Clutter-Free Gifts Sure To Shine This Holiday Season

December 11, 2023 Sherri Monte

Both John + I are no strangers to families who are extremely passionate about their gift giving during the holiday season.

In fact, it would be next to impossible, not to mention a long arduous conversation, to suggest to them that they “pump them breaks” when it comes to the gift-giving this year. For those of you who grew up with matriarchs then you probably get my drift *wink*

But… with holiday sales for 2024 expected to increase by 8.5 - 10.5% over 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, it begs the question, do all these gifts actually make us any happier?

And the harsh reality is, most don’t.

More than $9.5 billion is wasted on Christmas gifts each year. With most piling up in closets, garages and storage units. And even though most don’t like what they receive, we still buy them for others.

So, it begs the question — what’s the solution to this crazy cycle of gift giving + waste receiving?

Well, spoiler alert friend... clutter-free gifts of course *wink*

However, before we dive into absolutely amazing clutter-free gift ideas that we’ve pulled together for you… let’s talk about the role gift giving plays in our lives as well as what clutter-free gifts are + why you should buy them this year.

Shall we do this?

Expressing Love with Clutter-Free Gifts

How is it, that even though we’re all about the ways to declutter, organize and design the life you want to be living, when packages start showing up on our doorstep or we discover a ton of presents under the tree -- we stay calm?

Easy peasy! Because when John + I look back at all of our beautiful memories, we realize that it’s not all about us.

One of the most common ways people express love is through giving gifts.

It allows them to share the warm fuzzy feelings they have for others. In fact, if you’ve read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman you know exactly what I’m talking about.

So… who are we to deny others their right to experience joy + to love on us?!

Especially when there’s a deeply rooted psychology behind the joy of giving gifts. According to Dr. Langer, “Giving to others reinforces our feelings for them and makes us feel effective and caring.”

And there lies the predicament, science says giving reinforces our feelings of how well we care for others but the facts state that $9.5 billion is wasted each year on Christmas gifts…

So, there’s got to be a way to deal with gift giving + receiving — even when it’s not a clutter-free gift.

Giving + Receiving Clutter-Free Gifts

Here’s a few strategies to help you feel less overwhelmed with gift exchanges this holiday season.

DECLUTTER BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS

Decluttering before the holidays makes a ton of sense for a variety of reasons.

First, by decluttering items we no longer use, we’re able to pay it forward by making more stuff available for those who have less. Ah, there’s that caring for others :)

At the core, putting others first is what Elegant Simplicity is all about and it’s an important step in our decluttering process (especially in dealing with sentimental clutter).

Not to mention what better time of year to put this giving philosophy into action than right now?!?!

Deciding where to donate the lightly used items that no longer serve us is undoubtedly one of my favorite steps in becoming clutter-free + if you’re anything like me, it’s a task you’ll find meaningful year-round.

Remember that as you’re decluttering, you’re making room for new things.

Since John + I started Elegant Simplicity in 2009, we’ve celebrated a ton of gift-giving holidays + special occasions. One reality that always rears its beautiful head, is the incredible benefit of decluttering. Decluttering is simply making room for all the meaningful things in our lives.

It’s a whole lot easier to embrace new gifts when you’re not focused on where all the new stuff will go!

HAVE CLUTTER-FREE GIFT IDEAS READY

Like clockwork, when it comes to gift giving there’s always that one person who goes rogue + does their own thing (lookin at you mom) but having a list of gift ideas on hand to share with others is still paramount for accumulating the things you h-o-p-e to fill your home with.

For most, they’ll use this list as a signifier for what is important to you so be certain to provide it well in advance of holidays or celebrations + think diligently about what you put on your list.

A couple of simple suggestions for making this list:

think about the quality of what you’re asking for over the quantity
think about things you need for your home/life vs what you may desire right now
and last but not least, think about gifts that you can experience (or consumable gifts) before you think about physical items that will take up permanent space

P.S. don’t forget to keep reading...at the bottom of this article we created an awesome roundup of clutter free gift ideas!

