We all want to give a gift that is going to put a smile on the recipients face, but we also want them to love it and use it. This can be hard when you know someone who has a minimalist lifestyle or for someone who already has far too much stuff or doesn’t need anything.
That’s why these clutter-free gifts are the perfect solution to avoid your present ending up in their closet or worse – unwanted!
Buying Gifts For Minimalists Or People Who Have Everything
Giving gifts to the people we care about is a wonderful feeling, knowing we are bringing a little bit of joy to their lives.
And in most cases, people love to receive gifts and the hardest thing is simply coming up with what to get!
Yet for some people on our gift buying list, finding the perfect gift can be extra challenging for one of these three reasons:
One – They may be a minimalist who prefers to keep their home sparse and functional making it a challenge to find something they will actually want or need.
Two – They already have everything they need so you need to think outside the box to find something they will actually enjoy and make use of.
Or, three – Your gift recipient may be struggling with the amount of stuff they already have and while your heart is in the best place in wanting to give them a gift, certain gifts may add to their physical and emotional load as they need to find a home for it in their already cluttered home.
While your intention is in the best of places with giving gifts to the people you love, facing any of the three challenges above can take away from the joy of receiving a gift for your gift recipient.
That’s where these clutter-free gifts are the perfect solution!
Clutter-Free Gifts For Everyone On Your List
A clutter-free gift is one that does not take up any room in their home and is not a gift that they need to find a place for.
Or, it is something so very small and compact that there is no impact on their physical surroundings.
So what type of non-clutter gifts are there?
There are two main types of minimalist gifts that don’t create clutter: Non-physical gifts and consumable gifts.
Non-Physical List of Clutter-Free Gift Ideas
Non-physical clutter-free gifts are the perfect option for your minimalist gift recipient or someone who has everything.
They don’t take up any space in their home, nor do they require a place to be stored when not being used.
Some examples of non-physical clutter-free gifts include:
- Experience gifts such as a day cruise or a mystery picnic
- Event tickets
- Concert tickets
- A cooking class
- Theatre tickets
- National park pass
- Theme park annual passes
- Family photo session
- Audible audio books subscription
- Amazon Prime membership
- Attraction passes
- Netflix subscription
- Movie theatre gift card
- Restaurant gift card
- Spotify subscription
- Amazon Music subscription
- Apple Music subscription
- Kindle Unlimited subscription
- Other entertainment streaming subscription
- iTunes gift cards
- Hire a cleaning service for a period of time
- Pay for a date night
- Offer to babysit to give them a night out
- Local museum passes
- Amazon gift card
- Digital subscription to their favourite magazines
- Digital newspaper subscription
- Pamper voucher
- Massage or facial voucher
- Hair salon voucher
- Car detailing
- A vacation
- Flight vouchers
- Hotel voucher
- Airbnb gift card
- Groceries gift card
- Clothing store gift card
- Department store gift cards
- Shoe retailer gift cards
- Online course or class
- Donation in their name to charity
- Escape room experience (or a virtual escape room)
- Art class
- Gift vouchers to their favourite store
- Gym membership
- Local pool membership
- Costco membership or similar
- Cook them a homemade meal
- Money
- Sponsor a child or animal in their name
- Photobook or digital photo organisation gift card
- Mini golf
- Campground booking
- Horse riding
- Disney+ annual subscription
- Yard service
- Pet sitting
- Car service
- Petrol/gas card
- DIY coupon book
- Online classes
- Auto care membership
Consumable Gift Ideas
A consumable gift is a great way to give physical gifts without adding to the clutter in their home.
These are items that can be used up, enjoyed and replaced when they’ve run out and can be anything from the day-to-day items a person uses to something suited to special occasions for a unique treat, such as to pamper themselves at home.
With consumable gifts, make sure you are purchasing items you know they love and will use otherwise they do become clutter! Gift baskets of favourite things are not a good option if it’s not their favourite things!
Don’t give someone scented candles if you’ve never seen them burning a candle.
I’m not a candle person so this type of gift is definitely a closet stuffer! But for someone else, this might be the perfect consumable gift idea.
Consumable gifts can be a very personal gift so you want to make sure you are choosing the right gift for your recipient!
Some examples of consumable Christmas gifts are:
- Skincare products – face masks, cleansers, moisturisers
- Haircare products
- Grocery items and food gifts
- A gift basket filled with their favourite things – make sure you include things they will definitely use so nothing ends up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard!
