Minimalist Gift Ideas for Those Who Don’t Like Clutter

Just because your brother-in-law likes to live without the clutter of material goods, doesn’t mean he doesn’t want stuff. Or even like stuff.

In fact, we can guarantee there’s a whole range of minimalist products that he – or any other minimalist in your life (maybe you’re the minimalist, and just probing for ideas to send to mom) – would love to receive this holiday season

Wouldn’t you know it, we’ve found a few items that even the hardcore minimalist would swoon over. We’ve put it in this handy dandy gift guide list for you too.

What to gift a minimalist who says they want nothing

Well, this is a gift giver’s quandary, isn’t it? You want to get them a thoughtful gift. But they’ve carefully (maybe not so carefully) decluttered their home in favor of keeping things simple and easy.

In other words, every time the holidays come around, they absolutely dread being loaded up with candles and random art they’ll never hang and personalized blankets that will never see fresh air again.

In that case, maybe they really do want absolutely nothing from you this Christmas.

At least not a physical gift.

What does that leave you with? Experience gifts.

Here are a few great gift ideas…

Give the great gift of experiences

For those in your life that truly do not want anything to add to their home, vehicle, or person, consider gifting them an experience.

Of course, only you and the people closest to them will know exactly what they want and need, but we can help a bit.

How about:

• A trip to the spa
• Dinner at the nicest restaurant in town (a place they’ve been hesitant to splurge at)
• A vacation somewhere they’ve always wanted to go
• An adventurous activity, either in their area or elsewhere (bungee jumping? Skydiving? Hot air balloon ride?)
• Quality time with you
• State park passes
• Online courses

If you can’t gift them a whole trip, consider travel gift certificates and vouchers for a discount.

Gift them entertainment

Even if it’s not an experience, you can still gift your favorite minimalist friend or loved one a way to make memories and connect with family and friends.

Especially if these forms of entertainment remind them of a favorite memory, childhood game, or hobby.

• A book club subscription (digital readers count)
• Puzzles (there are exchange groups so they can keep getting new puzzles, while also getting rid of the old)
• Audiobook membership (like Audible)
• A gift card to a bookstore
• A museum membership
• A gift card or tickets to an amusement park
• A gift card to a movie theater

Do something for them

Nearly everyone has those tasks that we put off, sometimes for years, because it takes a lot of time, costs a lot of money, or we just have too much going on to get to it.

We may even know one or two people that continue to use their phone with a shattered screen, or keep refilling tires with air at the gas station instead of repairing the leak.

You know who you are.

Anyway… this is a good time to do something to alleviate the headaches in your loved ones’ lives.

Fixing something that has needed fixing, or upgrading an item (say… a vacuum?), or even cleaning up a mess can often be the best gift for the minimalist (and everyone else in your life).

For the minimalist that says they want nothing, but doesn’t mean it

Maybe you’ll honor their request for absolutely nothing.

Or, maybe you’re really insistent on getting them something.

Or… maybe you just know that, while they say they want nothing, they’ll feel left out when everyone else gets something.

What do you get them, then?

Likely the best gift for them is something that helps them be even more of a minimalist.

Huh?

What we mean is… sometimes people use multiple tools when they could use just one. Or they’re stuck using a clunky piece of equipment with too many parts because they can’t afford something newer, and with fewer parts.

(An old floor vacuum might come to mind, but we’re just spitballin’ here.)

So maybe, just maybe, your gift could be something that makes their lives easier, helps them get rid of things in their home, or even removes a task from their day.

Here are a few ideas:

• Consumable gifts like food subscriptions
• Products for their skincare routine, such as moisturizer, cleanser, toner, sunscreen, etc.
• GPS tags, for their small and easily lost objects
• Reusable storage, especially if they compress (and can hide under the bed)
• A Roomba^® robot vacuum cleaner (oh, come on, you knew it was coming)
• Organizers that hide everything (especially all the little bobbles on your desk)
• Zero waste kits and subscriptions (to eliminate all the bottles and plastic bags, for your eco-friendly minimalist)

Simple living gifts

Is the minimalist in your life a minimalist because they can’t stand the clutter? Or do they just like the simple life?

We get it. Having a bunch of upholstery to maintain, objects and surfaces to dust, dishes to wash… well, it can be a lot to maintain.

Plus, we have to admit that there’s something so refreshing and therapeutic about having very few things. You actually feel clear-headed and even, dare we say, free.

But again, there are still gifts for this type of minimalist as well.

