Minimalist Valentine’s Day Gifts
Minimalism isn’t about living with zero items; it’s about living with the things that bring value or that you truly love in your life. The journey to clutter-free living can often be stopped in its tracks by holidays. Giving and receiving gifts can get expensive and can cause clutter if you don’t understand how minimalists live. Here are six minimalist Valentine’s Day gifts that won’t clutter your home!
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6 Minimalist Valentine’s Day Gifts
1. Drive-In Movie date!
Revel in the nostalgia of an old-school drive-in night. Chances are, you might have a drive-in theater within driving distance, and if you’ve never been, you’re missing out on one of the best romantic movie experiences. There’s something magical about watching a movie under the stars from the comfort of your own car (or tailgate, if you’re feeling adventurous).
Before you go, pack the essentials: double camping chairs for sitting outside your vehicle, cozy blankets for when it gets chilly after sunset, and plenty of snacks. Sure, most drive-ins have concession stands, but part of the fun is bringing your own popcorn, candy, and drinks. Load up a cooler with sodas and juice boxes, throw in some homemade treats, and you’ve got yourself a perfect Valentine’s movie night setup.
Pro tip: Arrive early to snag a good spot. Back your car in so you can open the trunk and set up chairs right behind it, or pull forward if you prefer watching through the windshield. Tune your car radio to the designated station for audio, and bring a portable radio as backup.
2. Gift a Plant
Plant purchases really exploded during the pandemic. Plants clean the air and are pleasing to look at. If you don’t know where to start, check your local hardware store or shop online! Places like Home Depot and Lowe’s have garden centers with a surprising variety of houseplants at reasonable prices, and the staff can usually point you toward beginner-friendly options. If you want more selection, nurseries and plant shops have everything from common pothos to exotic, rare plants, though they’ll cost you a bit more.
For true beginners, start with low-maintenance plants that are hard to kill. Snake plants and pothos can survive neglect and low light. Spider plants are practically indestructible and produce baby plants you can propagate. ZZ plants can go weeks without water. If you want something with a little more personality, try a monstera or fiddle leaf fig, just know these need a bit more attention.
3. Make a special dessert
Have you ever attempted brownies, cocoa bombs or cheesecake? Challenge yourself to bake a special dessert for your partner. Baking something from scratch shows effort and thoughtfulness—plus, your kitchen will smell amazing. Brownies are a great starting point for beginners because they’re hard to mess up and most recipes only require one bowl and basic ingredients you probably already have.
Cocoa bombs are trendy and fun to make, especially if you can find sphere molds online or at craft stores. Just fill them with hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, then watch your partner’s face when they drop it in hot milk and it explodes into a delicious drink. Cheesecake is more advanced but totally doable if you follow the recipe carefully—and the payoff is worth it.
If you want to go the homemade route, Pinterest and YouTube are your best friends. Search for “easy Valentine’s desserts” and you’ll find hundreds of tutorials. Heart-shaped cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, and molten lava cakes are all classic choices that scream romance without requiring pastry chef skills.
But let’s be real, if baking is too much or you just don’t have the time, there’s absolutely no shame in buying something delicious instead. Nothing Bundt Cakes has those perfectly moist bundtlets in flavors like red velvet and chocolate chocolate chip, and they even do Valentine’s Day designs.
Crumbl rotates their cookie flavors weekly, so check what they’re offering around Valentine’s Day their pink and red-themed cookies are fun.
Local bakeries often have special Valentine’s treats like decorated sugar cookies, macarons, or custom cakes that look way more impressive than anything most of us could pull off at home.
Other easy options: Insomnia Cookies delivers warm cookies right to your door (sometimes until 3 AM), Milk Bar has their famous cake truffles and cookie assortments, and even grocery store bakeries step up their game for Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped cakes and chocolate-covered everything.
4. Online Music or Language Lessons
Here’s an expanded version:
Gift your partner online lessons! If your partner has been talking about learning something new or picking up an old hobby, online lessons make a thoughtful and practical gift that keeps on giving long after Valentine’s Day is over. The best part? They can learn at their own pace from the comfort of home, which means no commute to classes and no pressure to keep up with a group.
Popular lesson ideas include musical instruments like ukulele and guitar. The ukulele is perfect for beginners because it’s relatively easy to learn basic chords and you can play simple songs within a few weeks. Guitar takes a bit more commitment, but there are tons of online courses for every skill level, from complete beginners to intermediate players looking to level up. Platforms like Fender Play, Guitar Tricks, and YouTube channels offer structured lessons that break everything down step by step.
Learning the Spanish language is another incredibly popular choice, especially if you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country or just want to expand your communication skills. Apps like Babbel, Duolingo, and Rosetta Stone make it easy to fit lessons into a busy schedule—even just 10-15 minutes a day adds up.
5. Coffee Subscription
If you have a coffee lover in your life, consider gifting them a coffee subscription. Places like TRADE have great options for coffee drinkers.
6. Audible membership
Book lovers will appreciate this minimalist gift! Some Audible membership options include three titles per month (one audiobook and two audible originals), plus 30 percent off any additional titles.
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