57 Best Housewarming Gifts—Recommended by Our Editors

Housewarming gifts are a sweet way to honor a loved one’s important transition into their space. They can beautify a new home or apartment or make everyday tasks easier, but the best housewarming gifts combine both to be both functional and stylish.

At The Spruce, we’re constantly researching and testing the best home products, so we know a thing or two about beautiful and useful gifts. Several members of our team have moved into new spaces in the past year, so we asked The Spruce editors to find out the best housewarming gifts they’ve given or received and why they love them, so you have something great to bring to your next housewarming party.

We’ve organized our gifts into categories to suit every recipient’s taste and every gift-giver’s budget. With a host of helpful suggestions, we’re sure you’ll find something that will make your host think of you at every meal.

Scented gifts

Moving and settling into a new space is stressful, so the gift of something that can make their new home or apartment smell good is always appreciated. Our editors love diffusers, candles, and smart scent devices because they’re available at every price point and come in a variety of scent and customization options.

Smart diffusers let you schedule and switch between scents on your phone, while candles are a classic, functional gift we love for any occasion. Try finding an option that features their favorite scent, a container that you can customize with their new address (like this one from Etsy), or a reed diffuser that matches their design style for a sentimental touch.

Kits

Provide a friend or family member with the home improvement essentials they need for their new home. Tool kits are great for DIY projects, furniture building, and small repairs around the house.

While they may not be the cutest gift, several members of our team have received one and found it useful for quick home projects and repairs. These affordable options can easily be paired with gift cards, tabletop photo books, or sweet treats. The next time your recipient tries to hang a picture frame or close a closet, they’ll be thankful you stopped by.

Kitchen Upgrade

When we think of the best housewarming gifts we’ve ever received, a loaf of fresh sourdough bread wrapped in a gorgeous dish towel tops our list.

If you don’t have a sourdough starter, pick up a baking sheet from your local bakery (we recommend checking out Goldbelly) or just get a cute, personalized pair of dish towels. We love giving kitchen upgrades that they’ll actually use, especially when they’re personalized. For example, a deli cutting board personalized with their last name or an apron with their initials.

Linen

For the dinner party-loving friend, stock their kitchen with unique tablecloths that they’ll use for weeknight dinners and special occasions. For those who entertain, we recommend a playful cocktail napkin set embroidered with their drink of choice (like these from Big Night) or a tablecloth featuring their favorite dessert (like this one).

Trees and flowers

It’s no surprise that a group of plant lovers recommend spreading the love and gifting a new plant to brighten up any new space. Our favorite online retailers make it easy to send plants of all shapes and sizes anywhere. We love ZZ plants or snake plants because they’re easy to care for and can survive low light conditions. We also suggest gifting a potted plant (like this one) to save the recipient some work.

Colorful cookware

A handy cookware item is a gift that the recipient will use and cherish for years to come. One of our editors received the Our Place Always Pan two years ago, and it has become a staple cookware item that they own and use every day. To make the gift a little more personal, get them a kitchen essential in a unique color they love that matches their kitchen decor.

Staples Bookshelf

When I can’t think of the perfect gift, I opt for a small trinket or plate that they can place on a shelf or bookshelf as a reminder that you were there. This is also one of my favorite gifts to receive, as I’ve decorated every surface in my new apartment with photo frames, figurines, trays, and crystals from friends.

Try adding a personal touch to your gift: a tote in their favorite color (we love these prints), a unique edition of their favorite book (like these gorgeous classics), or a Funko Pop figure of their favorite movie character.

Food gifts

When shopping for a foodie, we recommend finding a cool charcuterie platter for their next dinner party or a unique gift basket filled with fun treats to sample. We’ve tested over 50 gift baskets over the years to find the best ones for every recipient. A gift basket is also a great option to send by mail if they’re far away.

Bounty Bedding and Bath

We’ve spent years testing the best bedding for every type of sleeper, and have plenty of ideas for bedding sets for every occasion. If your roommate or best friend hasn’t upgraded their bedding in a while, this gift can go a long way. And, if they’ve just moved into a house with multiple bedrooms and plenty of guest rooms, they’ll need more than the bedding they’re used to.

If they’re moving in for the summer, consider a cooling sheet set like the Olive + Crate Eucalyptus Sheets Set—our bedding editors, who spent more than 1,000 hours testing sheets, love them for their smooth texture and instant cooling. A cozy blanket like this is a must for the colder months. For the bathroom, they might appreciate a personalized bath mat or a towel warmer.

Favorite coffee and tea

Our team is made up of coffee and tea drinkers who appreciate it when friends and family members notice their morning beverage and gift them a new blend or accessory to make their daily ritual a little more enjoyable.

Whether you have the budget for a new coffee maker or can afford a bottle of local honey (which is available on Amazon), they’ll appreciate your interest in simplifying their morning routine.

Prepare the beverage cart

When in doubt, a bottle of their favorite wine or spirit is always a great gift, especially for anyone who enjoys a strong drink after a long day, the friend who’s always dragging you to new bars or wineries, or the loved one who’s always looking to entertain.

Think outside the box and choose a functional item for the recipient’s drinks cart, including bartending tools, mixers (Blake Lively has her own line), cocktail recipe books, or unique drinks. Shopping for non-drinkers? Try a non-alcoholic aperitif, like Ghia, which looks great on display and tastes just as good.

Fashion Archives

Everyone can use more organization in their space, and we love storage solutions that are both stylish and functional. Carrying cases are great for carrying cleaning essentials to the kitchen or bathroom, cleverly woven baskets hide extra sheets or dirty clothes, and desk organizers are the perfect gift for the recipient who works from home. We recommend adding a few household essentials to your basket for a well-rounded gift: sponges, dish towels, all-purpose cleaners, etc.

Why trust Spruce?

This story was written by Julia Fields, associate business editor at The Spruce, who has been researching and testing the best home gifts for the past three years. She polled The Spruce team of home experts to find out what they really want when moving into a new space and their favorite gift to give a friend or family member moving into a new space.

Fields herself has attended a number of housewarmings and chooses unique coffee blends, bouquets from local florists, or personalized jewelry trays as suitable gifts for anyone in her life.