Housewarming Gifts for a Place That Doesn't Feel Like Home Yet
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 22 hand-picked ideas
For the first few weeks in a new place, life is lived out of boxes. There's a mattress on the floor, one working lamp and a hunt for the scissors every time something needs opening. Nobody has a hammer, the hand soap is still packed and the fridge holds only condiments. A good housewarming gift fills one of those gaps, or makes the place feel a little more like theirs.
This guide begins with the practical things almost every new home is missing, then moves through houseplants that are hard to kill, pantry gifts that are easy to carry to a party, bigger keepsakes for people who've bought their first house, and a few things for friends who love to host. It finishes with some housewarming etiquette, including an old tradition worth borrowing.
If the new homeowners are also newlyweds, our wedding gifts guide has more ideas. For a small thank-you when you're invited to dinner rather than a housewarming, see gifts for hosts.
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What every new place is missing
These aren't romantic, but they are the gifts people remember using in their first month. They're especially good for a first apartment, a young couple or anyone who has just moved out of a shared house where somebody else owned the toolbox.
- 1
Home Toolkit for Beginners
~$45
A compact case with a hammer, screwdrivers, a tape measure, a level and pliers. Every new home needs one in the first week, for hanging pictures, tightening wobbly chairs and assembling the inevitable flat-pack bookshelf. It's a particularly good gift for anyone moving into their first place alone, and it'll still be in the closet in ten years.
- 2
Kitchen Fire Extinguisher
~$35
A compact extinguisher rated for grease and electrical fires, with a wall bracket. It sounds like a grim gift, but almost nobody buys one when they move, and it's the kind of thing you'd hate to need and not have. Suggest mounting it near the kitchen exit rather than right beside the stove, so it can be reached if the stove is the problem.
- 3
Home First Aid Kit
~$25
A stocked case of bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes and tape for the bathroom cabinet. Moving days produce more cuts from box cutters and boxes than you'd think. It's a sensible, low-cost gift for a first apartment, especially for someone living alone for the first time.
- 4
Hand Soap and Lotion Caddy Set
~$25
A matching hand soap and lotion with a small tray for the kitchen sink. It's an easy gift to carry to a party, and it makes a bare new kitchen look lived-in on day one. Choose a lightly scented or unscented set if you don't know their taste.
Plants that are hard to kill
A plant makes an empty room feel alive faster than any piece of furniture. Choose something forgiving: new homeowners have a lot on their minds and the light in a new place is still a mystery. If they have pets, check the plant is safe first.
- 5~$32
Live Snake Plant in Decorative Pot
Tolerates low light, irregular watering and general neglect. Ideal for a first apartment, though it's mildly toxic to cats and dogs, so skip it for pet owners.
Plant LoversHomebodiespractical - 6~$35
Live Hoya Plant Collection
Small trailing plants with waxy leaves that grow happily on a windowsill. Generally considered pet-safe, and a nice start to a collection.
Plant Loversunique - 7~$25
Herb Kitchen Windowsill Kit
Pots, soil and seeds for basil, parsley and cilantro. Best for a kitchen with a sunny window and someone who'll actually cook with them.
GardenersHome Cookseco - 8~$30
Self-Watering Plant Pots Set
Planters with a hidden reservoir that keeps soil moist for days. A thoughtful pairing with any plant here, and a lifesaver for frequent travelers.
GardenersHomebodiespractical
Pantry gifts to carry to the party
If you've been invited to a housewarming party, a nice pantry item beats another bottle of wine on a crowded counter. These are easy to wrap and will be used long after the party.
9.Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena ~$35
A small bottle of thick, aged balsamic for cheese, salads and strawberries. A pantry luxury cooks rarely buy for themselves.
10.Olive Oil Tasting Collection ~$45
A few small bottles of good extra-virgin olive oil with tasting notes. Lovely for keen cooks; a bit wasted on people who mostly order in.
11.Wooden Salt Cellar with Lid ~$20
A small lidded box to keep salt by the stove for pinching. Inexpensive, and it quickly becomes part of the kitchen. Fill it before you wrap it.
12.Specialty Coffee Sampler Gift Box ~$35
Several bags of beans from independent roasters. Good for coffee drinkers who are still finding the nearest decent café in a new neighborhood.
13.Gourmet Jam and Preserves Trio ~$28
Three small jars of fruit preserves. A sweet, safe choice for neighbors you've just met, and it means breakfast is sorted on a busy morning.
14.Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew ~$15
The folding corkscrew that sommeliers carry. Somehow the corkscrew is always in the last box to be unpacked, so this gets used at the party.
For people who just bought their first house
Buying a first home is a big milestone, often after years of saving. Family and close friends may want to mark it with something more lasting than a candle. These suit owners rather than renters: they assume a yard, a porch or a front door they can change.
