Buying your first home is a really big deal, and there are few things in life more exciting. You’ve spent hours and hours looking for the perfect home, talking to realtors and agents, exploring neighborhoods, and navigating mortgage details. Finally reaching the light at the end of the tunnel is very relieving and being able to finally settle into your brand-new home makes the process very worth it. Moving into a new home usually means you will have friends and family over to celebrate, and they will probably want to bring you a housewarming gift when they come to your new home for the first time!
The section above sees the process from a new homeowner’s angle. But as a friend or a family member, what in the world are you supposed to bring them?
This post is going to answer that question. If you are a new homeowner, this post is going to give you some ideas that you can give to people asking what you would like them to bring. If you are that friend or family member that has been invited over for a celebratory dinner and you have no idea what you should bring, this post is going to take that pressure off of your shoulders and give you some ideas that are a little bit better than a Target gift card. (To be fair, gift cards are actually one of the best gifts you can give, but more on that later.)
Do’s and Don’ts of Housewarming Gift Giving
Before getting into how to pick the perfect housewarming gift, it is probably a good idea to outline a few do’s and don’ts of housewarming gift giving to generally steer you in the right direction. Picking out housewarming gifts can be a tricky task, because you want to get them something that they need and something that they like, but you also don’t want to step on their toes and buy something they may have been looking to getting or picking out for themselves. To help avoid accidentally bursting their bubble with your thoughtful gift, here are the basic do’s and don’ts of housewarming gift giving.
Do:
Think about what they want and need. Your housewarming gift should be personal, at least in the sense that it is something they truly need. Unless you know them very well, wall decorations are generally not the best idea. More practical things are!
Do:
Ask them! While the element of surprise can be very cool, sometimes just asking them for a list of things that they want is the best way to make sure that you get them something they will truly appreciate. When it comes to picking things they will truly want, nobody knows better than the new homeowners themselves!
Do:
Think about their personal style and preferences. When we shop for gifts, it is natural to gravitate toward things that we ourselves would like. It is important to remember that the gift is not for ourselves, though, and it should be something that the new homeowner would like themselves. While some people like wall decals, cute sayings about family, and flowery decorations, others just don’t. Neither one is wrong – it’s just about preference!
Do:
Consider the amount of space they have in their new home and what already occupies that space. While every gift is special and should be appreciated, some things just don’t work in some homes. If your friend or family member just bought a home with a tiny yard and no shed, a riding lawn mower probably isn’t the best gift idea, right? This same logic applies to things inside. If their home is completely carpeted, a steam mop probably isn’t the best gift.
Do:
Ask them if there is a certain style or color scheme they are using in the room that you want to gift for. If they are going with neutral colors, it is probably a good thing to know before buying them bright blue throw pillows!
Do:
Include gift receipts if possible. While you may love the gift you are giving them, they might not. Or, also possible, you might love the gift you got them, and someone else had the exact same idea. If the new homeowners get two of the same thing, let’s say two sets of white bath towels, they might want to be able to exchange one set to get something else they need. Who can blame them!
Don’t:
Worry about spending too little. Most people don’t expect housewarming gifts, and anyone that gets upset about the smallness of a housewarming gift probably doesn’t deserve one anyway! If your budget only allows for you to spend ten dollars, then spend ten dollars! A ten-dollar gift that is thoughtful and personal is better than an impersonal one-hundred-dollar gift any day.
Don’t:
Think that your gift needs to be flashy or cute. Trust me – a new homeowner would probably love a 50-roll pack of toilet paper or a gallon container of refillable soap or a 300 count container of Tide pods, as long as it is a brand they use and they have room to store it. If you are worried about picking a gift that they might not like, pick a gift that they need. Everyone needs toilet paper and dish soap.
Best Housewarming Gift Ideas by Room
To answer the question of what housewarming gift you should bring someone that just bought their first home, we have decided to split up our ideas by room. This way you can think about what room you would like to help your friend family member out with first, and then you can actually think about what gift to get them. Pretty simple, right?
Housewarming Gift Ideas for the Bathroom
The bathroom is a pretty easy room to default to when it comes to giving housewarming gifts, because there are so many bathroom necessities that new homeowners tend to need. As long as they have the storage space, there is really no such thing as too much toilet paper or disinfectant cleaning products. If you think that giving something like toilet paper is too lame, there are other, more personal choices too. Here are a few easy ideas.
Toilet paper – Like I said, there is really no such thing as too much toilet paper as long as they have the room to store it. It is something they will absolutely need, and if you don’t gift it to them, they will have to go and buy it anyone. The best gifts are often the things that they would need to get themselves, and because of you, they no longer need to.
Cleaning products and laundry detergent – Much like the toilet paper, cleaning products are an absolute must for any new homeowner, and they often are towards the bottom of the list of things that homeowners get for themselves right off the bat. Gifting them a nice basket of bathroom cleaning products may sound silly, but it is actually a really thoughtful gesture that saves them a lot of time and effort later on. That effort can be redirected to setting up their new home!
