Clutter-Free Gifting: 2021 Holiday Edition
Updated December 2021
7 Ideas for Clutter-Free Gifting
Our guide to clutter-free gift giving year-round, but especially during the holiday season. Get creative with our best clutter-free gift ideas to give joy without giving clutter!
Give something for well-being.
With everyone being cooped up for the last year, gifting someone a class or experience that makes them feel good is right up there at the top of our list!
How about an online workout subscription? I like Sacred Fig’s online studio offering a variety of classes in yoga, meditation, and fitness. I also love MBody’s online program - combining barre, dance, and cardio. The Mindry is also open for both in person and online yoga and meditation classes. You could also gift a subscription to a meditation app such as Calm.
I also love giving a massage as a gift. Zeel does amazing in home massages and you can book same day!
Give something charitable.
Make a donation in their honor to your charity of choice like A Sense of Home (furnishing homes for those coming out of the foster care system) CASA (supporting children in the child welfare system), The Midnight Mission (addressing the houseless and food insecurity), The LA LGBT Center (offering a variety of services for both LGBT youth and adults), or The American Cancer Society (toward research and support of current cancer patients). You could also try making food to take to a shelter or volunteering for the LA Food Bank together! It's a great way to help others while spending time with your loved ones.
Give some time.
Know someone with a new baby? Babysit the kiddos, and treat them to a grown-up dinner and cocktails (or two or three…). Some other ideas are:
Have dinner delivered with Uber Eats or Postmates
Schedule a virtual organization session
Hire a massage therapist to make a house call through Zeel
Bring them groceries
Send a house cleaner
Cook meals for them that can be kept in the freezer
Run miscellaneous errands for them that they don’t have time for
Pick up their other kids from school
Give something to do.
Gift a museum membership and give them something they’ll love to do all year long. My favorite museum in LA is LACMA (hello, museum AND bar?!), but there are so many excellent places to choose from, like the new Academy of Motion Pictures Museum, the Hammer, the Zimmer, The Broad, or the Natural History.
Or, create your own art! You can book a pottery throwing class through Still Life Studio, a paint and sip class, or a sewing class with our friend Brie at her studio: Advisory Goods.
If they aren’t the artsy type, what about an experience like a hot air balloon ride (check Groupon for deals - there’s always a couple!), a sunset boat cruise or a whale watching cruise (there’s always deals for both of these on Goldstar), or a cooking class - perhaps through Eataly - yum! You could also plan an adventure such as rock climbing, a nice hike to a waterfall, kayaking, or a camping trip.
Additionally, Airbnb offers a variety of virtual experiences that you could do with your loved ones at your own home, or long distance friends could all tune in from their own homes! Learn to cook from Italian locals, watch a magic show, take part in Drag Bingo, and so much more!
Give something to hear.
Concerts are back! Gift your loved ones a trip to the Hollywood Bowl, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, or The Greek. We have season tickets to the Bowl and we absolutely love it.
Or, consider gifting a subscription to a streaming platform such as Spotify, Pandora, or Apple Music so they can listen to all of the awesome new albums coming out this year! My new fave is Elton John’s The Lockdown Sessions.
Give something for them to indulge.
A bottle of wine is always appreciated. I love Helen’s Wines and Obvious Wines, because of their variety of sustainable and untouched wines. If you’re feeling extra crafty, make a signature cocktail! My favorite is Cranberry Vodka Spritzers with a sprig of rosemary. You can find the recipe here.
You could also bring them to a winery for a tasting (this is one of my favorite clutter free gifts for parents). My favorite winery is Cielo Farms in Malibu. There are absolutely stunning views and the wine is *chefs kiss.*
Buying for someone that has more of a sweet tooth? Beauty Bar Chocolates are SO GOOD. Not to mention it is fairtrade chocolate with superfoods, adaptogens, and collagen!
Give something for the home.
Sometimes the best gifts for someone are ones they can use in their home - especially if you’re purchasing a house warming gift! The goal is to avoid adding more unneeded items to their space, so instead think of getting them something that will make the space their own.
A home clearing kit with sage, palo santo, etc would be great to cleanse the home and energy. House of Intuition has hand selected an array of products for their House Blessing Box to bring positive energy into your home.
Flowers or a new houseplant are also a great way to offer a natural element! Try gifting them with the Classic Plant Subscription from The Sill.
Be sure to add these to your sustainable holiday gift guide 2021! Have more suggestions or want to be included in our next clutter-free gift guide? Comment below!
Originally published 03/2021