Everyone knows someone who loves organizing or, conversely, could stand to have a bit of help in that department—according to AARP, “the average American spends 2 ½ days every year looking for misplaced items.” So, what better creative gift to give your favorite organizer (or clutterbug) than an organizational aid or two?
Before we dig into our favorite organization gift ideas, we offer you one piece of advice: be careful with this gift. While it is a helpful and typically well-intentioned present, you should be sure it is something that will be welcomed or at least received kindly by the recipient. No one wants to be told (or hinted at) that they are messy! You could hurt feelings inadvertently with this one, so it’s best to discuss gift ideas with the recipient ahead of time unless organization help is something they’ve already explicitly asked for.
Let’s get started.
Organization gift ideas for her (or him, or them)
Whether you are browsing organization gifts for mom for Mother’s Day, for you and your partner who could use a hand setting up your new home, a family member who is transitioning to a smaller home, or for your friend who is a new parent and needs all the help they can muster to get their new reality under control, here are 4 organization gift ideas we think really make a difference:
1. Your time and labor
We know this is probably not the easy answer you wanted, but giving the gift of time and labor is one of the more meaningful options that can actually make a difference for someone who needs to get organized. Offering to come over or committing one day a week to helping them get their space more organized—and actually following through—is often a genuinely useful gift that can help create some accountability, as well as give you a chance to spend quality time together.
2. Books
This is a gift you really have to know your audience for. Will the recipient read the book? Will it actually be useful to them? If you can answer yes to both of these questions, consider picking up one of the following:
- The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo
- The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning - Margareta Magnusson
- Let It Go - Peter Walsh
- The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals - Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin
3. Professional organizer services
Professional organizer services are a highly versatile gift for people who love organization, as well as for those who need a little help. Professional organizers provide a wide variety of organizational services depending on what their client (or in this case, gift recipient) needs, including services such as:
- Decluttering assistance
- Organization planning and/or execution
- Room redesign
- Creating spaces that are more functional
- Adding useful storage systems to neatly house important items
- Space planning for a new home and getting set up after moving in
For example, if someone can plan out their home organization project but for whatever reason isn’t following through, professional organizers can help with the execution. Conversely, if someone needs help planning their organization project but is happy to do the actual work of organizing themselves, professional organizers can also simply help with project planning and leave the hard work up to you.
Interested in learning more? TSI offers professional organizer services that are priced in blocks of 4 hours (half day) or 8 hours (full day). Depending on the type of project you need help with and the degree of complexity—organizing your closets vs. managing a long distance move, for example—you may need anywhere from 4 to 40+ hours. During your consultation with us, we’ll provide a rough estimate of how many hours will be required to meet your objectives.
Learn more about some of the different types of organizing services we offer and how long different projects can take.
Get started with a professional organizer
TSI's professional organizers can help you reach your organization goals and create functional, calm spaces.
4. A cleaning service
If your gift recipient already has the organization side of things taken care of, consider hiring a regular cleaning service to come in once a week, or even once a month, to lighten their load. Instead of simply telling your loved one you’ll cover the cost, actually do the work of identifying and vetting possible cleaning services.
Organization gift ideas you should skip
Before you whip out your wallet, pass on picking up any miracle organizational tool or product unless you already know for sure it is:
- Something they will use
- Something that is from a system they are already using
- Something that fits their aesthetic
Boxes, bins, and other organizational tools can seem practical, but unless you know your recipient well and have a good understanding of their needs, organizational aids such as these may not actually be as useful as you think, and can even just become more clutter.
Creative gift ideas for the person who has everything
Whether it’s your time and labor, books about organizing, the services of a professional organizer, or a cleaning service, organizational presents can be thoughtful and useful gifts for any occasion for people at many different stages in their lives.
Considering giving your mom, wife, or loved one a helpful gift that will make their life easier? Learn more about TSI’s professional organizing services.
Ready to get your home organized?
TSI's professional organizers can help with everything from decluttering to space planning to move management.
About the author: Stephanie Rosenlund is the Director of Strategic Solutions at TSI, the long distance move and shipment provider for thousands of businesses, families, and individuals every year. Stephanie knows all the tips and tricks to make your move or shipment simple and specializes in freight shipping and interstate relocations. In her free time, she loves exploring the world with her husband and two kids.
