It is always fun picking out the perfect gifts and watching friends and loved ones open them. But there are always those people that are difficult to shop for, this is often when you just pick out a random gift card. Unfortunately, then there are the people who prefer to stay in during this season, and their gift card will most likely expire before they get a chance to use it. However, homebodies make a perfect opportunity to get creative with your gift giving. There are things such as decor, cozy apparel, and homemade items that you can gift to show these friends you care.
Have you ever walked into a home and were immediately surrounded by an intense yet pleasant aroma? You most likely were in the house of a homebody or someone with homebody characteristics, they take pride in making their place inviting. The culprit of the lovely odor was most likely a candle, or multiple candles. Candles are a timeless gift that anyone can appreciate, and you can never have too many candles. It’s a good idea to scope out your friend’s home to see what candles they already have and find ones that fit their vibe.
Every couch potato loves a good cozy blanket, but even better than that is a weighted blanket. The benefits of weighted blankets are described by the National Library of Medicine.
“Weighted blankets are used in occupational therapy practice to assist with emotional and physical regulation… Weighted blankets may be an appropriate therapeutic tool in reducing anxiety.”
Shopping locally is also a good idea. Essential Art Gallery is a place to check out, conveniently located on Mainstreet. Their “Playfully Elegant,” Gallery displays artwork from all across the United States, and new items arive weekly. There are hundreds of pieces that could be gifted to just about any homebody.
“From glass tumblers and nightlights to chocolate and socks, we’ve got a lot of great gifts here that won’t break your bank,” gallery manager Ana Blaisdell said.
Another special gift to give is one that isn’t bought. Making a gift can be rewarding and more meaningful than something store-bought. But, not everyone is super crafty or has the supplies at home to make something a homebody would like. At UI, the Apparel, Textiles and Design Club hosts on multiple workshops a semester, where students can learn to make fun items to take home. This semester they have done tapestry weaving, upcycling bags, and jewelry-making workshops.
“We try to offer people these activities to learn skills they normally wouldn’t get to do… where they get to go home with something cool,” ATD club president Ellie Hafer said.
Next semester, they anticipate having a felting workshop. The prices are $5 per workshop, $10 per semester, or $20 per year. The club will also be putting on a clothing swap in the spring.
Ellie Hafer explained that a good gift idea is to give someone resources to make something themselves, such as a kit from Amazon.
“Yarn Underground offers classes, like spinning classes, so buying someone a ticket to one of those things to offer them an experience so that they can learn new things is a fun gift idea,” Hafer said.
There are countless options when it comes to finding the right gift for a true homebody. Anything that you can find that helps them live out their coziest fantasies will work.