My ultimate guide to clutter-free Christmas gifting will ensure that you don’t give the gift of clutter this Christmas!

 

“Buying intentional, thoughtful, clutter-free gifts lets you express love for those you care about without cluttering up their homes.”

Elegant Simplicity Interiors

 

It’s that time again! With Black Friday looming and Christmas just around the corner, you might be searching for that special something for the loved ones in your life. But what do you buy for that person who already has everything? What could you possibly find for the kids who are already drowning in toys? And what do you give the family members who say they don’t need or want anything? 

Let me introduce Clutter-Free Christmas Gifting.

What is clutter-free Christmas gifting and why is it a good idea?

A clutter-free Christmas gift is one that will not take up permanent space in the recipient’s home.

A refreshing idea if you’ve experienced the well-being benefits of decluttering and living with less and you want to be mindful of someone else’s desire to have less clutter. 

Nowadays most people feel they already have too much stuff, and worry about where they’re going to find space for the extra things that will arrive at Christmas. Reducing the inflow of new items entering the home is key to maintaining a calm and clutter-free environment, and who doesn’t want that?

A word on unwanted gifts…

You know that sinking feeling when you open a gift that’s just not ‘you’? You instantly know you won’t use it and it makes you feel bad every time you look at it. Secret Santa anyone? 

Do you keep it, re-gift it, get rid of it? I think we’ve all been there, and it makes us all the more sensitive to how important it is to think about what our gift recipients would appreciate. It’s the thought that counts after all. Unwanted gifts can leave you with a feeling of guilt and extra clutter taking up space in your home. 

 

“The true purpose of a present is to be received because gifts are a means of conveying someone’s feelings for you. If you try using the item and decide that it still doesn’t suit you, thank it for the joy it brought when you first received it – and bid it farewell.”

Marie Kondo

 

Gift-giving should be a happy and fun process but the pressure to get it right can turn it into a bit of a stressful task. We can only control the buying and purchasing of gifts, not how the gift is received. 

Most of us would be disappointed to think that the gifts we spend our precious time and money on are not liked or used, but the shocking statistics below tell a different story and highlight how big this problem really is…

According to the GWP Group, “Each year the UK spends £700 million on unwanted Christmas gifts. Consumers throw away approximately £42 million of unwanted presents each year (most end up in landfill). 

Of all purchases made in the UK for Christmas, only 1% will still be used six months after the big day. Consumers in the UK use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year. The average household uses four rolls of wrapping paper. Over 83km2 of wrapping paper ends up in bins.”

What a depressing thought and a terrible waste. 

But the good news is we can do something about it. We can take away that pressure and change the way we do gifting. Why not opt for thoughtful, clutter-free gifts instead?

For a gift to be truly clutter-free, it must meet at least one of the following requirements;

• A non-physical gift 
• A consumable gift that will eventually be used up
• A gift that fills a specific need

There are lots of ways we can show our love and appreciation to the special people in our lives without giving them something they’ll have to take care of! 

Here’s my ultimate guide to clutter-free Christmas gifting

110 Clutter-free gift ideas for all ages

 

Experiences

These are great memory-making gifts that you can be part of and experience along with your loved ones.

• Sunday brunch
• Lunch (once per month for the entire year could be an extra special treat)
• Afternoon tea
• Dinner
• Cinema trip
• Theme park trip
• Water park trip
• Museum tickets
• Zoo/safari park tickets
• Aquarium tickets
• Gig/Concert tickets
• Sporting event tickets 
• Theatre tickets
• Restaurant voucher
• Hotel voucher
• Beauty treatment
• Spa day
• Spa break
• City break
• Holiday/vacation
• Escape room
• Brewing experience
• Wine tasting
• Mini golf/driving range
• Indoor skiing/sledging
• Trampoline park
• Laser tag
• Climbing wall

Professional Services

Perfect to help make your loved one’s life easier!

• Car wash/Valet
• Gardener
• Decorator
• Photographer
• Personal Trainer
• Personal Stylist
• Colour Consultant
• Home Organiser
• Photo Organiser

Memberships

• National Trust
• RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) 
• AA/Roadside assistance
• Museum
• Zoo
• Aquarium
• Swimming Pool
• Gym/PT

Subscriptions

Something you know they’d like but wouldn’t necessarily treat themselves to!

• Flowers
• Magazine
• Beauty box
• Beauty Pie
• Wine
• Meal prep (Gousto/Hello Fresh)
• Tea/coffee
• Cinema (Limitless)
• Netflix
• Amazon Prime
• Disney+
• Spotify
• Kindle Unlimited
• Book Club
• Audio Book App
• Mindfulness/Meditation App

Gift Cards

Let them choose their own gift – this is an especially good choice for teenagers!

• Starbucks/Costa
• Salon
• Toy Shop
• Cosmetics Store
• Clothing Store
• Amazon
• iTunes
• Gaming Pass (xBox, Nintendo, Playstation)

Classes

• Cooking
• Sports
• PT
• Yoga/Pilates
• Cocktail Making
• Mechanics

Food & Drink

Think yummy treats that you know your recipient will enjoy, rather than a random “weird tea flavours” hamper from the local garden centre!

• Hamper
• Charcuterie
• Graze Board
• Chocolate/Confectionery
• Cheese/Wine
• Baked Goods
• Beer
• Wine/Prosecco/Champagne
• Gin
• Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate

Homemade

Spending time to make something for someone shows that you really care.

• Cookies/Tablet/Traybakes
• Bread/ Cakes/Loafs
• Ready-to-bake cake mix presented in a Kilner-type jar with a tag and instructions
• Cupcakes
• Jams/Chutneys
• Candles
• Bath Products

Toiletries

• Bath & Body products
• Skincare
• Haircare 
• Make-up

Home/Garden

• Reed diffuser
• Candle
• Room Spray 
• Seeds for planting 

Act of service/ Gift of your time

Be sure that you’re prepared to follow through on what you’re gifting here!

• Babysitting
• Gardening
• Weeding
• Dog Walking
• Car Washing

Charitable Donation

We all have causes that are close to our heart so a donation to a special cause on behalf of your loved one will be appreciated.

• Sponsor a child
• Sponsor an animal
• Donate to a cause close to the recipient’s heart

Cash

Again, this is always a fail-safe gift for teenagers!

• Cash in a money wallet 
• A piggy bank or wallet already filled with money

These thoughtful and meaningful gift ideas are guaranteed to surprise your loved ones this Christmas – and won’t take up any permanent space in their home. 

Wishing you a very merry clutter-free Christmas!