Gift Ideas for the Clutter-Averse
If you are shopping for a minimalist or just aren’t sure what to get that tricky person on your list, a clutter-free gift may be just the thing. Think event tickets, digitized home movies, really good chocolate or a portrait photography session. One dozen creative, experiential or consumable gift ideas are straight ahead.
Fresh, clean scents. Give the gift of a fresh, clean-smelling home in the form of room sprays, soaps or candles, either homemade or purchased. Don’t feel that they must be “holiday”-scented either — after a few months of apple pie spice and pumpkin everything, it may be refreshing to give something enhanced with lavender or lemon. Just be sure that your recipient isn’t sensitive to fragrances and look for naturally scented products.
DIY: These Easy-to-Make Sprays Freshen Rooms Naturally
DIY: These Easy-to-Make Sprays Freshen Rooms Naturally
Digitized home movies. Get those old Super 8 and VHS home movies professionally transferred to a digital format in time for the holidays, and you could have a screening with family to unveil the finished product. If you’re planning a surprise gift, you may need to enlist the support of another family member to sneak the home movies to you!
What to Know About Digitizing Your Home Movies
What to Know About Digitizing Your Home Movies
Treats from your kitchen. If you have a signature holiday recipe, this is the time to start big-batch baking. Fudge, granola, pumpkin bread, biscotti and (of course) all sorts of cookies lend themselves well to gifting. Pick up airtight cookie tins and parchment paper or Mason jars and ribbon for packaging your treats.
Sweet Ideas and a Truffle Recipe From a Chocolatier’s Test Kitchen
Sweet Ideas and a Truffle Recipe From a Chocolatier’s Test Kitchen
Family recipes. I can’t think of many gifts as meaningful as treasured family recipes made into a book or gathered in a box. As a twist, you could make this a group gift by collecting a recipe or two from each member of your family and creating your own cookbook to distribute to the whole clan.
Garden gifts. Forced hyacinths, paperwhites or amaryllis bulbs make beautiful winter gifts. Or, if you are giving to a garden lover in your life, consider special heirloom seed packets and a good pair of gardening gloves (gardeners can pretty much always use new gloves).
Holiday DIY: Mason Jar Forced Bulbs and Evergreen Gift Tags
Holiday DIY: Mason Jar Forced Bulbs and Evergreen Gift Tags
Lessons and workshops. For kids, this might look like a circus class, rock-climbing lessons or a paint-your-own-pottery workshop. For adults, go with interests you know your gift recipient has, and look for classes and workshops that relate. Some fun ideas include weekend craft workshops, dance lessons, zip lining or a wine-tasting workshop.
Handyman for a day. Ever since watching the Gilmore Girls episode where Luke gives Lorelai a day of fixing things around her house, I have wished someone would do that for me. And I don’t think I’m alone — pretty much any homeowner will love you for this gift. You pay for the handyman’s hours; the recipient of the gift decides what gets fixed around the house. Or, if you happen to be skilled at fixing things, you could offer your own services, as Luke does for Lorelai.
Find hand tools in the Shop section
Find hand tools in the Shop section
Portrait photography session. There are all sorts of wonderful photo-related gifts you can give around the holidays, but if you’re looking for a grander gesture, consider giving a portrait photo session instead. The cost can vary widely, from full-day shoots to mini sessions completed in an hour or less. This would make an especially thoughtful gift for a couple with a new baby.
How to Design a Family Photo Wall
How to Design a Family Photo Wall
Good things to eat and drink. Seasonal fruit delivery, chocolate, wine, special tins of tea, freshly roasted coffee beans, nuts in the shell … if it’s delicious, you can bet someone on your list will appreciate getting it. Before my husband’s grandmother passed away, we sent her Dungeness crab every Christmas — she was a California transplant to Virginia, and West Coast crab was the thing she missed most after moving away!
Art and craft supplies. Writing tools, art supplies and craft materials make wonderful gifts for kids and crafty friends. If you’re not sure what to pick, give a gift card to a great local art, yarn or fabric store.
Books, journals and subscriptions. Good things to read are always on my wish list and my gift-giving list. Beyond books, look to literary journal subscriptions, off-the-beaten-path foodie magazines and gorgeous blank notebooks. Or for something a bit different, give a subscription to an audiobook service or credits for ebooks.
Event tickets, memberships and getaways. Tickets to an event or outing you know they’ll love (sports, theater, dance, ice skating) or a membership to a local museum is meaningful, memorable and clutter-free. And if you really want to go all-out, a weekend getaway to somewhere you know they’ve been wanting to go can’t be beat.