39 Thoughtful Gifts New Homeowners Will Actually Want
At a housewarming party or moving celebration, it's customary to bring a small token of congratulations to the happy homeowners. Help family and friends settle into their new home (or apartment!) with the perfect gift for a fresh beginning. Choose a customized piece of artwork to fill empty walls, spring for a traditional broom gift, or give small items that allow the homeowners to build new memories in the space. These gifts for new homes and yards will help loved ones transform an empty house into a comfortable, personalized home.
Welcome Mat
If homeowners want to give a welcoming first impression to the neighborhood, a doormat can be an easy first step. The scripted “Oh, Hello” flocked on this sweet, welcoming mat is certain to add a little sunshine to any front porch. The 18x30-inch design is handmade, and the Etsy shop, HamlinRowShop, offers plenty of varieties to fit your family’s style.
Buy It: Hello Doormat (from $20, Etsy)
Wine Bag & Cooler
Celebrate a new home with a bottle of wine placed in an understated fiber cooler. The lightweight paper of this chilled wine bag is designed to look like leather, but it also provides water- and stain-resistant properties. The beautiful Italian wrapping is available in blush, grey, brown, and black, and it’s designed for reuse. Cheers!
Buy It: Wine Bag and Cooler ($44, Food52)
Serving Tray
This colorful serving tray features a stunning watercolor print that will brighten every home. The Society 6 accessory is made out of eco-friendly bamboo, and it’s pretty enough to sit on a coffee table when not in use. Bonus: The same company offers its beautiful bloom pattern on an assortment of other living room necessities, like throw pillows and coasters.
Buy It: Bloom Serving Tray ($36, Society6)
Moscow Mule Mugs
If your new homeowners enjoy handmade cocktails, consider investing in a nice set of copper Moscow mule mugs. The vintage-style vessels are marked with small indents that make them adorable to leave sitting out in the open. To take this gift to the next level, pick up a few ingredients to make Moscow mules, and surprise the new homeowners with a sip “on the house.”
Buy It: Moscow Mule Mug Set ($30, Wayfair)
Mini Wreath
Give friends a sweet-smelling, welcoming wreath that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. We love these small, farmhouse-chic wreaths that are lightly scented with your choice of fragrance. Pick a long-lasting artificial grapevine wreath, then add a favorite smell like eucalyptus, vanilla cinnamon, or spring tulips.
Buy It: Farmhouse Wreath (from $29, Etsy)
Personalized Tassel Key Tag
Let new homeowners add that brand-new house key to a classic keychain made from leather and steel. The timeless accessory can be monogrammed with your choice of letters and font, allowing you to fully customize the thoughtful housewarming gift.
Buy It: Leather Keychain (from $30, Mark & Graham)
Succulent Subscription Box
Help friends fill their home with organically grown plants by purchasing a short-term succulent subscription box. Recipients will get two baby succulents each month for the duration of the subscription through Succulent Studios. It’s a thoughtful gift that says welcome to the neighborhood—and plant parenthood! Plus, succulent care is almost goofproof.
Buy It: Succulent Subscription Box (from $12, Succulent Studio)
Custom Painting
Document the first home with a customized home illustration they will cherish no matter where they move. These beautiful watercolor paintings capture the facade and charm of individual houses, and once framed, they make a perfect housewarming gift.
Buy It: Custom House Portrait ($125, Etsy)
Homebody Book
What would Joanna do? Let new homeowners gather wisdom from the “Fixer Upper” star with her guide to designing a home that represents the personalities who live there. The book, Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave by Joanna Gaines, offers tips for blending decorating styles and sketching new plans of your own.
Buy It: Homebody ($21, Target)
Welcome Sign
Say it loud and proud: “Welcome!” An oversize front-door sign is sure to send a creative curbside message. This 6-foot pallet sign is hand-painted, adding a thoughtful touch to the beautiful porch decoration.
Buy It: Oversize Front Door Welcome Sign ($80, Etsy)
Pizza Baking Stone
Ready for a homemade pizza night? New homeowners will love receiving this bread and pizza baking stone from King Arthur that promises a crispy crust to rival stone ovens. This made-in-America gift will be adored for the date nights and delicious dinners it provides for years to come.
Buy It: Pizza Stone ($79, King Arthur Flour)
Letter & Key Holder
Never again wonder where the keys went! This metal and wood mail holder and key hook offer a quick and easy spot to drop small essentials upon entering a new home. The design is sturdy yet stylish, so every homeowner can appreciate it.
