Has a friend of yours recently become a homeowner? Do you have a new neighbour you’d like to welcome to the block? A small, heartfelt present is a great way to mark the occasion. Here are a few suggestions to help you find the perfect housewarming gift.
A basket of goodies
Homeowners often need a number of items for their new nest. Why not give them a hand by putting together a personalized gift basket?
Get a basket or box at a home decor store and fill it with all sorts of useful products.
Try to come up with a theme. For example, you could make a bathroom kit that includes face cloths, a soap pump, a water glass, and a toothbrush holder, or a kitchen kit that includes utensils (e.g., a whisk, a ladle, a grater), oven mitts, and an apron.
Another option is to create a home improvement kit—a set of all the tools a homeowner might need to carry out small jobs:
- Nails
- Screws
- Wall hooks
- A hammer
- Screwdrivers
If your budget allows, you could also add cleaning products, such as floor and window cleaners.
If you live in an area with a high concentration of small businesses, offer your new neighbours a basket full of local products:
- Pastries from the bakery
- Sausages from the butcher shop
- The cheese shop’s signature cheddar
A gift made with love
Are you a craft enthusiast? Why not use your artistic talents to make a unique housewarming present?
Depending on your skills, you could weave an entrance mat, sculpt a flower or herb pot, make a cutting board, craft a picture frame, or paint a piece of decorative art. Your friend or neighbour will be delighted to receive such a thoughtful present.
Even if you’re not a DIYer at heart, you can still offer a personalized gift. How? By showing off your culinary skills!
In the chaos of moving, new homeowners don’t always have time to cook. You can temporarily take this chore off their hands by bringing them a few home-cooked meals. Before you get started, make sure to check if they have any allergies.
To make your dishes last longer, freeze them before giving them away. When your friend or neighbour needs a break from the kitchen, they can simply choose a meal from the freezer and reheat.
A fun gadget
Is your housewarming present for a tech lover who hopes to transform their new property into a smart home? Help them out with a home automation device! There’s something for every budget and taste.
With a smart lock, they’ll be able to lock and unlock their front door from their smartphone—a handy gadget for those who tend to forget their keys!
You could also get them an IP camera, which monitors a property’s interior and exterior and alerts the homeowner if it detects a possible intruder.
To save energy, nothing beats a smart thermostat. A few are even sophisticated enough to automatically adjust the temperature according to the users’ habits.
Smart bulbs also reduce electricity consumption. Some have thousands of colour options and can be programmed to follow a schedule. This feature is ideal for deterring home invaders when the house is empty.
A decorative item
With all the unpacking and organizing that comes with a big move, home decor is often pushed to the back burner. Give your friend or neighbour one of the following to help make their house feel like home:
- Cushions
- A throw
- A lamp
- Placemats
- Curtains
- A vase
- A tea towel
For this type of gift to be a success, it’s important that you know the person’s tastes fairly well. Otherwise, you risk giving them something that clashes with their decorative style.
A guide to local hotspots
To help your new neighbour get to know the area, consider putting together an address book of local hotspots. Include the contact info for your favourite restaurants and shops, as well as any clinics, pharmacies, dentists, and optometrists you’d recommend.
If the homeowner has young children, mention any nearby parks, schools, daycare centres, and sports and cultural associations. Is there a good art school in the area? Add it to the list!
If pets are in the picture, include the names and addresses of local veterinarians, dog parks, and pet stores.
A classic crowd-pleaser
Classics are timeless! For a quick and easy solution, a nice bottle of wine or champagne is a safe bet.
To make it more personal, throw in a pair of wine glasses, a corkscrew, a reusable cork, or glass markers.
If you know your host doesn’t drink, show up with a bouquet of flowers or a perennial they can plant in their garden. Every spring, when the plant begins to bloom, they’ll think of you!
Key takeaways
- A gift basket is a fun way to offer a bunch of items under one theme.
- Homemade gifts are original and often affordable, but take time.
- Smart home devices are a good choice for tech lovers.
- An address book listing areas of interest is a welcome gift for new homeowners who aren’t familiar with the neighbourhood.