- Our favorite15
Custom House Portrait Illustration
~$65
An artist works from a photo of the house and turns it into a framed drawing or watercolor. It marks the first home in a way a phone picture never does, and in twenty years, when they've moved on, it's the thing they'll keep. Take a straight-on photo on a sunny day, or ask the owners for one, and allow a couple of weeks for the illustration and framing.
- 16
Personalized Doormat
~$40
A coir doormat printed with the family name or house number. It's a small, everyday announcement that this is their door now. Check how they want their name written, especially for a couple who haven't merged surnames, and buy it for a covered porch if possible; coir lasts longer when it stays dry.
- 17
Adirondack Chair
~$150
A wide, low outdoor chair for the porch or a corner of the yard. For people who have only ever had a fire escape or a shared balcony, a place to sit outside their own home is a real treat. Poly lumber versions are weatherproof and need no painting; it's a good one to split with friends.
- 18
Galvanized Steel Watering Can
~$40
A sturdy metal watering can for a first garden, front steps or window boxes. It looks good by the back door and outlasts any plastic version. Pair it with a packet of seeds or a potted herb for a gift that suggests the start of a garden.
- 19
Smart Video Doorbell
~$100
A doorbell camera that sends an alert and video to their phone when someone comes to the door. Helpful for new owners still learning the neighborhood, and for anyone who receives a lot of packages. Many brands charge a monthly fee for saved video, so mention it, and choose a model that works with their existing phone and smart home setup.
If they love having people over
Some people move house partly so they can finally host. A gift for entertaining suits the friend who's been talking about dinner parties since they saw the kitchen.
- 20
Charcuterie Board Set
~$50
A board with a hidden drawer of cheese knives and small bowls. It makes a simple evening of cheese, crackers and olives look like an effort, which is the trick of good hosting. It suits friends who host casually and often, and it's a gift they can use at the housewarming itself.
- 21
Linen Cocktail Napkins Set
~$22
Washable linen napkins in a neutral color for drinks and small plates. They're a small step up from paper that makes a gathering feel considered. Good for the friend who has strong opinions about table settings; less so for someone who'd rather not do extra laundry.
- 22
Stemless Wine Glasses Set
~$35
A set of sturdy stemless glasses for everyday wine. Glasses break and get lost in moves more than anything else in the kitchen, and new homes often have a mismatched handful. Stemless styles fit in the dishwasher and on a crowded coffee table without tipping over.
Housewarming etiquette, and an old tradition
You don't need to spend much. A housewarming gift is a welcome, not a wedding present, and $20 to $50 is normal for most guests. Bring it to the party or drop it off in the first month. Avoid anything they'll feel obliged to display, such as large art, decor in a style you're guessing at or a wall clock; people decorate their own homes slowly and on purpose. Renters may not be allowed to drill, paint or install anything, so lean toward plants, pantry items and useful things.
If you'd like a gift with some meaning, borrow the tradition of bringing bread and salt to a new home, practiced in many Eastern European and Jewish families: bread so the house never goes hungry, salt so life always has flavor. Some add a bottle of wine for joy, the trio many Americans know from the Martini family's new house in It's a Wonderful Life. A fresh loaf, a small box of good salt and a card explaining it costs very little and is one of the warmest ways to say welcome.
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Under $25
$25–$50
Choosing well for a new home
Ask whether they rent or own. It changes everything from plants to doorbells to anything that needs a drill.
Practical beats decorative. A toolkit or a fire extinguisher will be used; a framed print in the wrong colors will be stored.
Consumables are the safest option when you don't know their style: good olive oil, coffee, preserves or a plant.
For a big group gift, pick one thing they've mentioned wanting for the house rather than splitting the budget across small items.
Not sure what fits? Describe them to our gift finder, including whether it's a first apartment or a house they've just bought.
Questions people ask
What is a good housewarming gift?
Something useful or consumable that a new home lacks: a basic toolkit, a fire extinguisher, a hard-to-kill houseplant, good olive oil or coffee, or a doormat with their name on it. For a first house bought by close friends or family, a custom illustration of the house is a lovely keepsake.
How much should you spend on a housewarming gift?
Usually $20 to $50 for a party guest. Close family often give more, and friends sometimes pool money for one larger piece, such as an outdoor chair or a doorbell camera.
Do you have to bring a gift to a housewarming party?
It's customary, but it doesn't need to be big. A plant, a bottle of something nice, a jar of preserves or a loaf of bread with a little salt are all perfectly good.
What should you not give as a housewarming gift?
Avoid large decor, wall art and anything you'd expect to see on display, since people like to choose those themselves. Strongly scented candles and plants that are toxic to pets are also risky if you don't know the household.