Housewarming Gift Ideas

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We recently moved into a new home after many months of house hunting.  We saw many houses, did countless online searches, and drove through numerous neighborhoods looking for just the right place.  This past summer, we finally came across a neighborhood that we felt was a great fit for our family and in our budget.  We made an offer on a house and moved in about a month later.

We have now been in our home for a few months, and we are loving our new space.  One thing I’ve learned in the last few months is that moving can be expensive.  Not just the move itself (hiring movers, renting storage units, trailers, and trucks, buying boxes, etc.), but the first few months is full of expenses related to turning your house into a home.  In those first couple of weeks, it felt like we were at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the grocery store every other day!

After several moves, I’ve compiled a list of helpful, practical, and fun housewarming gift ideas to bless a family, friend, or co-worker who has just moved or is moving soon.  They vary in price and are perfect as stand alone gifts or to add to a housewarming gift basket for housewarming parties, Christmas, the holidays, birthdays, or just because.

This list is also a great resource for anyone preparing to move as it has some ideas of items that are helpful to have on hand during and after a move.

Housewarming Gift Ideas

Tape measure – I can’t tell you how many times I used a tape measure in the weeks just prior to moving, during the move, and the first few weeks after we moved.  I was always looking for a tape measure!  You can never have too many.

Storage bins – Plastic storage bins are great for so many things!  I use them for clothes, toys, random items that need a temporary home, and the list goes on.  I like the clear ones so you can see what’s inside, and I try my best to label them as well.

Wicker baskets – I love wicker baskets of varying sizes because they can go anywhere.  For example, I have this cute organizer in my kitchen and these beautiful baskets in my desk area and bathroom.  They go with many different styles of decor.

Drying rack – I never really used one until this house, and I love it so much!  This is handy to have underneath the rack when it’s on the counter.

Dish cloths – Moving is a great time to throw out old tired rags and replace them with new, fresh dish cloths that match the new space.

Towels – Depending on the colors and style of your new space, you may want to change out the towels for new ones that coordinate with the new space.

Wreath – A wreath on the front door is one of the easiest ways to add warmth to the front of a home.  Switching it out for the various seasons can be a fun and easy way to change up the front entry of your home.

Welcome mat – One of the very first things people see when walking in a home is the welcome mat.  A beautiful, welcoming mat can create a wonderful first impression for family and guests.

Flowers by the front door – When we moved into our previous home, the seller had left a cute red flower pot by the front door.  I thought it was a kind gesture, and I always tried to keep fresh flowers in it when we lived there.  To pay it forward, I left the flower pot there for the new homeowner when we moved.  One of the first things I added to our front porch at our new home was a pot of flowers by the front door.  It’s such an easy and inexpensive way to bring warmth to the front porch.

Under cabinet lighting – This is something I wanted in our previous home, but didn’t know how simple the lights would be to install.  This set here literally took my husband less than five minutes to install in our kitchen.  They work off of a remote control and add nice lighting when we are cooking.

Placemats – A new dining area is the perfect excuse for updating worn out placemats.  This set is versatile and stylish.

Glass Snapware – One thing is apparent when we move; we have a bunch of junk.  One of my least favorite things to go through and pack is the Tupperware cabinet.  A couple of years ago, I received a glass set of Snapware for Christmas, and it totally changed how I organize my to-go containers.  Snapware is durable and so much easier to organize because of the color-coded lids.  Instead of having what seems like a hundred different pieces of Ziploc containers (with and without lids), I have a set of Snapware and a only a couple of each size of Ziploc containers if I can find the matching lid.  This has helped decrease the clutter in the cabinet.

Vacuum – With two big labrador retrievers and two little ones, we use our vacuum a lot!  Moving into a new space is usually just the right time to replace an old tired vacuum.  We bought the Eureka Brushroll Clean to replace our old vacuum, and it is awesome!  The best part – it’s under 100 dollars!

Broom – For the same reasons as the vacuum, I like replacing our broom when we move.  This broom is my favorite!

Mop – For the same reasons as the broom and vacuum, I also like replacing our mop when we move.  This mop is pretty handy.

Time – Finally, one of the greatest gifts you can give someone when they move is your time.  It’s a lot of work to move and get settled.  The process lasts much longer than the weekend of the actual move.  In fact, depending on the size of the family, it can take months to get through all the boxes.  Here are some easy ways to help someone who has recently moved: break down boxes, assemble furniture, line kitchen drawers and shelves, paint, provide bottled water, or bring a meal.