GIVE CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS TO OTHERS

Like I always say, you teach others how to treat you.

So, why would it be any different when it comes to clutter-free gifts? Generally speaking, most of us can buy the material possessions we desire 365 days a year + therefore, we typically don’t wait until ol’ St. Nick is coming to town to do so.

Whether you’re struggling to come up with an idea for someone (because you’re late to the party + everything on their list is already purchased) or they didn’t give you a list to begin with, then use this list to get you headed in the right direction.

think about what makes them smile.
what do they like to do?
what are they passionate about?
how do they spend their free time?
what activities do they enjoy or do often?

This is especially important when trying to find clutter-free gifts for kids. And, consider whether or not they’d like to do all those things — more.

DISCUSS WITH OTHERS WHY CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU

The secret to clutter-free gift giving all boils down to having open communication. The holiday gift exchange frenzy can work in your favor but you’ll need to do a couple of things.

First, realize that not everyone is going to have the same desires that you have for your home or your life so discussing clutter as it relates specifically to you is key.

Talk about why you’re attempting to live a more clutter-free life
Talk about what is driving you to declutter your home
Talk about what you hope to gain from having less stuff

Then, be patient because not everyone is going to care about or understand your desires. So, they’ll buy you something that’s going to take up space in your home *wink* remember to find that gratitude… but eventually, in a few seasons, they’ll realize it wasn’t a fad for you, it was a lifestyle choice.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Gratitude is the easiest but one of the most impactful gifts you can give someone this year.

Acknowledging with praise that their gift or action is appreciated by you is such a simple way to bring a positive + loving vibe into your family fold.

It allows whoever’s giving the gift to feel like an absolute rockstar.

I promise with a little bit of gratitude, you’ll feel an unparalleled level of contentment while also bringing joy to others when you focus on being thankful for the many blessings you have.

WHAT ARE CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS

As you become more clutter conscious in your own home, your heightened awareness of clutter-free living may influence your own gift giving decisions by not wanting to clutter other people’s homes.

If so, #VirtualHi5 for you!

This isn’t to say if someone’s asking for something specific, don’t purchase it. Remember clutter is in the eye of the beholder + what you may consider clutter someone else may not.

So, what exactly are clutter-free gifts?

Well, anything someone else finds value in that likely won’t take up permanent space in their homes.

Clutter-free gifts are experience gifts like going to the movies, a concert, a sporting event, a camp or activity. Clutter-free gifts are a road trip, vacation, or a group activity.

Clutter-free gifts can also be things that are consumable gifts like food, wines, soaps, candles, digital subscriptions + other self-care indulgences.

WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS

If you are decluttering, you are probably becoming more aware of how much clutter you have or have had.

And you’re also becoming more conscious of stopping the inflow of new clutter. You’re aware of the burden that clutter adds to your life and the benefits of living with less.

You should buy clutter-free gifts because you don’t want to add clutter to anyone else’s home with gifts you’ve given them. So, buying intentional, thoughtful, clutter-free gifts lets you express love for those you care about without cluttering their homes.

WHY GIVERS SHOULD LOVE TO GIVE + RECEIVE EXPERIENCE GIFTS

Giving someone an experience gift not only keeps physical clutter at bay + out of their homes but it also allows them to create meaningful experiences… a treat of memories they’ll have for the rest of their life.

How good would it be to sit-back a few years from now + in talking to them, hear about all the wildly amazing + special things they’ve experienced because of the gifts you’ve given them.

Not to mention, if it’s something you’d do together then you’re also giving them the gift of spending time together. Isn’t time our most valuable commodity?

John + I love receiving experience gifts because we adore our lives together.

We’re always coming up with new ways for us to do things outside of work. So for us, when someone gets us an experience gift, our guilty conscience to not be wasteful kicks our butts up out of the house + away from anywhere we could possibly work.

It can be so easy throughout the year to find a routine that’s successful for you + your family but speaking from experience, some of the best moments John + I have had together is when we broke that mold, jumped in the car + went to see or do something.