Decorative Pieces for around the sink – If you feel weird about carrying a Costco sized pack of toilet paper into the housewarming party, I can’t say I blame you - (Although if you wrap it, it looks like a giant expensive gift…). If you have a good idea of how they want to decorate, getting some stylish pieces for around the sink or on shelves can be a nice idea. Things that can be used for organizational purposes are usually especially welcome.
Towels – Towels of all shapes and sizes are usually a great gift and going with white is almost always a safe bet. White goes with everything, and white towels and sheets are the hotel industry standard – if luxury hotels choose all white towels, your friends will probably appreciate them too! Whether you are getting bath towels, hand towels, or washcloths, towels are usually a pretty good choice.
Housewarming Gift Ideas for the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most common rooms to buy housewarming gifts for, and this is largely because it is such a multi-purpose room with so much extra space to fill. From perishable things that can be consumed, to cooking utensils that will get plenty of use, to fine pieces that are only pulled out for special occasions, the kitchen has plenty of gifting opportunities. When people shift from apartment living to living in their own house, one of the rooms that tends to grow the most is the kitchen. Whether you choose to get one of the gifts on this list or not, hopefully these ideas spark some sort of gifting inspiration for you.
Baking and cooking supplies – While perishable, baking supplies are extremely useful! If the new homeowners like to cook and bake, putting together a basket of baking supplies – like flour, sugar, and baking soda – or cooking supplies - like spices and oils - is often a great idea. One huge bonus of this is that they can never have enough of these things, so you don’t need to worry about getting them the same thing as someone else! I bet they would not mind getting two bottles of olive oil.
Dish Soap and Dishwasher Detergent – Just like the example in the bathroom, dish soap and dishwasher detergent (if they have a dishwasher, that is) are practical and useful gifts that they will absolutely need. Putting together a basket of dishwashing essentials is a thoughtful and very presentable gift that they are sure to appreciate.
Cheeseboard and Utensils – If they like cheese, a nice cheeseboard is always a nice gift. Having a new home often means a desire to host more events, and having a nice cheeseboard helps them to take those events to the next level! Cheeseboards are often sold in nice sets that include cheese knives and other useful utensils, which is even better. Just beware, as cheeseboards are a fairly common housewarming gift, and you may risk getting them the same thing as someone else!
Dish Towels – Dish towels are always in demand and having a nice and healthy supply of them is usually very helpful. Getting the new homeowners a nice and stylish dish towel set is often a great idea that they are sure to use.
Coasters and Placemats – Coasters and placemats are a great idea because they are something that can be tucked away and pulled out for special uses. While they may not want to use placemats and coasters for every meal or every drink, these are nice things to have anyway. You never know when you will need them!
Wine Rack – This one only works if they are wine drinkers, but a clever wine rack is often a very thoughtful and stylish gift. Etsy has endless options of creative wine racks and wine-themed decorations that can make a great addition to any wine drinker’s home.
Glassware – This can mean wine glasses for wine drinkers, beer glasses for beer drinkers, whiskey glasses for whiskey drinkers, and regular glasses for water drinkers! While they might already have glassware, few people would refuse the opportunity to upgrade their glassware game to the next level with high quality glasses. Wine glasses are usually an especially welcomed type of glass to gift!
Gifts That are not Specific to any Room
While all of the housewarming gift ideas above are fantastic choices, there are other things to consider. Most importantly, moving into a new home is expensive and tiring. Getting the new homeowners an item that will take a place in one of their new rooms is a great idea, but an often forgotten idea is to give them a gift for themselves. A self-care basket including facemasks and bath bombs, or a basket with fresh coffee beans, or a bottle of wine or case of beer are all great examples. Things that will help the new homeowners to relax and unwind in their new home are always very welcomed, and they are probably the gifts that the new homeowners will enjoy the most!
Another great idea is to take a small financial burden off of their plate. While that might sound odd, just think about it – we live in an age that is so subscription based, and giving Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu gift cards is actually a really thoughtful gift! On top of that, I wanted to mention that gift cards are actually one of the best gifts that you can give. I touched on this above, but gift cards and money are the only two things that give the power to the recipient, and frankly, buying things is really fun. While any gift you give will be appreciated, giving a gift card allows them to pick the exact item that they want. In that sense, there is no better gift that you can give!
Thanks for reading our post about the best housewarming gift ideas for someone who just bought their first home. Hopefully this post gave you some good ideas, or at least pointed you in the right direction toward buying a gift that your friend or family member is bound to love. While this list had plenty of ideas, the more important takeaways are in the do’s and don’ts section, as these tips can guide you to help pick the perfect housewarming gift for your loved one that just bought a home.
If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, we’re here to help. We at The Boyd Team are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.
