Holiday Gifting Trends for the Season

There’s something about the holidays that invites reflection, connection, and care. This time of year, gifting becomes more than checking a name off a list. It’s about taking a beat and pausing to say thank you and celebrate the moments that matter. Whether you’re searching for holiday gifts for clients, employees, friends, or family, we’re sharing our top holiday gifting trends that will help you find thoughtful ideas that feel personal, polished, and right on theme for the season.

At Marigold & Grey, we see holiday gifting as a reflection of what people are craving most right now. It comes down to comfort, connection, intention, and joy. Because that’s what people are seeking, we’re seeing it show up in the gifting trends we’re designing this season with gifts that make people feel relaxed, seen, appreciated, and inspired. Sounds like the perfect holiday wish list to us!

Shop our curated collection of holiday gift sets

From gifts that spark joy and support shared experiences to those that help you slow down and savor the moment, here’s what’s trending in holiday gifting this year, along with a few of our favorite curated gift boxes from our ready-to-ship Holiday Gift Shop that bring each trend to life.

Holiday Gift Trend #1: Experience Over Object

If you love giving gifts that feel relaxed and meaningful, this first holiday gifting trend is for you. This season’s gifting is all about gifts that create an experience or a moment in someone’s life instead of gifts that are all about the object or "the stuff." 

This season, gifts that create experiences are taking center stage. It’s not just about what’s inside the box, but how it makes someone feel. Whether it’s curling up for a cozy movie night or simply making space to unwind, experiential gifts are winning hearts because they remind us to pause and enjoy the moment.

Experience over object types of gifts are perfect for anyone who wants to give something cozy and fun without overthinking it whether that’s for employees, VIP customers, neighbors, secret Santas, or healthcare workers in your life.

Our signature 'Warm Wishes’ gift set is perfect for those who love to create cozy moments at home, while our signature ’Binge Watch Ready’ movie themed gift set brings all the essentials for a relaxing night in.

These gifts make even the simple things feel special, creating moments that last long after the season comes to an end.

Holiday Gift Trend #2: Mindful Moments & Slow Living

If you love to give gifts that encourage rest and reflection, this next holiday trend of using gifts to create mindful moments and encourage slow living is for you. Mindful and restful themed types of gifts are perfect for anyone who wants to help others slow down. 

Maybe it’s a client who’s had a busy year, a white elegant gift exchange who you want to surprise, a friend who does everything for everyone else, or a family member who could use a quiet moment just for themselves. Gifting this season is all about encouraging the slowdown. 

We’re seeing a turn towards gifts that invite stillness, rest, and reflection. Our signature ‘Cozy Cabin’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ gift boxes capture that spirit beautifully. Think soft textures, comforting scents, and small indulgences that encourage slowing down and savoring the season.

It’s all about slowing down enough to choose gifts that carry meaning and connection, choosing quality over quantity, and giving in a way that feels personal and thoughtful.

Holiday Gift Trend #3: Elevated Entertaining

If your favorite gifts are the ones that help people gather together, this next trend of gifts that take entertaining to the next level will speak to you. It’s ideal for the friend who hosts every get-together, the coworker who loves a good dinner party, or the client who enjoys life’s little luxuries shared over food and conversation.

Holiday gatherings are back in full swing, and with them comes a renewed love for entertaining. This holiday trend of gifts that promote sophisticated entertaining on another level is all about raising the bar on at-home hosting with thoughtful, high-quality touches that make celebrating easy and fun.

For the friend who loves to host, our signature ’Pasta Perfect’ gift box brings an elevated Italian-inspired experience straight to the kitchen, while our holiday snack gift box that’s perfect for sharing, ‘Roast & Toast,’ sets the stage for a cozy evening of sweet treats and togetherness.

Elevated entertaining themed gifts are designed to gather people around the table, especially when no guest list or RSVP are required.

Shop our holiday brunch themed gift set

Holiday Gift Trend #4: Connection & Shared Moments

This year, connection is the ultimate luxury. The heart of holiday gifting has shifted from what we give to how we connect.

This next holiday trend of creating connection and shared moments through gifting is about gratitude, care, and empathy. It’s the simple yet thoughtful gestures that remind people they matter.

If you see gifting as a way to stay close and say “I’m thinking of you,” this trend is made for you. Connection themed gifts are perfect for nurturing relationships, from reconnecting with distant friends to showing gratitude to clients, mentors, or neighbors who make your days a little brighter.

