How To Pick The Perfect Housewarming Gift
Moving house is exciting and full of new opportunities, but we all know how stressful the process can be as well. That’s why it’s so nice to be able to celebrate with your close friends or family members who have just moved into their brand new place. You might not have been able to visit them quite yet, so what’s the perfect gift to send to congratulate them? Let’s take a look at some different options to help you choose.
Different cultures have different notions of what makes a good housewarming gift. For many decades, bread has been a common gift for new homeowners, particularly in Eastern European countries, and it symbolizes “may this house never know hunger”. The custom even made it into the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, where bread and salt are given as a housewarming gift. Whilst you might not want to show up at your friend’s new home with a couple of loaves, you could opt for a bread bin or another stylish kitchen storage solution.
Olive oil has long been given in many cultures, carrying the message of “may you be blessed with health and wellbeing”. Food gifts, in general, are always a good idea, particularly if you’re not sure what the colour scheme of their new home will be.
A pot plant is another classic new home gift. It brings life into a new space and brightens up their home when they might not have had the chance to unpack and decorate yet. A jade plant is a popular choice, thought to bring wealth and good luck to new homeowners. According to Feng Shui, it should be placed in the south-east of a home to generate wealth and good fortune, and to the east for good health. Alternatively, why not try a stylish plant pot instead?
Candles are another traditional gift idea, meaning “may you always have light through the darkest times”. Scented candles, diffusers and essential oils offer a modern twist on this tradition. Statement candles or a selection of smaller votives make for a great gift.
Other housewarming gift ideas
If you’re not sold on the traditional gift ideas, there are plenty of other options that they’ll love.
Stylish wine glasses and a bottle of wine will always be welcome, particularly after the stress of moving into a new home! Bring them along to the housewarming party and enjoy a toast with the happy new homeowners.
Dish towels might seem like a mundane option, but they’re always necessary - and likely to remain packed away at the bottom of a box somewhere for weeks to come. Pick out a fun tea towel design like this one from David Shrigley or add a pop of colour to their kitchen with this Bitossi Home design.
A cosy throw or blanket is a must-have in every home, and your friends will appreciate this gift whatever the time of year. From snuggling up in front of the TV to casually throwing it over the side of the sofa - or even to keep you warm on a cooler summer night - there are endless uses for a soft and stylish throw.
A chalkboard is a fun gift for new homeowners. Write a message on it congratulating them on their new home for a nice alternative to a card. Then they can use it going forward to plan out their weekly meals, write up shopping lists or simply for writing cute notes, their favourite quotes or motivational phrases to keep them going through the week.
And of course, if all else fails, you can never go wrong with gift cards. Let them choose something they really need now, or they can select something further down the line once they’ve decided on colour schemes for their space.
How much is appropriate for a housewarming gift?
There are really no rules about how much you should spend on a housewarming gift. It’s entirely up to you and depends on numerous factors, from your relationship with the new homeowners to your budget. From mugs to glassware, there are great housewarming gifts for every budget, so simply go for what you think is appropriate.
