12 Gift Ideas for the Clutter-Averse
If your presents are experiences or edibles, they won’t wind up collecting dust around the house
Laura Gaskill
6 December 2017
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
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, digitised home movies, really good chocolate or a portrait photography session. One dozen creative, experiential or consumable gift ideas are straight ahead.
1. 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 ‘Christmas’-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 Project: Easy-to-Make Room Sprays
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 ‘Christmas’-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 Project: Easy-to-Make Room Sprays
2. Digitised home movies
Get those old 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.
Get those old 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.
3. Treats from your kitchen
If you have a signature Christmas 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.
If you have a signature Christmas 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.
4. 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.
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.
5. Garden gifts
Small plants in decorative pots make beautiful 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).
Small plants in decorative pots make beautiful 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).
6. 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.
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.
7. 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.
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.
8. 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.
What’s Your Wall Gallery Personality?
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.
What’s Your Wall Gallery Personality?
9. 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.
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.
10. 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.
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.
11. 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.
Browse spaces designed for book lovers
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.
Browse spaces designed for book lovers
12. Event tickets, memberships and getaways
Tickets to an event or outing you know they’ll love (sports, theatre, 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.
Tell us
What’s the best clutter-free gift you’ve ever given or received? Share your suggestions in the Comments. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Find DIY gift ideas in the Houzz Crafts section
Tickets to an event or outing you know they’ll love (sports, theatre, 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.
Tell us
What’s the best clutter-free gift you’ve ever given or received? Share your suggestions in the Comments. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Find DIY gift ideas in the Houzz Crafts section
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I "give" people Oxfam gifts, like a goat or chickens (that then go to poor families in developing countries) and add in a home-made gift like biscuits, sweet treats, jams or preserves, limoncello, that kind of thing. I concur with the comments about giving "smellies" -- they're invariably the gifts I have to toss.
For my 7th birthday (I'm now in my 70s) I was given a train ride from one neighboring town to the next. As a country child with no experience of public transport this was the biggest treat for me!
Our extended family decided to give a donation to a charity instead of exchanging Christmas gifts - we each contributed what we would have spent on our Christmas gifts and one member of the family would select the charity of her/his choice, thus rotating the charities each year. A substantial donation was the result! And none of us missed the random selection of gifts we had received in the past.
We are trying to give fewer random 'things', so appreciate some of these suggestions. We also don't want to overspend, so prefer giving small, thoughtful gifts.
For a friend flying in for the holidays from another province I have knitted mittens and will also add a local-themed tea towel as a souvenir of her visit. She has recently downsized from a massive house to a two bedroom condo and certainly doesn't need 'things'.
BTW we often buy souvenir tea towels as, well, 'souvenirs' when we travel. Everybody needs them, there are usually nice designs and you don't have to worry about size or colour. They also pack well.