126 Ideas for Creative & Thoughtful Housewarming Gifts
This feature is part of Apartment Therapy's Gift Edit, our editor-curated collection of gift ideas. Need more inspiration? Check out all our guides here.
Moving to a new apartment or house is a scary and exciting time, but it can be made less scary (and more exciting!) with the kindness of friends and strangers. Lots of times, that kindness is sent from afar, emailed, left on a doorstep, or shipped from another state. Whether you’re looking to welcome the new neighbor upstairs, send love to friend who just moved out of town, or congratulate your favorite couple on buying their first home, here are 126 creative ideas for new home gifts they’ll love.
You’ll no doubt find the perfect something (or many somethings) on this list. Mix and match to create brilliant gift baskets and combination gifts — a plant with some gardening equipment, measuring spoons with homemade bread, a cooler filled with craft beer and some fresh fruit for a garnish … you get the idea. The chosen products below are sure to delight anyone who’s getting settled into a new place.
Traditional Gifts
Useful Gifts
Entertaining Gifts
- A coffee table book
- A cookbook
- A gift card to a local restaurant
- A gift card for food delivery
- Board games
- A beautiful puzzle
- A magazine subscription, with their first issue wrapped in ribbon
- A portable Bluetooth speaker
- An Amazon Fire TV Stick
- A stylish deck of cards
Moving Gifts — Great for Helping New Neighbors!
- A tape measure
- Goo Gone
- Command hooks
- Vacuum seal bags
- A gift card to the closest grocery store
- A “cake” made of toilet paper rolls
- Paper plates and cups
- A picture hanging kit
- A hammer
- A toolbox loaded with essential tools → 11 Tools to Give Someone Who’s Moving Into Their First Apartment
- A collection of cleaning supplies
- A “coupon” for three hours of unpacking help
Food and Drink Gifts
- Cookies
- A coffee club subscription
- Ingredients for s’mores
- Fancy hot chocolate mix
- Cones and toppings for ice cream
- A favorite bottle of alcohol or non-alcoholic mixer
- Fresh fruit
- Fancy donuts or cake bites
- Warm soup gifted in a slow cooker
- Homemade or gourmet jam
- All the ingredients to make a fresh batch of cookies
- Gourmet nuts
- A few potted herbs
- A handwritten favorite family recipe, along with a few ingredients
- A personalized cheese board
- Small-batch hot sauces
Luxurious Gifts
Gifts for First-Time Homeowners
- Gardening supplies
- A gift card to the local hardware store
- A commemorative ornament
- A custom stamp with their new address
- Beautiful house numbers for their door or mailbox
- A bird feeder
- An emergency preparedness kit
- A “New Home” candle
- A porch welcome sign
- A smart security system
Gifts for Anyone Living Alone for the First Time
Gifts for Partners Who Just Moved In Together
- A custom map of their new location
- A set of champagne flutes
- Silk eye masks
- A sound machine
- A cozy blanket for them to snuggle up under
- A framed photo of the two of them
- A personalized house sign
Gifts for Renters or Small-Space Dwellers
- A laundry bag
- Rolls of quarters for laundry
- Temporary wallpaper
- Anything that collapses flat, like colanders, dish drainers, or measuring cups
- A handheld vacuum cleaner
- Scented room spray
- Blackout curtains
- A wall calendar
Gifts for Anyone Making a Long-Distance Move
- A guidebook to their new city
- A comfy travel pillow for the journey
- A care package of their favorite local things from their old place
- Packing cubes
- An instant camera
- A big box of postcards and stamps
- A customized journal
- An audiobook subscription
- Favorite snacks for the road
Gifts for Kids or Pets
What are your go-to housewarming gifts? Let us know in the comments below.