Buy It: Magnetic Key Hook Tray ($24, Madewell)
Seed Delivery
Give your new homeowner’s garden the best foundation from seed to sprout. A package of heirloom seeds from Seed Savers Exchange will give gardeners the most delicious products, and you can order everything from miniature bell peppers to mountain sweet yellow watermelons. If you aren’t sure what seeds your new homeowners need, consider a gift card instead.
Buy It: Seed Savers Gift Card ($10-100, Seed Savers)
Plaid Throw Blanket
A classic plaid pattern makes a stylish and cozy addition to any living room. We love this warm wool blanket as a hygge-inspired household addition for fall mornings and winter nights. The fabric is machine washable, making it an easy choice for new homeowners.
Buy It: Grey Plaid Design Throw ($22, Target)
All-Purpose Brooms
According to superstition, homeowners are supposed to receive a new broom when they arrive at a new home to symbolize a fresh start. The old broom is said to carry all the negativity remaining from the old home into the new house. While we don’t believe that, it does provide the perfect opportunity to buy your homeowners a simple yet beautiful barn broom.
Buy It: All-Purpose Barn Brooms ($65, Lostine)
Cheese Board with Knives
We love any excuse for a DIY cheese board, and hopefully, your new homeowners do too. This round bamboo cheese board transforms into a stacked wheel with extra storage for serving tools, including an all-purpose cheese knife, a flat cheese knife, and a cheese fork. The easy-to-store design makes this housewarming gift both functional and pretty.
Buy It: 13-Inch Swivel Cheese Board with Knives (from $45, Uncommon Goods)
Cheese Markers
Say cheese—or whatever your heart desires! These cute and budget-friendly Chit Chat Markers come recommended from the Museum of Modern Art design store, and homeowners are sure to love their dry-erase simplicity. The pack of 12 allows a quick label for each item served on your DIY charcuterie board.
Buy It: Chit Chat Markers ($5, MoMA Design Store)
Flannel Sheet Set
This new homeowner gift is certain to bring comfort and warmth to a new house. The fan-favorite L.L. Bean ultrasoft comfort flannel sheet set is true to its name, and it promises to resist shrinking, fading, and pilling. Brushed cotton flannel is ideal for winter nights, but homeowners will be grateful for their beautifully made bed year-round.
Buy It: Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set (from $119, L.L. Bean)
ZIP Code Pillow
What’s our new ZIP Code again? Help new homeowners adjust to a new address with a pretty, personalized ZIP Code pillow. The handmade throw pillow adds a rustic touch to front porches, residence halls, and living rooms.
Buy It: Personalized ZIP Code Pillow (from $29, Etsy)
Keurig Slim Coffee Maker
Help the new homeowners prepare for their first house guests with this ultra-slim coffee maker. They can use it in the kitchen if they don't already have a K-Cup-compatible machine, but it can just as easily be placed on a small coffee station in the guest room for an extra cozy welcome.
Buy It: Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker ($79, Amazon)
Vase Bookends
Add bright, natural blooms to bookshelves with a set of vase bookends. The set of terracotta bookends are ideal for small storage, and we love seeing florals among the stacks. To complete this thoughtful housewarming gift, consider getting silk flowers that match your friend’s style.
Buy It: Vase Bookends ($39, Urban Outfitters)
Picnic Towel
It’s time to explore the new neighborhood! Whether your friends are stargazing, camping, or going to the beach at their new home, a large picnic towel will go a long way. This oversize towel is made from organic cotton and since it's meant to be regularly laundered (unlike many blankets), it's a natural choice for an Instagram-worthy picnic.
Buy It: Stockholm Spot Towel ($98, Alaina Organic)
State-Theme Candle
Home is where the heart is, but sometimes you still miss it. If your new college student or homeowner is worried about adjusting to a new state, consider gifting him or her a familiar memory. The state-theme Homesick candle line channels iconic scents designed to bring back memories of an old place and time.
Buy It: State Candle ($34, Homesick)
Magnetic Knife Storage
A simple knife strip is an overlooked but highly appreciated homeowner gift. Order your friends and family a personalized knife holder made from cherrywood, and watch them delight over the intricate design and personalized engraving. The magnetic wooden surface is fixed with keyholes for quick and easy hanging and storage.
Buy It: Personalized Knife Rack ($47, Etsy)
Polka-Dot Pillow
Give homeowners a preppy accent pillow designed to brighten their living space. The black-and-white speckled design of this throw pillow seamlessly fits alongside most styles, making it an easy present for new arrivals in the neighborhood.
