A few weeks ago we established that floors make the PERFECT gift for just about anyone on your list. They're practical, nice to look at, exciting, and sure to be used by anyone who goes through life without the ability to levitate above the ground. Plus, you can wipe out an entire household of people who are on your Christmas list with one gift! It doesn't get any better than that.
The only problem that remains once you've made the wise, wise decision to treat someone to a new floor is how to present it. How are you going to keep something this big a surprise?
Not to worry. We've got you covered! Here are 5 of our favorite ways to present a gift this good:
1) The Nesting Doll Approach
Simple doesn't have to mean boring, and this idea proves it! Grab a sample piece of the floor you have chosen for your recipient's home - a tile, piece of hardwood, a section of carpet - and place it in a small box. Place that box inside of another, and another, and another until you are satisfied with the number of boxes the recipient will have to go through to get to the actual present. Get creative by decorating each box differently, adding obstacles like rocks or packing peanuts somewhere in the series of packages to throw them off, or making the boxes progressively more difficult to unwrap. Really milk the process. This is an especially fun activity to use on impatient family members!
2) A New Ornament
Taking a more sentimental approach, you can choose to make or order a personalized ornament for that special someone to open. We like to make use of samples as much as possible, so if you're able to get a sample of your floor you can simply glue a ribbon on it from which it can hang on your Christmas tree and write a cute, affirming clue on it. Maybe something like, "May you leave as many footprints on our new floor as you have on my heart." It's not Shakespeare, but it will get the message across.
3) Advent Calendar
This one is for those of you who like puzzles and riddles, and we have to say it's probably our personal favorite approach. All you have to do is get an advent calendar (check your local thrift store for one to save some money) and fill it with a new clue each day. By the time Christmas comes around your recipient should understand that they are receiving a beautiful new floor!
We'll make it easy on you and give you all the clues you'll need using a beloved Christmas poem. Have your recipient fill in the missing letter each day.
Day 1: Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimne__ with care,
Day 2: In hopes that St. Nicholas soon w__uld be there;
Day 3: The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of s__gar-plums danced in their heads;
Day 4: And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my c__p,
Day 5: Had just settled our brains for a long winte__'s nap,
Day 6: When out on the lawn there arose such a clatt__r,
Day 7: I spran__ from my bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Day 8: Tore open the shutters and thr__w up the sash.The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Day 9: Gave a lus__re of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
Day 10: But a miniature sleigh and eight __iny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick,
Day 11: I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he wh__stled, and shouted, and called them by name:
Day 12: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Pra__cer and Vixen!On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
Day 13: As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—And then, in a twinklin__, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
Day 14: As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. __icholas came with a bound.
Day 15: He was dr__ssed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
Day 16: A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they t__inkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Day 17: His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowl __ull of jelly.
Day 18: He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old e__f,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Day 19: A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, S__on gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
Day 20: He spoke not a w__rd, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
Day 21: And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he __ose;
Day 22: He sprang to his sle__gh, to his team gave a whistle,
Day 23: And away they all flew like the dow__ of a thistle.
Day 24: But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a __ood night!”
Day 25: They get a sample of their new floor!
Final Result: YOU ARE GETTING NEW FLOORING
4) Santa's Workshop
If you are planning on installing the gifted floor yourself, you're going to have to get a little more elaborate. Go all out to create a giant "Santa's Workshop" scene to block any view of the room you're installing the floor in. Put up reindeer, candy candy cane windows, happy little elves, and anything else you can think of to really sell the whole Santa's secret workshop thing in a fun way. You can tell everyone that the room is off limits for gift wrapping and other various Santa's Helper activities. They'll love the suspense of it all and the added decorations will really lock in the festive spirit of the season.
5) Vacation Time
Okay, we thought the advent calendar idea was our favorite, but who doesn't love a good vacation? If you need to get your family out of the house so your favorite Floor-It team can step in and install your new floor without giving away the surprise, a vacation is the way to go! It could be as simple as going to visit a friend for a few days or as extravagant as a Hawaiian cruise. Whatever you decide, just be sure to allow a little extra time for any unforeseen obstacles in the installation process.
Happy Gifting!