Looking for something beyond the usual holiday gift lists? The Anti-Gift Guide is all about thoughtful, practical, and creative alternatives to traditional presents. From turning travel trinkets into ornaments to supporting local artisans and gifting experiences, this guide offers unique ideas for architects, designers, and anyone who loves meaningful gifts. Whether you’re shopping last-minute or planning ahead, these suggestions will help you give something memorable and useful this season.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Most of the links below are not affiliates, they are just brands I like and believe in supporting. Either way, my main goal is to provide recommendations that I truly believe in, whether I get a commission or not.
Unique Gifts from Local Shops and Farmers Markets
If you are looking for ways to support small businesses and find unique gifts, here are some ideas for where to find them.
Your Local Farmer’s Market
Ordinary groceries can make special gifts. Depending on if you are shipping gifts or going in person you can send local honey, trail mix, crafts, or some local wine or cider. If you are going in person, bring something fresh like a loaf of bread.
Some of my favorites from San Francisco (most that I have actually gifted) include the following:
- Olive Bread from Acme Bread
- Coffee from Sightglass Coffee (who doesn’t love a special cup of coffee on Christmas morning?)
- Mushroom grow kit from Far West Fungi (I gave this to my mom and she loved growing her own fresh mushrooms). You can order ahead and pick up at a local farmer’s market.
- Treats from Lehr’s German Specialties – This is a unique German grocery store in Noe Valley. They have all sorts of unique gifts like chocolate and snacks and even gummy candies with flavors you don’t usually find in the US. I am bringing some of these goodies with me this year.
Useful Objects as Gifts from Travels or Local Shops
When I travel throughout the year, I try to buy small things that I can gift at Christmas. Collecting small gifts throughout the year can make shopping for unique gifts closer to the holidays easier. Some things I have bought in the past to help spark ideas include the following.
Spices, Seasonings, and Pastas
Spices like Paprika from Hungary, black lava salt from Hawaii, or Trofie pasta from Italy
Ordinary Grocery Store Items
Ordinary grocery store items like mustard from Germany, pesto from Cinque Terre, or Nutella from Europe. I love bringing back the small jars of Nutella from different countries. You can find them in small glass containers and its fun to see the labels in different languages.
Kitchen Tools
Kitchen tools like an olive wood spoon from Italy, small mortar and pestle from Croatia, coasters from local tiles in Portugal, tea towels from Savannah or anywhere in the South, and a spoon rest from a local ceramic artist at a craft fair are some things I have bought.
Small Zippered Pouches as Organizers
Small zippered pouches – I bought a few with embroidered elephants in Thailand that I use as small organizers and gifted.
Memberships and Gift Cards
This may seem obvious but here are some ideas for some not so common local memberships and gift cards.
Museum Membership
Museum Membership to their local museum. I would love to be gifted a membership to the De Young Museum in San Francisco, in case anyone reading this is shopping for me.
Travel Tour Gift Certificates
Get Your Guide gift certificates – if someone you know is travelling soon, Get Your Guide has amazing tours all over the world. I have been on tours from them wine tasting in the Douro Valley in Portugal, and a day trip to Champagne from Paris. They have tours all over the world so if you are looking for a gift for a travel lover, this can make a great gift. Even for someone that wants to be a tourist in their own backyard, this could be encouragement for a unique experience.
Christmas Ornaments as Gifts – turning ordinary objects into decorations
I believe there are two different philosophies when it comes to decorating a Christmas Tree. Option one is a carefully curated and color coordinated tree. Option two is a mismatched collection of décor that is more about memories and nostalgia then it is about “design”.
For Christmas trees, I believe in option 2. This is one of the few times I will advocate for “more is more”. Christmas tree decorating happens once a year. If you collect ornaments from travels and experiences, the act of decorating the tree is an opportunity to look back at those memories. Open a bottle of champagne and enjoy the experience of decorating the tree. And gift ornaments to loved ones that value the tradition of unpacking memories once a year.
Here are some of my favorite ways to collect and/or gift ornaments, and even craft ornaments from commemorative objects.
Ornaments as Travel Memories
I love to purchase ornaments as souvenirs, and I usually give my mom an ornament or two every Christmas. Sometimes it is difficult to find “Christmas Ornaments” in a foreign country. You can turn other objects into Christmas ornaments with a little creativity.
Some travel trinkets I have turned into ornaments include a tiny figurine of the Eiffel Tower, small bells from Thailand, or a random keychain or magnet. I have even been gifted a sand dollar with a twine loop glued to the back that I love as an ornament. Just add a hook or ribbon and almost any small object can become a Christmas ornament.
Medals, Pins, and other useless commemorative objects as ornaments
I used to throw away the old medals from all the races I participated in. At a party a few years ago someone I was in a triathlon club with mentioned she turned her medals into Christmas ornaments and I will never throw one away again! Depending on the size of the ribbon, I sometimes just cut it and re-tie, add a smaller ribbon, or just add a hook and use it as an ornament. It is fun to look back at the races I completed when decorating once a year. Sometimes, I even write a note about my race time or distance on the back in Sharpie and it makes a nice memory to look back on. This gift might be best for yourself, but you deserve it!
Commemorate a not so Obvious Life Event
Did your friend quit a job, get a dog, run their first half-marathon, attend a Taylor Swift concert, or complete their ARE’s and become a licensed architect? There are many life events that aren’t traditionally recognized and having a small trinket to commemorate those events can make a special gift.
Crafting Supplies for Making Christmas Ornaments
If you need supplies for crafting ordinary objects into ornaments, here are some useful links:
Not so Anti-Gifts if you’ve made it this far…
If you need to order something on Amazon last minute for an architect or design lover…
- FLW tea towel – I bought the saguaro one for myself at the AIA conference in June and love the color and design
- Architect mug – I have this one, if you know an architect that needs another mug…
- Micron Pens – always useful to have
- Notebooks – always useful
- Reusable water bottle – I love the anti-bottle by Vapur. I have a 1 liter size I use for travel and hiking and I recently started carrying the .5 liter size in my purse all the time. It is less bulky than the insulated bottles I love at home and perfect for on-the go and travel. I refer to it as my adult-sized Capri Sun. Amazon doesn’t have the smaller size but you can buy it from Vapur and use code wayfaring15 for 15% off.
Other Posts with my Favorite Items for Everyday
For more useful objects check out these posts with some of my favorite items for every day work and travel
Conclusion
That is my anti-gift (or maybe I should call it useful gift?) guide for 2025. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you order anything or have any non-traditional gifts that you love to give.
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