- A meal box subscription such as Hello Fresh
- A gift subscription box – Check out these subscription boxes for kids or subscription boxes for families
- Art supplies
- Hobby supplies that can be used up
- Speciality coffee or tea
- A bottle of wine
- Craft beer
- Other bottles of adult beverages
- Candles
- Essential oils
- Bath bombs
- Shaving kit or skincare
- Magazine or newspaper subscription that can be read and disposed of after
- Car cleaning supplies
- Stationery items such as pens, sticky notes & note pads
- Baking supplies
- Homemade treats
- Pet food and treats
- Their favourite perfume or cologne
- Hot cocoa supplies or hot cocoa bombs
- Seasoning mixes and spice blends
- Lip balm
- Gardening seeds
- Potting mix and garden supplies
- Body wash
- Speciality sauce
- Homebrew supplies
- Toothpaste, toothbrush and floss
- Fruit snacks or dried fruit
- Planner stickers
Clutter Free Gifts For Kids & Toddlers
Clutter-free gifts can also be a great idea for children and toddlers!
Kids don’t need the clutter in their lives, plus giving non-toy gifts to kids is a great way to encourage them to use their imagination.
While kids may be expecting toys and the type of gifts they can unwrap, often experience gifts are far more meaningful gifts for all ages and they will likely remember that amazing day they had at a theme park over the 12th Barbie they received!
These are also great options if you are taking a minimalist approach to toys in your household!
Here are some perfect gift ideas for clutter free kids:
- Music lessons
- Sports lessons such as karate or soccer
- iTunes gift card
- Online learning membership such as Reading Eggs or ABCMouse
- A day out doing something fun
- Pass to visit indoor play places
- Passes to Children’s museums
- Water park passes
- Summer camp
- A YES day – Say yes to the things they ask to do
- A family vacation
- Apps they have been wanting for their tablet
- Digital console or computer games
- Xbox store gift card
- Google play gift card
- Art or craft class
- A day at the beach or pool
- Money
- Zoo passes
- Trampoline centre visit
- Roblox or Minecraft
- Visit to local science centres
- Movie tickets or a visit to the movies
And here are some consumable gifts for kids:
- Colouring books
- Activity books
- Felt pens, coloured pencils and crayons
- Hobby supplies
- Bubble bath
- Treats
- Craft kits
- Kids subscription boxes
The 5 Love Languages & How They Influence Gift Giving
Have you heard of The 5 Love Languages?
This perspective developed by Dr Gary Chapman identifies that different people with different personalities give and receive love in different ways and this can also influence the type of gifts we enjoy receiving.
There are 5 love languages: acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, words of affirmation and physical touch.
Knowing the love languages of the people you are closest to can be helpful in knowing what they would really appreciate most.
For some, that might be an act of service such as offering to babysit for them or weed their garden or it may be quality time so taking them out for a special meal or a day trip would be a thoughtful gift!
For others, their love language may be receiving gifts which means by not giving a physical gift, while your intention is a thoughtful one, may leave them feeling disappointed.
Sometimes The Best Gift Is No Gift At All
It can be tricky when you are considering what to give someone, especially if there is a strong reason such as their passion for a minimalist lifestyle or they have everything so buying them something additional feels like overkill.
If they are requesting no gifts, while for some people, this is an automatic response despite enjoying the gift-receiving process.
But for others, it is worth seriously considering your options and whether no gift at all will be most appreciated by them.
It means you have respected their wishes, especially if this person is drowning in clutter.
Sometimes even gift certificates feel like too much.
It can also put guilt onto other people by gifting them something they neither want nor need, leaving them to struggle with letting go of sentimental clutter.
Instead, make a plan to spend quality time together and focus on what really counts at this time of giving! Or if you really can’t fathom not giving them a gift, give the gift of time by helping them with a task or project instead.
How To Prepare For A Clutter-Free Christmas
Make sure you are prepared for the holiday season in advance for receiving gifts if you are also looking to reduce the amount of clutter in your home.
The lead up to Christmas is a great time to declutter your home and especially declutter toys if you have kids who will likely be receiving many gifts from family and friends.
You could even propose a clutter-free Christmas with your extended family in the place of your usual gift-giving tradition. Hold an experience gift Secret Santa exchange for a fun new tradition.
These clutter-free gifts may very well be the best gifts for minimalists and people who have everything. Many of these gift ideas instead focus on experiences and making new treasured memories and those are gifts that go beyond their actual value!
With so many minimalist gift ideas for all ages with plenty of gifts suited for the whole family, you are sure to find something for everyone on your gift list! Or come up with the perfect plan for spending time together instead!
What is the best non-clutter gift you’ve ever received? Tell us in the comments!
For more gift-giving ideas: