The Controversial Housewarming Ritual You’re Missing Out On

If your friends have gotten married and/or had babies, you’ve probably scrolled through countless registries, wondering whether you should spring for the set of towels or go in with a group on the bassinet. You’ve been to the showers, the engagement parties, and the weddings — and you’ve been happy to celebrate your favorite people embarking on a new life chapter.

But if you haven’t been married or had a baby yourself, the endless stream of gift-giving can start to seem a little bit one-sided — especially on your wallet.

Then you buy a home or move into a new apartment, and you’re staring at an empty kitchen and wondering when it’s your turn to stock the bar or fill your home with fresh dinnerware.

That’s why housewarming registries are starting to pick up steam as another way to celebrate loved ones — particularly when that person has shown up time and again for others, but doesn’t plan on celebrating the same traditional milestones.

Think this sounds like something you might want to explore? Here’s what you need to know about a housewarming registry and how to make one.

A housewarming registry is just like a registry for any other event, except it’s for when you move into a new home. Typically, you’ll register for items that could overlap with a wedding registry, but with a slightly more home-centric spin. Think of home improvement items that might not make an appearance at your normal bridal shower, like lawn mowers, plungers, or power drills.

They might not be as aesthetically exciting as new cocktail glasses or fancy flatware (although those can definitely make the cut), but they’re household essentials you’ll be relieved to have when you encounter that first “welcome to homeownership” emergency, like a clogged toilet. 

Whether you should make a housewarming registry can be a touchy subject. Those who stick to tradition might not understand the need for yet another gift-giving registry. But if you’re excited to build a home — without a wedding attached — a housewarming registry makes perfect sense.

Hilary Reiter Azzaretti, for example, was a single new homeowner with a four-bedroom mountaintop house. The idea of making a housewarming registry wasn’t even on her radar until her friends, and even her parents’ friends, began asking her what they could send as a housewarming gift.

“I had a lot of space to fill, but I also didn’t want to receive a bunch of items I didn’t need. It seemed the most sensible solution was to create a housewarming registry,” says Reiter Azzaretti. “At the time, I didn’t see myself getting married or living with someone, so why not register for a housewarming instead of a wedding?” 

She recalls the response as favorable — and she only sent the registry to those who proactively reached out asking what she needed. Her parents also passed it around to their friends, happy to spread the news about their daughter’s new home. “Everyone found it helpful and a great idea. Most of the items on my registry were purchased,” she says. “When I had a housewarming party, many guests purchased items from the registry.”

The best time to make a housewarming registry is either when you’ve purchased a home, signed a lease that seems like it’s going to be a longer-term commitment, or made a big move following a change in life circumstances like a divorce. This makes sense in terms of both the ask of your loved ones and the logistics of filling a home with brand-new items (you’re not going to want to move it all again in 12 months!).

However, if you’re the type of person who throws a housewarming when you sign a new lease every year, you might want to skip the registry. While your friends will be happy to show up with a bottle of wine or a candle (and who doesn’t love an excuse to celebrate!) registering every year could easily become burdensome.

Just like any couple getting married, Reiter Azzaretti looked to the classics. She registered at Bed, Bath, & Beyond (RIP) and The Home Depot. You can try Target, IKEA, or Costco, or create an Amazon wishlist. Basically, anywhere that has an option to make a registry is fair game. 

Any of these registries are easy to distribute, and sending the link only to those who ask is usually the best course of action for a housewarming registry. If you host a housewarming party, you could add it to the bottom of the invitation.

Just like weddings and baby showers, a housewarming is your opportunity to ask for all those items you’ve been dreaming of, but haven’t pushed yourself to buy yet. Most housewarming registries will stick to home items, but that could be anything from the stoneware you’ve had your eye on to a new sheet set to a power washer. 

“I registered for a wide range of items from a Weedwacker to toaster oven and a knife set. I’m not a fan of registries that have minute items like dish towels; I can get those myself!,” says Reiter Azzaretti. 

The home world is truly your oyster, but often it’s helpful to ask friends who’ve registered in the past what their favorite items were. They might tell you that the ice cream maker from their wedding has gone unused, but the wood cutting boards? That’s a gift they use daily.