuth out a typical weekend of activities. Bingo — you have gifts for your sister-in-law in the bag.

When in doubt (or if it’s December 23rd and you have no gifts for your sister-in-law ready for Christmas) think about simple ways to pamper her. If she’s a mama, any Mother's Day gifts for your sister-in-law that give her valuable me-time will help her recharge. (You can even offer to babysit for any experience gifts, like a day at the spa.)  

You can learn a lot about a person from their Instagram. Check her social media for clues about how she spends her time, what makes her happy, and her individual style. You might get lucky with Pinterest or even an Amazon Wishlist to tap into gift ideas on what she’s currently loving.

Ask family about what made her happy when she was younger. Maybe she had a favorite particular animal or always loved riding roller coasters. A specific memory from her childhood could be turned into a spot-on gift, or even a sentimental keepsake.

These guides share gift ideas for the whole gang:

7 Foolproof Ways to Shop For a Brother-in-Law

A Simple Guide to Getting Superb Gifts for Your Brother

How to Spot Sweet Gift Ideas For Your Sister

She's got great style. She throws a good party. She's often on the go and she definitely knows what's on the cool radar. She's your sister-in-law. So when you're searching around for gift ideas, be sure to step up your gifting game. If you two are close, feel free to choose a specific gift that feels like her. If you're more distant, scope out ideas that are a fun twist on something ordinary. Keep her guessing, and she'll be happy with these ideas.