by Rachel Stacey

Created on: November 18, 2010

Moving into a new home is such an exciting time for an individual or family. Many new homeowners are overwhelmed with closing costs and moving costs not to mention the cost of furnishing a new home. House-warming parties are the perfect time for friends and family to celebrate with the new home owner and gift them with something they can use and enjoy in their new home.

Many new home owners register at one or more department or home decor stores. If the homeowner does not have a registry here are a few gifts ideas that are sure to be used and appreciated.  

Traditional Gifts 

There are a few traditional housewarming gifts that carry with them a blessing or adage. These are fun to gift. You can even skip the card and let the message of the gift be your blessing. A commonly gifted traditional housewarming gift of a basket of bread, salt and wine is associated with the German proverb, “Bread, so you’ll never go hungry. Salt so you’ll have good luck. Wine so you’ll never be thirsty". This traditional gift is a great way to wish the new home owner a good life for many years to come.

Plants

Many people like to gift plants or potted flowers to a new owner. Chances are with all the responsibilities associated with a new home they have not had time to think about landscaping. Hanging basket plants, potted flowers, a rose bush or a window-box herb garden are great ideas in this category. If the new home owner enjoys gardening, a tasteful small lawn statue or even a gift basket filled with seeds, gardening tools and gloves make useful gifts. Gifting a fruit tree is another great option here. Your gift will be enjoyed by the homeowner for years to come.  

Barbecue

A new pleasure that a home owner moving from an apartment where they may not have been allowed to do so is barbecuing. Barbecue tools or grill accessories are affordable useful gifts that the new owner can use when entertaining guests.

Neutral decor gifts

Unless you are sure of the new home owner's decor style, be sure to go with neutral colors when purchasing decor items. Scented candles, bath soaps and kitchen towels are good safe choices in this category. It is never a bad idea to include a gift receipt in the bag with your gift just in case you gift something that does not quite match the style of the new homeowner. 

Gift cards

Gifts cards are great because they give the recipient the ability to choose their own gift, something that they need. Department stores like Kohls, JCPenney, or Bed Beth and Beyond are great places to buy home decor items and linens. Other great choices include: Harry and David, Pier Imports, Bath and Body Works and Yankee Candle. 

There are so many options for housewarming gifts. Here a few more fun, unique gift ideas: magazine rack, decorative firewood basket, spice rack, fruit basket, flower vases, decorative wreath, and wine or beer glasses.

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