New Home Gift Ideas for Someone Who Just Moved House

Bringing a new home gift is a time-honored tradition in many cultures across the world – housewarming presents are meant to bring functionality, beauty, cheer, and good luck to the new home and convey one’s best wishes to the new homeowner. They carry significant meaning and special symbolism, and help turn the new place into a comfortable and cozy home.

So, if you’ve been invited to a housewarming party or are merely visiting a friend (or a neighbor, or a colleague, etc.) who just moved into a new home, you will certainly want to get them a good housewarming gift. It may be something traditional or something unique; something useful or something funny; something universal or something personalized – it doesn’t really matter what the specific item is, as long as it is a gift the new home owner will appreciate.

Finding the best gift for someone who just moved house can be easy if you know what they like and dislike, what they already have and what they need. If you don’t, however, choosing an appropriate housewarming gift may prove to be a difficult task.

To help you out in this situation, we’ve put together a list of housewarming gift ideas for every taste and budget. Just take a closer look at our insightful suggestions – you’re certain to find a great new home present that will be highly treasured for years to come.

Traditional Housewarming Gifts

Traditional new house gifts may seem a little boring and old fashioned, but they’ve become classics for a reason – they are simple and inexpensive, yet nice and useful.

Here are some of the most popular housewarming gifts for someone who just moved into a new house or apartment:

• New home gift basket – A gift basket gives you the chance to make a combination of housewarming gifts (the perfect solution when you can’t decide on a single item to give as a new home present). You can put together an assortment of special treats (such as gourmet cheeses, chocolate delights, luxury teas, and fine wines), high quality cosmetic products, craft supplies, gardening items, spa goodies, etc. – what matters is to give the new homeowner something they will use and enjoy;

  

• Gift cards – Whether it is a store gift card, a restaurant gift card, a travel gift card, a massage gift certificate, or some other type of gift card, it’s the perfect housewarming gift for a person you don’t know very well as it leaves the decision up to them – to get something useful of their own choice or experience something enjoyable when they feel like it. A gift card for a home improvement store is a particularly thoughtful gift for someone who just moved into a new home – there’s always something needed for a new space, and home improvement stores sell it all: tools and paints, curtains and rugs, organizers and storage boxes, cleaning products and much more;
• Artwork – Framed paintings, art prints, wood carvings, small statuettes, and other pieces of art make cool housewarming gifts as they add beauty and aesthetic appeal to the space. Wall décor is particularly useful as it helps the new homeowner spruce up the bare walls and make the new place feel more like home. Keep in mind though that artwork is a risky gift – it may not suit the receiver’s aesthetic taste and personal style. So, it is only a good idea when you know for sure what kind of art or which specific artists the person likes;
• Live plants – Any new home will benefit from some greenery – it livens up the space and brings natural beauty and charm to the ambience. It’s best to choose a small potted plant that the new homeowner will easily find a place for. You can go for something traditional like jade, aloe, or bamboo or get creative with fresh herbs or exotic spices in decorative pots;
• Wine bottles (and wine glasses) – You can never go wrong with a bottle of fine wine – just put it in a charming bag and you have the perfect housewarming present to both commemorate and celebrate the exciting occasion of a new home. Consider complementing the gift with beautiful wine glasses or a nice wine rack for lasting impression;
• Vases – A beautiful crystal vase or an interesting glass, porcelain, or ceramic one is a traditional, yet fancy gift that will be appreciated by every new homeowner;
• Picture frames – Everyone loves being surrounded by nice pictures and photos of loved ones, so a new picture frame will always come handy. It can be a classic wood frame or a more impressive one made from bamboo, glass, crystal, or silver;
• Scented candles – Candles give both light and delight, so they make a wonderful housewarming gift – they can have a symbolic meaning (see below) or be personalized (with meaningful words etched on them) to convey your wishes to the new homeowner. It is a good idea to include some beautiful glass, brass, or silver candlesticks or candle holders in your present as well.

When invited to a new home, it is also traditional to bring good luck housewarming gifts:

• Bread – so that the people in the home never know hunger;
• Salt – so that their life is full of flavor;
• Honey – so that their life is sweet;
• Candle – so that they are blessed and darkness (sorrow and evil) is kept out of the home;
• Blanket – so that they are always safe and warm;
• Wood item – so that they have stability and harmony;
• House plant – for growth, prosperity, and longevity;
• Broom – to sweep troubles away.

Related: How to bring good luck to a new home

Traditional hew home presents are your best bet if you don’t know the person well enough to get them a personalized, meaningful gift. If you do, however, a more practical gift (or a more creative one) would be better.

