You've been invited round to see a friend's new place and you don't want to turn up empty-handed. Choosing housewarming gifts is easier than it looks: anyone who has just moved has a half-finished home, unopened boxes and a list of little things that are still missing. A good gift fills one of those gaps without taking up more space than it needs to.
In this guide you'll find ideas sorted by situation and budget, what tends to go wrong and a simple trick to get it right.
Before you choose: three quick questions
- Is it rented or owned? In a rented flat, avoid anything that means drilling into the walls or changing the décor permanently.
- Do they have pets? With a dog or cat in the house, practical gifts for getting hair off the sofa and throws are always welcome.
- What style is the home? If you haven't seen it, look at any photos they've shared or ask someone close to them. If in doubt, go for neutral colours.
Housewarming gifts that actually get used
The best housewarming gifts meet a need from those first few months. A few ideas that rarely miss:
- A hardy plant. Succulents, a ZZ plant or a snake plant can cope with a bit of neglect and bring the living room to life from day one. If there's a dog or cat in the house, check first that the plant isn't toxic to them. Give it already planted in a nice pot.
- A throw for the sofa. With autumn just under way, it's one of the most-used gifts. Ideally in neutral tones and an easy-wash fabric.
- A good set of tea towels or bath towels. Nobody thinks of them during the move, and they're needed every day.
- A wooden serving board. Handy for the first dinner with friends and nice enough to leave out on display.
- A basic toolbox. Hammer, screwdrivers, tape measure and spirit level: in the first week in a new home there's always a picture to hang or a piece of furniture to tighten up.
- A scented candle or a discreet diffuser. It helps the home develop its own scent. Choose soft fragrances, as strong ones aren't to everyone's taste.
If there's a dog or cat in the new home
With pets, hair on the new sofa is one of the first things that gets annoying. A practical gift is the Velia Select self-cleaning pet hair remover: it works with static electricity, picks up hair from the sofa, bed and throws, and needs no batteries or sticky sheets. Add a treat for the pet and you'll have nailed it.
Ideas by budget
- Up to €15: a small plant, tea towels, a candle or a book of simple recipes.
- €15 to €40: a throw, a serving board, a toolbox or a set of glasses.
- Over €40: a good frying pan, quality bed linen or a table lamp.
Housewarming party gifts: what to bring
The party or dinner to show off the new place often comes a few weeks after the move. If you're going as a group, club together for one bigger, more useful gift instead of five small ones. If you're going on your own, a bottle of wine with a little something for the home (a plant, a nice tea towel) is a safe combination. And if your hosts say they already have everything, just ask what they're missing: it isn't rude and it saves everyone a lot of hassle.
What not to give
- Very personal decorative pieces (pictures, ornaments) if you don't really know the taste of the people moving in.
- Large appliances without asking: chances are they already have them or there's no room.
- Plants that need lots of light if the flat looks onto an inner courtyard or faces north.
- A pet as a surprise. Never.
The trick to getting it right every time
Add a handwritten note and, if it's a textile (throws, towels), keep the gift receipt so they can change the colour or size. It's a small gesture that takes away the pressure of having to keep something they're not keen on.
Looking for more ideas for the home? Take a look at all Velia Select products.