Natural Home for the Holidays

During the holidays, my family of three cherishes being together. Life slows down with Graham on break from high school, allowing us to spend more time with him. For me, there’s cooking and baking with my kitchen helper—one of the best parts of the season.

It’s a busy month for my husband and me with work, but once the shows wrap up and Christmas arrives, we typically go away together to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We exchange a few meaningful gifts but the holidays are really about the conversations, laughs and walks we share.

When it comes to friends and extended family, I like to put just as much thought into the gifts I give. A tried-and-true favorite is a gift basket. The basket itself serves as the hands to hold what treasures await inside. For neighbors, it could be freshly baked muffins and pastries to share with their own families. Every year is different, but the contents are usually themed.

While baskets come in all shapes and sizes, I especially love linen baskets with handles and Scout + Bean’s handcrafted rope baskets and their creamy texture. Both are sturdy enough to reuse as decorative storage in any room of the home.

Check out these creative basket ideas that will surprise and delight everyone on your gift list.

Laundry Basket

Help keep home healthy and cozy with a few all-natural selections. For example, a container of laundry soap free of fragrances and sulfates, which can easily be made by grating a bar of unscented soap and mixing in 1 cup of washing soda and 1 cup of borax, is a safer alternative to most everyday laundry soap brands. Simply pour in a glass container, seal and tie with a bow. Next, augment the basket with basics like a SoulShine Soap Co. pure coconut oil stain stick, new supply of LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls and essential oils to naturally add fragrance to laundry (simply add a couple of drops to each dryer ball).

Rest & Relaxation Basket

When is the last time you took a bath? If it’s been a while, you really should. Especially during these busy months, a time out in a warm tub is a wonderful way to reduce stress. But benefits don’t stop there. Health experts say baths hydrate the skin, promote better sleep, lower blood pressure and soothe joint and muscle pain. Invite your gift recipient to unplug, unwind and relax. Fill a gift basket with skin-friendly, perfume-free soap, organic bath salts to help detoxify the skin and a loofah sponge to exfoliate.

Bedroom Bliss Basket

Whether you choose flannel, linen or organic cotton, a fresh set of sheets invites a restful slumber. Pair with a set of fluffy towels for the bathroom and a fragrance diffuser or plant-derived room spray. The most common soothing scents that encourage relaxation include lavender, bergamot, chamomile, sandalwood and amber.

Kitchen Clean Basket

Nature-themed organic or natural cotton tea towels like those from Hearth and Harrow make thoughtful hostess gifts and are also a must for kitchen-inspired gift baskets. Consider including a trio of non-toxic cleaners—hand soap, dish soap and an all-purpose spray. Brands like Mrs. Meyers and Dr. Bronner fill the room with fresh scents worth the chore of cleaning. Basket fillers also can include reusable storage bags, beeswax food wraps and bowl covers and absorbent, quick-drying sponge cloths.

Natural Living Basket

A good book, healthy snack and large, chunky knit blanket beckon a peaceful respite. To complete the gift, tuck in an aromatherapy soy or beeswax candle for fragrance, ceramic mug and a package of hot cocoa or coffee and a potted succulent and you have a unique customized gift for any age. Crackling fireplace not included!