Practical Housewarming Gifts

Still wondering what to get for a housewarming gift? From everyday essentials to fancy gadgets, people always need a lot of new things when moving into a new place. A practical household item will, therefore, make a great new home gift (needless to say, it will be best if you know what the new homeowner needs or would like to have and get that exact thing as a housewarming gift):

• Kitchen items – Your friend or acquaintance probably has a lot of standard kitchen items, but you can always get something cool – a cast iron skillet, a lovely teapot, a nice spice rack, an elegant sushi set, a beautiful serving tray, a good cookbook, cute salt and pepper shakers, funny measuring cups, etc. If you know for sure that the person needs a more essential kitchen item though – a small electric appliance, a quality dining set, some specialized cookware, etc. – better get it instead of something more creative, but less useful;
• Garden items – From garden gnomes and birdhouses to gardening tools and gear, garden items are among the best new home gifts for someone who just moved into a house with a spacious yard. If it is a close friend (or someone special) to whom you’re giving a new house gift (and if you can afford it), you can go for something more awesome – a garden swing or a garden fountain – and make an impression;
• Tools – There should be a toolbox full of essential tools with various functions, shapes, and sizes in every home – especially so in a new home shortly after move-in. If you’re not sure what tools your friend or acquaintance already has, you can simply buy them a quality toolbox and put nothing but a gift card for a good local hardware store in it;
• Interesting light fixtures – The more light there is in a room, the better. You can take your pick from among hundreds of shapes and designs – elegant floor lamps, romantic night lamps, playful string lights, majestic crystal chandeliers, magic yard lanterns, etc. – and make a unique, yet useful housewarming gift;

  

• Towels – It is always nice to have new towels for a new home, especially if the home mover has used their old ones as cushioning materials in the moving boxes (See also: Clever packing tips and tricks you just won’t believe);
• Sheets and blankets – New bedding will ensure sweet dreams and unforgettable nights in the new home;
• Different kinds of specialty kid items or pet items, as relevant.

No matter how “ordinary” some of these new home gift ideas may seem to be, useful housewarming gifts are the best – a more creative gift may make a greater first impression, but it may end up forgotten in a storage box, while a practical gift will help the new homeowner set up a comfortable home and will be used for years to come.

Related: How to make a new place feel like home

Personalized Housewarming Gifts

What is a good housewarming gift? If you’re looking for a one-word answer, it will be a “person-specific” gift. So, instead of choosing a “general” hew home gift, you may want to go for a personalized item:

• Personalized candles – you can order a custom-shaped candle, have a personalized message printed on it, choose a scent that the person likes, etc.;
• Personalized pillows – it can be a family tree throw pillow, an emoji decorative pillow, a zip code pillow, a pillow with a personalized print on it – there seems to be no limits here;
• Personalized doormats – a welcoming doormat can have a meaningful image or inscription printed on it;
• Personalized mugs – such a common gift idea that it borders on traditional;
• Personalized coasters – another popular idea that allows for a lot of creativity;
• Framed prints – there is no better way to convey your message to the new homeowner (or make them smile with an old joke, a favorite quote, etc.);
• Custom cutting boards – to make food preparation more enjoyable than ever;
• Monogram door hangers – so that the new homeowner feel that they belong;
• Personalized key racks (combined with personalized key chains);
• Personalized ornaments, etc.

The personalized message can be the recipient’s name, an image that will remind them of a happy moment, beloved person, favorite place, enjoyable activity, etc., a famous quote or short poem they like, a special symbol, or anything else you find appropriate – it’s entirely up to you and provides the perfect opportunity to express your heartfelt wishes and make a memorable gift.

See also: What to do when your best friend is moving away

Funny Housewarming Gifts

A funny present is always a good idea – after all, the main purpose of a gift is to make the receiver smile. Yet, you need to be sure that the person will appreciate the intended joke and will find it hilarious, not rude.

Here are some amusing new home gift ideas:

• A doormat with a funny inscription (“Oh no! Not you again!”);
• A hilarious door sign (“Looking for the Adams family? You’ve come to the right place.”);
• A complicated light switch (or a wine bottle puzzle, or Ben & Jerry’s Euphori-Lock, etc.);
• An insect hotel (for all the creepy crawlies and flyers in the new home);
• A themed cuckoo clock (a sport, movie, or anything else your friend is crazy about);
• A superhero bathrobe (spiderman, catwoman, or jedi master – whoever your friend’s childhood hero was);
• Polar bear paws oven mitts (or any other animal that will have some sort of meaning for your friend);
• A selfie toaster (for those who seem to never get tired of taking selfies);
• A shot glass roulette (for fun drinking games);
• A magnetic decision maker (so that they can always find the right path in life);
• A target practice alarm clock (for night owl persons);
• Lego coffee mugs (for creative minds);
• Lightsaber chopsticks (for Star Wars lovers);
• Floating bookshelves (for bookworms), etc.

The list goes on and on – you can make an inside joke and an awesome housewarming gift all at once!

Unique Housewarming Gifts

If you want to make a really memorable new house gift, you should go with something truly unique:

• Something you’ve created yourself – a special gift that you have crafted with your own two hands. It can be anything – from a wood-carved figurine through a crocheted tablecloth to a photo collage, depending on your particular skills and available time.
  Whatever the hand-made gift, it will be something your recently moved friend will greatly treasure because it shows how much you care about them;
• Something meaningful – a special item that will remind your friend of a beloved place or a happy moment in their lives, will allow them to enjoy an activity they like, or will fill their heart (and their new home) with cheer and warmth;
• Something original – smart gadgets, interesting lights, and other creative novelties.

So, what to give as a housewarming gift? What would someone who just moved house actually want and appreciate? The answer is person-specific – you can find many good housewarming gift ideas (just look above!), but the right choice will depend on the new homeowner’s personality and your relationship with them. The best housewarming gifts are those that come from the heart, you know.

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