• 8-in-1 kitchen tools (there are some that do everything from grating cheese and funneling liquids)
• Travel organizers
• Reusable notebooks (for the minimalist that loves journaling, but doesn’t like keeping the notebooks lying around)
• An Amazon Alexa or other smart home hub (they can set timers, play music, and control other devices throughout your house)
• 14-in-1 cookers (get rid of steamers, sous vide machines, slower cookers, and other gadgets because you only need a 14-in-1)
• Roomba Combo™ j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

Practical gifts for minimalists

Ooo you have one of the practical minimalists in your life. The one that only keeps the things they use regularly, and chucks everything else because they don’t serve enough purpose – or bring them joy (We love Marie Kondo).

Honestly, they’re likely one of the easiest minimalists to shop for around the holidays, because there are TONS of practical gifts out there. Even practical gifts that suit minimalists, believe it or not.

Like these options:

• A smart baton motion sensor light (it activates when you move, and you can remove the baton to illuminate your walk to the fridge in the middle of the night)
• A smart mug that holds its temperature
• Long lasting cookware
• Air purifier (Here’s how to choose the right size air purifier)

Best gifts for minimalist parents

So your parents got you and your stuff out of their house, and then they just kept going and going, pairing down to the bare essentials. Heck, maybe they just sold everything they own to travel around the country in an RV, so they’re minimalists out of necessity.

Or they just like the simple things in life. They’re happy without filling their home, and feel they just don’t need anything else.

So, what do you get them?

Well, we’ve mentioned experiences and subscription services (a regular bottle of wine and coffee are parents’ best friends)… We’ve even mentioned multi-tools and kitchen gear that pack a lot into one.

Those are still some great options for minimalist parents. But don’t forget to think of things that’d make their lives easier, simpler… that remove tasks. Or, gifts that add something special to their life.

We have a few ideas:

• A digital photo frame
• Membership or tickets to one of their favorite venues (such as museums)
• Games they can play with you or the grandkids (Here are some more ideas for gifts for Grandpa)
• An upgrade to worn-out items in their home
• Video doorbell
• Amazon Echo show
• Portable smart video calling
• A Roomba^® robot vacuum cleaner (Here’s how to choose the best robot vacuum for them)
• A Braava^® robot mop

Gifts for a minimalist guy

Dating… or married, to a minimalist dude? He’s hacked life, right? Figured out that sometimes less is more.

But you can’t go about the holidays without proclaiming your love for them, and showing them how special they are to you, without some kind of gift.

Maybe it’s DIY and close to the heart. Maybe it’s just an experience – a date night, a thrilling event, a trip for the two of you.

But if you’re looking for something physical (a gift, hmhm clears throat), then consider one of these:

• Pocket knife (I don’t know about your man, but this is usually a winner, and it’s low profile)
• A minimalist wallet (that’s also indestructible)
• Gaming packages (if they’re that kind of guy)
• Shave club subscription
• Tile trackers (so they never ask you where their wallet is again – ohhh and pair it with the minimalist wallet…)
• Multitool (for the handymen)
• A watch (hey, it won’t clutter their space)
• Snack subscription
• Headphones
• A book he’s been wanting to read
• And if he has a cat, here are some ideas for cat dad gifts

Minimalist gifts for her

Most women we know aren’t difficult to buy for. We drop hints. We make lists. Heck, some even make whole Pinterest boards of inspiration for Christmas gift shopping (and receiving).

Yes, even as a minimalist, there are tons of brands and items to ogle over, especially around Christmas… and especially subscription services. It almost seems like the holiday itself is catered toward women.

But while there is an endless supply of chocolate boxes, fuzzy socks, silky pajamas and pillows that keep hair and skin intact, and bath bombs… you still might not know what to get her.

If she’s the type that’s easy to please, doesn’t need or want much, or has everything she could possibly want already (because she’s a boss and gets herself everything she desires), she might still like one or two of the following:

• At-home spa kits or spa treatment (if not the spa itself)
• A date night
• A mani/pedi
• A gift card to her favorite clothing boutique
• Jewelry
• A tea subscription (if she’s into that sorta thing, of course)
• Ereader, like a Kindle (beware, she may be the type of book lover that only loves physical books. Check before purchase)
• Skincare kit (especially if it’s a bougie brand)
• 4-in-1 makeup brush
• Here are some additional ideas for dog mom gifts (and cat mom gifts, too!)

(P.s… If you can’t find any ideas, you can most certainly check her Instagram-saved products, Pinterest boards, Etsy favorites, and bookmarked tabs on her computer.)

Hobbies for minimalists

While it seems a little counterintuitive to the cause that is minimalism, minimalists can (and often do) have hobbies. And sometimes, those hobbies require a lot of equipment, tools, and disposable supplies (think paint, paper, glue, ribbon… you get it).

Now, there really aren’t any hobbies that minimalists alone have claim to. Nor are there any hobbies that specifically draw minimalists to them.

But there do tend to be some common threads among hobbies, and laying them out tends to help develop good gift-giving ideas.

