Clutter-free living can include giving gifts that the recipient will be happy to receive and at the same time be useful and not result in clutter. How many pairs of gloves, scarves, and slippers does a person need? These clutter-free gift giving ideas are not limited to the holiday season but are appropriate and helpful suggestions to use for any gift giving occasion.

Gift certificates are always a good choice for any special occasion. You can purchase mall-wide gift certificates if you aren’t sure what the person may want to shop for. Friends and family that have special interests and hobbies will no doubt appreciate a gift certificate from their favorite specialty store. Some people love to shop for themselves while others want more personal thought and care going into their gift from you. Other gift certificate choices that don’t create clutter include dinner gift certificates, movie tickets, theatre tickets, music lessons, a manicure or pedicure, a day at the spa or even a vacation.

Gift coupons that you make yourself may include free babysitting, walking the dog certificate, pet care, a plate of homemade brownies or cookies, lawn mowing, and any number of chores you can do for someone else that they will really appreciate. Remember that time is one of the greatest gifts to give. Simply visiting a friend or relative for a couple of hours or for a whole weekend is a valued gift. Unhurried window shopping and lunch would be considered by many to be the perfect gift!

A homemade gift basket with items that will actually be used is another wonderful clutter-free gift idea. Suggestions include:

Gardening Basket - Use a terra cotta pot for the basket and fill it with garden gloves, hand trowel, hand rake, flower and vegetable seeds, a gardening book and a subscription to a gardening magazine. What gardener wouldn’t love that gift?

Italian Dinner Basket - Use a large pasta bowl filled with a package of gourmet pasta, tongs, a package of sun-dried tomatoes, a bottle of olive oil, a pasta cookbook and a couple of your own hand-printed recipes on decorative recipe cards.

Sports Enthusiast - Fill a sports helmet or hat with sports cards, baseball or puck, etc., a poster of their favorite player, a subscription to a sports magazine and any other appropriate items.

As you can see, there are limitless ideas for gift baskets assembled out of items the recipient will just love and really use.

To help keep your home organized, download a free copy of the ebook “The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home”. Download it free here: Organizing Tips.

Lynn Cressy has a love for decorating and shopping for home decor. She owns a home decor web site and writes articles on home decorating and organizing your home and your life.