The Best Housewarming Gifts

When you're congratulating a new homeowner on their purchase or attending a housewarming party at their new place, it's always a nice gesture to bring a gift that will make them feel at home. We've rounded up some of the best housewarming gifts you can bring to a new neighbor or a friend settling into a new home.

When you're moving into a new house or apartment, it's always so nice when people look out for you.

Whether it's a friend bringing a meal, a new neighbor stopping by with a plate of cookies or a small housewarming party to stock your pantry or liquor cabinet, these gestures never go unnoticed.

So why not return the favor? Next time a friend moves to a new place, treat them to a meal during the stressful move. When a new neighbor moves in, bring them a treat to welcome them to the neighborhood. And if you're invited to a housewarming party, always bring a small hostess gift to thank the host or hostess for the hospitality.

What Is a Housewarming Gift?

Housewarming gifts are a gesture of kindness when someone moves into a new home to make them feel welcome and make the home feel more like home.

A housewarming gift could be a number of things:

• a bottle of wine or whiskey
• baked goods for the family to enjoy
• something for the home, like a candle
• a plant or vase of flowers.

Housewarming gifts can be as budget-friendly as cut flowers from your garden, a gift card for a coffee or a handmade gift. They can also be a more elaborate gift basket filled with snacks or supplies.

Below is a collection of the best housewarming gift ideas you can give to a friend, family member or new neighbor.

Gifts for The Home

Giving a gift for the home is a great housewarming present. Items that last longer than a meal will surely bring a smile to the new homeowner's face every time they see it or use it.

Here are some of my favorite things to give:

• A basket that can be used for organizing or canisters for pantry organization.
• Fresh flowers in a keepsake vase make a great statement; however, a green plant (like a pothos or snake plant) or herbs in a ceramic planter will outlast flowers.
• Pictures always help a house feel like a home, so a photo frame is always a sweet gift.
• A monogram keychain to garnish their new set of keys.

Always go for neutral colors and classic shapes, especially if you don't know the new neighbor yet. (And if you never spot the gift in their house again, don't be offended. It's the thought that counts!)

Gifts for The Kitchen

When you have a new house, the kitchen is often the hardest to organize. A new homeowner will need to stock up on kitchen pantry essentials and baking essentials too.

These are some of my favorite kitchen-related gifts to give:

• Kitchen towels are always a welcome addition to the kitchen. Can you ever have too many?
• Decorative candles will help to rid the home of old odors (and those accidental smoke alarm dinners!) but they can also be a centerpiece for a kitchen island.
• A wine opener is often needed in those first days in a new home — but where-oh-where could it be in that mountain of boxes? Gift one along with a bottle of wine and stainless steel wine tumblers.
• Cleaning and household supplies are always welcome and needed in a new home. Put together gift basket of things like paper towels, sponges, ziptop bags, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent pods and countertop cleaner.

All of these are great things to have, especially if the homeowner will need to prepare their home for guests sometime soon.

Meal Trains

When you're moving into a new home, meals during moving week are often an afterthought in all the chaos. That's why it's so nice if a friend is willing to organize a meal train for the moving family.

With a meal train, people can bring the new homeowner takeout, send a gift card or bring a home-cooked meal. Be sure to give them a list of your dietary restrictions or your favorite meal train dinners.

Or you can put together a few kits for the family to enjoy on their own time. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Caffeine kit: A bag of ground beans, tea bags and coffee creamer will be welcome in the mornings. A coffee shop gift card works too!
• Pizza night kit: Bring over all the makings for pizza, including pizza dough, pizza sauce, cheese, pizza seasoning and their favorite pizza toppings
• Burger night kit: Prepare ready-to-cook hamburgers, burger toppings, a jar of burger seasoning and burger sauce.
• Grown-up dessert: Pop the champagne! A new place is a celebration, so bring over a pint of sorbet and a bottle of chilled champagne for champagne floats.

Food Gifts

The best housewarming gifts are often edible. From chocolate chip cookies to jars of hot cocoa mix, here are our favorite gifts to make and share:

Other ideas

If your friends haven't moved yet, help and supplies while they pack up their old place is always clutch.

• Packing supplies like boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape
• Cleaning supplies like countertop spray and sponges
• Help them pack up and clean, show up on moving day or offer to help unpack and organize.

What's your favorite housewarming gift?