Some of the most common hobbies – that are great for small spaces or don’t require a lot of materials – are:

• Gardening
• Gaming
• Writing
• Jewelry making
• Model building
• Music
• Puzzles
• Photography
• Reading
• Hiking
• Knitting
• Painting
• Dancing

If your loved one already has one of these, or any other, hobby, then gift giving is as simple as figuring out exactly what they don’t have to continue their hobby.

Maybe they’re consistently running out of paint, or need some fresh puzzles. As a gift, you might load them up on their favorite brand of paint, or get them a few interesting puzzles and connect them to a puzzle exchange group.

Maybe they need to upgrade their camera or would like the latest photo editing software.

When it comes to fueling their passions and interests, there is a lot of room for creative gift-giving.

But what if they don’t have a hobby yet, but they desperately need one, have expressed interest, or are in search of something to fill their free time?

Then you might interest them in one of the following:

• Rollerskates
• A pottery-making kit
• Knitting patterns, lessons, and materials
• Paint by numbers (but a more modern one, with incredible pictures)
• Indoor herb grower
• Soap making kit
• Musical instruments
• 3D printer
• Cutting machine
• Sewing machine
• Terrarium kit
• Beer making kit
• Candle-making kit/ molds
• Cheese making kit

Minimalist luxury gifts

Minimalism doesn’t exclude luxury. In fact, maybe they’re exclusive to luxury. They want and have only the finer things in life, and boycott anything else (oh, if only… le sigh).

The best bags, the best food, capsule wardrobe, skincare, shoes… what else is there?

Oh, of course, there are some of the best gadgets and the flashiest jewelry.

When it comes to luxurious minimalism, it’s less about all the gadgets and gizmos a plenty, and more about having the best upgrades with the simplest, freshest look. Though, we’ve heard a rumor about a caviar subscription. Luxury… taste?

• Cocktail kit
• Minimalist jewelry
• Essential oil diffuser
• Fancy snack subscription
• Luxury beauty and skincare products
• Leather bag, tote, or toiletries bag
• Perfume
• Top-of-the-line kitchen gadget
• A sleek pair of boots
• Silk pajamas
• The best of the best in headphones
• A new phone
• Luxurious robe and slippers
• Teeth whitening kit
• Infrared water bottle
• LED face mask

Best minimalist tech gifts

Tech often simplifies our lives, removes chaos, and even removes some of the clutter in our homes by reducing the number of gadgets and tools needed to get something done.

Think about it? There’s no need for a single toaster now, when you can get a mini convection oven that also dehydrates, broils, toasts, and even makes rotisserie chicken, right on your kitchen counter.

Your kitchen aid comes with a million attachments, but it reduces the need for a million pieces of equipment.

Even a PlayStation doubles as a DVD player and your computer can double as a TV.

Then, of course, there are the smart home hubs that control calendars, set timers, play music, make calls, and even control other devices in your home (like your lights and temperature).

To get the perfect tech gift for the minimalist in your life, you simply need to get them something that makes their lives easier, removes tasks, or is an upgrade to their existing gadgets (or even helps them cut down on the number of gadgets).

Something like… these tech gifts:

• Voice-controlled electronic assistants
• Window washing robot
• Roomba Combo™ j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop
• Smart docks for phone
• Tablet
• iPhone wide lens attachment
• GoPro
• Mini hard drive
• Mini power bank
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Sleep mask headphones (they’re exactly as they sound)
• Rechargeable hand warmer
• Here are some more ideas and smart products to gift the technology-obsessed

And the pièce de résistance, and something we’ve already mentioned a few times throughout this article (because why not, it’s the perfect gift?)… a robot vacuum and mop.

Seriously, though, is there anything more minimalist than a low-profile, cordless vacuum that cleans your home on its own, learns your living patterns to maximize cleaning, and even goes to its charger on its own?

Yeah, we didn’t think so.

Roomba Combo™ j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop is the world’s only 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that senses carpet and then fully retracts to the top of the robot — completely away from your carpet. More perks include:

• Vacuums and mops simultaneously
• Powered by iRobot OS – and works with Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices
• Identifies obstacles, avoids hazards
• Avoids pet accidents on purpose
• Delivers 10x power-lifting suction compared to the Roomba^® 600 series cleaning system
• Empties itself with Clean Base^® Automatic Dirt Disposal

Oh, and we didn’t even compare the size of a Roomba^® robot vacuum to a regular standup, corded vacuum. You get the cleanliness of a standard vacuum – but without all the clunk.

Enough about us though. You already know our robot vacuums and mops make excellent gifts, but are we the perfect gift for the special minimalist in your life?

If not (or they already have a Roomba^® robot vacuum or Braava^® robot mop), we hope this list guided you to a great minimalist gift idea for this holiday season.

P.S. Are you hosting this season? Check out our blog chock-full of holiday cleaning tips that are procrastination-proof.