Buy It: Black and White Pillow ($24, Society6)
Homeowners Tool Set
Tasks in a new home are bound to come up, and it’s best to be prepared. Give new homeowners an appreciated dose of pragmatism with a high-quality Anvil tool set. The 76-item kit comes with everything beginners need to tackle life’s little jobs.
Buy It: 76-Piece Home Tool Kit ($41, The Home Depot)
Decorative Globe
Add a modern, worldly feel to a new home with a miniature globe. The blue and white design is perfect for bookshelves or desks, and new homeowners will love the reminder that the world is theirs for the taking.
Buy It: Decorative Globe ($40, Wayfair)
Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeder
Welcome cheerful songbirds to a new backyard with a high-quality mixed-seed feeder. The globe design offers squirrel guards, so the bird feeder is virtually guaranteed to be a safe haven for new birds—and not their unwanted companions.
Buy It: Globe Bird Feeder ($45, Target)
Folding Step Stool
If you are searching for a practical gift that will get a lot of use, take a (stool) step forward. This isn’t a glamorous gift, but a folding step stool is incredibly useful and easy to store. Homeowners can keep this handy accessory in bathrooms for children, the laundry room for storage, or the kitchen for hard-to-reach shelves.
Buy It: Folding Step Stool ($13, The Container Store)
Wood and Metal Wall Organizer
Moving is almost always stressful, but you can help relieve a bit of the pressure with a pretty-yet-functional wall organizer. This option has it all: A calendar, chalk board, key hooks, cork board, and more to help keep all those important papers and new keys all in one place.
Buy It: The Susan Wall Organizer ($199, 1Thrive)
Swirl Baking Dish
Beautiful and baking-ready? Sign us up. This marbled dish is created with hand-dipped blue-and-white enamel that is swirled to perfection. Each piece is one of a kind and can transition easily from oven to tabletop. Bonus points for being dishwasher safe.
Buy It: Swirl Enamel Baking Dish (from $24, MoMA Design Store)
Metallic Map Art
Give that new mantel a touch of metallic beauty! This customized foil art from Minted allows homeowners to receive a street print of their favorite address. Remind newlyweds of where they met, or simply mark the location of their newest beginning.
Buy It: Custom Map Filled Foil Art (from $158, Minted)
Muffin Pan
The versatility of a muffin tin is hard to overstate. If you’re doubtful, consider egg muffins, mini mac-n-cheese pies, pizza cups, and a plethora of sweet desserts. Get your new homeowners a set of regular or miniature muffin tins, then print a few of our favorite muffin tin recipes to complete the clever housewarming gift.
Buy It: 12-Cup Steel Muffin Pan ($8, Target)
Bath Caddy
Unpacking is finally finished, and it’s time to relax with a bubble bath. This adjustable bathtub tray rests easily along a ledge to hold a book, wineglass, and candle. New homeowners will appreciate the reminder that it is finally time to kick back and enjoy their home.
Buy It: Bathtub Caddy ($25, Target)
Countertop Blender
The last thing you want to do after a move is spend more money, which is why a practical gift will always be appreciated. Gift the new homeowners an upgraded appliance, and pair it with a thoughtful gift, like limes and tequila for at-home margaritas they can make with their new blender.
Buy It: Ninja Professional Countertop Blender ($89, Amazon)
Dutch Oven
It’s hard to beat an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven at this price point, especially for roasting and bread baking. Buy this 5-quart dish for a new homeowner who is still learning the basics, but invest in a higher-quality item if your new homeowner is a dedicated chef who needs more high-temperature versatility.
Buy It: Hearth & Hand Dutch Oven ($50, Target)
Sushi Kit
It’s sushi date night! Give new homeowners an exciting and delicious opportunity to make fancy sushi for dinner with an inexpensive yet effective kit. This present comes with chopsticks, rolling mats, a rice paddle, and a rice spreader. From beginner level to sushi-rolling master, this gift will be appreciated by all.
Buy It: 3-Piece Bamboo Sushi Set ($8, World Market)
Magazine Rack
A modern wire wall hanging doubles as storage for magazines and vinyl records. Homeowners can easily organize the media while unpacking, and the high-quality metal is built to last from home to home.
Buy It: Wall Magazine Rack ($38, Wayfair)
Bird House
Greet fluttering friends with a small wood and iron birdhouse. New homeowners will love the opportunity to hang this simple wood birdhouse near a window where wildlife can be appreciated by all.
Buy It: 12-Inch Wood Birdhouse ($20, Target)
