Drew Barrymore Has the Most Surprising Gift Ideas (and Why She Once Gave a Jar of Rainwater)

If you struggle with buying unique, meaningful gifts, Etsy is here to save the day. The online marketplace announced their first-ever “Chief-Gifting Officer” is Drew Barrymore, and she’s ready and willing to help you pick the perfect present for your loved ones. The partnership is almost serendipitous—apparently, she’s big on gifting in her personal life, and she’s a huge fan of Etsy. Over a Zoom call with us, she spoke of the moment she was approached for this opportunity and said, “Etsy called and I jumped out of my skin. I’m a very, very loyal customer and have been for so many years.” (Evidently, the star has used an alias for forever to shop on the platform!) 

So what does her role entail? Well simply put, she’ll be suggesting gift ideas. “Think of me as your gifting fairy godmother!” Drew said in a statement issued by Etsy. The company actually commissioned a nationwide survey in December 2023 that confirmed Drew’s gift-giving wisdom will be incredibly valuable to its shoppers: Two-thirds of respondents said they struggle to find the perfect gift, and 71% have felt anxiety about gift shopping within the past year.

Drew's ultimate goal is to “inspire us all to be better gifters,” so she’ll be sharing her best advice and inspiration, as well as her top gift recommendations from Etsy’s global makers. You can actually shop some of her favorite things starting now.

Etsy’s Gift Mode Feature

One of Drew’s first announcements as Chief-Gifting Officer is the reveal of Etsy’s newest feature, Gift Mode. This is truly a game-changer for the majority of us who panic over picking the right gift for someone—the function combines AI with human curation and helps you discover highly personalized presents for every scenario you could ever imagine, including birthdays, graduations, housewarmings, and beyond. 

And all personality types are considered—from cheese lovers to disco fans and anime aficionados, there really is something for everyone on Gift Mode. Couple this with Drew’s gifting expertise, and you’re well on your way to picking the perfect present from Etsy for your loved one. Luckily, while we were on the Zoom call with Drew, she was able to offer even more gifting tips and advice.   

Drew’s Top Gift Tips

The Best Gifts Are Something You’d Want for Yourself

Drew’s onto something when she says, “I always think that the best gifts are something you want for yourself. Something that’s so hard to hand over. You're like, ‘I got this for you, but I really want to keep it for myself!’” According to Drew, that's the sign of a great gift—the one you don't really want to give, but you’ve got to because you know how good it is.

Gifts Can Be Any Size

If you’ve ever worried about impressing anyone with the size of your present—don’t be! “Gifts can be so much smaller than we think,” Drew says, citing a sage stick as the perfect small token of appreciation. Another example? Personalized pencils. In fact, she ordered a few from Etsy customized with her daughters’ nicknames on them as little Valentine’s Day treats. (Timing or occasion also doesn’t matter, by the way—there’s never a bad time to give a gift!) 

It’s a small gesture but the personalized detail really takes it to the next level.  Drew says, “One thing I love about Etsy is the personalization. If somebody etches, engraves, or monograms something, [the gifter] had to think about it, they had to execute it, and it's all about you. And it really isn't hard, but it feels so big when someone engraves or embosses something for you. You can get something very little and affordable, but personalize it. It makes a big difference.”

Art Is Actually a Great Idea for New Homeowners

Think about it—new homeowners probably have lots of blank wall space they need to fill up, and art can be really expensive. But a print from Etsy’s massive collection is quite affordable, and there’s a huge variety of styles. “You can find really affordable art for $5 to $20 on Etsy. It’s not usually something we think to give people because it’s so personal, but so much of the art I have has been gifted to me. You never know where it's coming from. So the gift of art can be very affordable and very impactful,” Drew explains. 

Dining Accessories Are Always Welcome

For Drew, anything tabletop is desirable, in particular, vintage or monogrammed napkins from Etsy. “You could just do a set of six, and then someone has that in their arsenal to set up a table,” she explains. Another gifting go-to is candles—from taper to scented pillars. She says, “I don't think a gift of a candle is ever a bad idea. It gives the best lighting and changes the energy in a room. There's something so beautiful about that.” Other foodie items she prioritizes for gifting are salad bowls and tongs, as well as charcuterie boards and cheese knives.

If You’re Going the Fashion Route, Choose Accessories

To avoid a sizing mistake, Drew recommends leaning towards accessories like jewelry or a scarf. “Clothing is probably the most difficult thing to buy for people. You don't know their size or their taste, but when someone does buy an article of clothing for you, it feels so personal. Scarves are safe—they're a great gift. It was made by somebody. I love it. I wear it. It's meaningful to me.” Another solid choice: A fun pair of socks. “Get me a fun pair of socks any day! That really does it for me,” she adds. 

Get Creative for the Person Who Has Everything

Everyone has that one person who’s impossible to shop for because they already have everything they could ever want and need, and Drew is no exception. She was once confronted with this situation, and her solution was to collect some rainwater in a mason jar from Etsy and gift that. “I was at a dinner with someone who has everything. I didn't know them very well, but they're fancy people,” she explains.

After collecting some rain in a jar, she wrote a short but sweet message on the lid. (If you’re curious what they thought, she said, “The reaction I got was way more overwhelming than I would’ve ever guessed.") But ultimately, Drew says you can think outside of the box for this kind of recipient, suggesting even drawing something and placing it in an inexpensive frame from Etsy. “It will mean so much,” she adds.  

Books Are Always a Win

Drew’s final gift idea is books, which Etsy has plenty of, especially in the vintage category, which makes it even more meaningful. “It can be a small old paperback or a coffee table book. Everybody loves books,” Drew says.