That’s why we love to receive experience gifts under the Christmas tree.

WHY GIVERS SHOULD LOVE TO GIVE + RECEIVE CONSUMABLE GIFTS

You’ve probably purchased, pulled together or made these kinds of gifts for family before but maybe you never thought of them as “clutter-free.”

The amazing part about luxury consumable gifts is –– people l-o-v-e them!

These are gift baskets full of home-spa remedies, foods, beverages + they’re loved for all the same reasons…

We enjoy indulging in guilty pleasures + it’s even easier for us to do so when someone else does the leg work.

Think diligently about what matters most to them + bask in the joy that your gift isn’t going to clutter their home because it’s — by definition — meant to be consumed + replaced.

Comprehensive Guide to Clutter-Free Gift Ideas: Perfect for Every Occasion

Alright, below is a list of clutter-free gift ideas that can help you with gifts for the holiday season but also throughout the year.

The goal is simple, make the gift shine without adding clutter.

What’s really great though is we’ve split it into a few categories: gifts for adults + gifts for kids… so don’t be afraid to use these gift ideas for yourself when someone asks what you’d like.

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas For Adults

EXPERIENCE GIFT IDEAS FOR ADULTS

Tickets to see a Movie, Play, Concert, Comedy Club, sporting event, or the Orchestra
Outdoor Adventures to explore a nature preserve, state or national park, a winter trip to enjoy the slopes, fishing, hunting, round of golf or playing tennis.
Luxury Spa Day to slip into some serious relaxation
Cooking Classes that teach you how to blanch, braize + glaze like a pro
Weekend Trips to tour a new city
Dinner Date for two which can often be loooong over due *wink*
Package of Classes to a Hobby or Interest (I’m thinking Yoga, Crossfit, knitting, glass blowing, crafting, etc)
Give To Charity one simple way to give an experience gift to someone is to give to charity. Sometimes thats in the form of volunteering alongside them + other times that’s a financial contribution to a charity they hold dear.

CONSUMABLE GIFT IDEAS FOR ADULTS

Gift Cards allow them to decide what they need (or want).
Subscriptions + Memberships - Netflix + Hulu come to mind but Audiobooks or Adobe Creative Suite are also great ideas. Not to mention, things like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, etc.
Luxury Personal Care Kit - with things like soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and deodorants, etc. The ladies in your life will love this!
Food - Everyone loves a new brand of snacks to discover (or re-discover) or go homemade
Books - If they’re a reader then digital books or magazines are a fantastic clutter-free consumable but

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas For Kids

EXPERIENCE GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS

Memberships to Children’s Play Museums or to explore the Zoo, Aquarium + Botanical Gardens
Outdoor Adventure Classes like forest school, zip lining, horseback riding or a guided wilderness + survival course
Day passes to Amusement or Waterparks
Lessons to help them develop a new skill like swimming, art, dance, skiing, music, sports, etc.
Time with you because the one thing kids want more than anything in the world is for you to run, jump, play, cook, read, listen and be adventurous. Kids want to know they have your full undivided attention + while time might be something your shortest on, it’s truly a gift that’ll bring you closer together!

CONSUMABLE GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS

Arts + Crafts supplies because what kid doesn’t love to draw, write, paint? Even if they already own some of these things, they’re hard on them and there’s always some new fascinating art project to do :)
Journals, Coloring + Activity Books
Clothes because kids play hard + they grow like weeds
Books that encourage + will teach them valuable lessons
Activity Kits you can do together (cooking, science, etc.)

Whether it’s luxury consumable gifts, experience gifts for adults or clutter-free gifts for kids the list above should help you simplify the holiday season.

It should give you some clutter-free home ideas but it should help you avoid adding clutter to other people’s homes while also giving you an ease in creating your own list for others. WOWZERS!

This holiday season, think about experience + consumable gifts opposed to stuff. Highlight for yourself + for others the simplicity of clutter-free gifts because it will only help you continue on your journey of living a clutter-free lifestyle!

What are your favorite clutter-free gift ideas?