Our signature ‘Baking Spirits Bright’ gift set celebrates connection perfectly with everything needed for a sweet baking day shared with family or friends. And our classic 'Trim the Tree’ holiday gift set is all about those festive moments that bring everyone together. 

Each curated gift set becomes its own little moment of togetherness whether that’s a conversation starter, a memory maker, and a symbol of self-care.

Holiday Gift Trend #5: Modern Festivity

If you love giving gifts that feel modern, happy, and even maybe a little indulgent, you'll appreciate this next gift trend of modern festivity. It’s the life of the party kind of gifting that brings a fun and festive vibe in a way that feels fresh and modern, not stuffy or forced. 

Gifting this season is about indulgence without excess. It’s playful, fresh, and effortlessly chic.

Modern festive gifts celebrate understated luxury. You know, the kind that feels inviting and warm, not flashy or overdone. Think subtle sparkle, layered scents, and rich textures that capture the season’s magic in a modern way. 

These gifts are perfect for the trendsetter on your list, the client who appreciates elevated style, or the friend who lights up every room they walk into.

Our signature ’Sparkle & Shine’ gift box embodies this trend with festive flair, while our signature ‘Making Spirits Bright’ holiday spirit themed gift set adds a cheerful pop of celebration that feels joyful and refined. 

These gifts prove that luxury doesn’t have to be loud. It just has to feel special. And we can definitely get on board with that!

Holiday Gift Trend #6: Intentional Joy & Gratitude

The final trend this season is all about heartfelt appreciation. Gifts rooted in gratitude and warmth are everywhere, especially thank you gifts that say “I see you” and “I appreciate you” in a way words sometimes can’t.

If you're looking to give a gift that express genuine appreciation, this trend is calling your name. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to send a heartfelt thank you whether that’s for a supportive team member, a loyal client, a dedicated staff, a teacher, or someone who’s simply made your year a little better.

Our classic 'Comfort & Joy’ holiday gift box is the definition of this trend, filled with cozy touches and treats that send comfort from afar. And our signature ‘Let It Snow’ seasonal gift set is a joyful reminder that the season is best when shared.

Intentional joy isn’t about perfection. It’s about appreciation, connection, and the simple act of giving from the heart.

The Heart of Holiday Gifting

Holiday gifting isn’t about how much you give or what you give. It’s about how it makes people feel. It’s about meaning, connection, and care. Whether you’re choosing gifts for clients, employees, friends, or family, the best gifts make people feel thought of and appreciated.

At Marigold & Grey, our team of gifting experts is here to make that process easy and intentional. Whether you’re browsing our Holiday Gift Shop, designing gifts with your company’s logo via our Add-Your-Own Logo Gift Program, or curating something completely unique with our custom gift design service, we’ll help you create gifts that feel effortless, are full of genuine warmth, and right on trend for any season.

Happy holiday gifting!

3 WAYS TO DO GIFTING WITH MARIGOLD & GREY

When it comes to corporate gifting, gifts for your business, or gifts for your company's employees, clients or events, there are three unique ways to gift with Marigold & Grey.

#1: Custom Gift Design Service

If you're interested in elevated branded gifts for your company for employee appreciation, holiday or any corporate event in between, please get in touch with us to ask about our custom corporate gift design services. We'd love to work with you or your team to create something that reflects your company's brand with limitless options for customization to include branding the packaging, gift contents, printed collateral, and more. 

#2: Add-Your-Own-Logo Program (i.e. Semi-Custom Gifts)

In addition to custom gift design, we also offer a thoughtful semi-custom gift design program with low order minimums and your company's logo and brand on each gift you send. Our Add-Your-Own-Logo Program is perfect for businesses that want to send company branded gifts either all at once for an event or particular marketing campaign OR throughout the year, on demand as you need them, for special occasions like employee appreciation, birthdays, client thank-you gifts, and more.

#3: Ready-to-Ship Collection in our Online Shop

For curated gift sets and themed gift baskets that are easy to send for any occasion in life or work, don't forget to shop our curated collection of ready-to-ship gift boxes with quick turnarounds and no order minimums. These ship out within 1-3 business days; rush next-day shipping is also available at checkout.

Images: Lissa Ryan Photography