20 Thoughtful and Traditional Housewarming Gifts
I have thoughtful housewarming gifts on my mind this year! All three of my siblings are moving into new homes in 2022, along with many friends. I’m so excited for all of them and can’t wait to celebrate this new adventure in their lives. Of course, celebrating these new homes provides the perfect opportunity to gift something special and sweet. I’ve always loved the search for a personalized housewarming gift. It’s such a fun and simple way to show someone how much they mean to you. If you’ve recently found yourself searching for the perfect housewarming gift, this post is for you! Today I’m going to share 20 traditional and thoughtful housewarming gifts, along with discussing the basics of housewarming etiquette. I have included traditional gifts for every budget and housewarming ideas for new neighbors and friends. Let’s start with some housewarming etiquette!
Housewarming Etiquette Tips
Before diving into my list of thoughtful housewarming gifts, I’d like to share some housewarming etiquette tips. You can bring the most wonderful hostess gift in the world, but in the end this isn’t as important as your housewarming manners. The basics of housewarming etiquette are pretty simple. Here are some tips I’ve learned over the years!
- Always bring a housewarming gift. If you’re invited into someone’s new home within the first six months of them moving in, don’t show up empty handed. Anytime you’re attending an actual housewarming party, a gift is also to be expected.
- The size of the home is not important. Bringing a housewarming gift is proper etiquette whether you’re celebrating a sibling moving into a small apartment after college or a friend moving into the home of their dreams. A new living space is always worth acknowledging and celebrating, no matter the size.
- Compliment the new home. When visiting someone’s home for the first time, it’s always nice to compliment the house. New homeowners are usually excited and proud and a compliment can really make someone’s day!
- Don’t go wandering around the home. As tempting as it might be, don’t go wandering around a home during a housewarming party, unless you’ve been invited to do so. If you’d like a tour of the new home, simply ask the hostess. I’ve found that most of the time they are more than happy to show it off!
- Be welcoming! This housewarming tip is especially important for new neighbors. Welcome them to the neighborhood, offer to help when needed, share information, such as neighborhood parades and events. A little hospitality can go a long way and it’s great to make a positive impression on a new neighbor from the start!
20 Thoughtful Housewarming Gifts
Now that we’ve covered some basic housewarming etiquette tips, let’s get to the fun part, gifts! I love being intentional and coming up with thoughtful housewarming gifts. Oftentimes, the best gifts are personalized gifts that mean something special to the receiver. This could be a monogrammed set of bath towels or a watercolor painting of their new home. When wanting to gift something thoughtful to a new neighbor whom I don’t know well, I opt for a traditional housewarming gift. Baked goods and a pretty tea towel or a yummy smelling candle and matches are both excellent traditional housewarming gifts. Over the years, and especially in 2022, I’ve come up with many different gift ideas. I’m excited to share my list of 20 thoughtful housewarming gifts today!
1. ChappyWrap Blanket
ChappyWrap blankets are my absolute favorite, I have one in every lounging spot in our home. What’s more, I’ve yet to meet a person who dislikes them! They are soft and warm, come in timeless prints and styles, and are machine-washable. I’m currently loving this classic green plaid blanket.
2. Personalized Platter of Their New Home
The most thoughtful housewarming gifts tend to be personalized. This blue and white hand painted platter is so special and unique. It is quite possibly the perfect housewarming gift. I have been a longtime fan of Tricia Lowenfield handmade folk art. Everything she designs is sweet, creative and a true treasure!
3. Personalized Spoon Rest of Their New Home
Speaking of Tricia Lowenfield treasures, this personalized spoon rest is as sweet as can be. It’s also extremely easy to personalize. For all of her personalized housewarming gifts, you simply send in a picture of the new home and she works her magic! These blue and white ceramic pieces are beautiful, high-quality and traditional.
4. Classic Brass Pepper Mill
Traditional kitchen gifts are wonderful for housewarming celebrations. This classic brass pepper mill is not only useful, but it will look pretty sitting on the new homeowner’s counter. The handmade and exceptional quality make it an extra-special housewarming gift.
5. Personalized Ice Bucket with Champagne
A new home is a reason to celebrate! Start the party off with this blue personalized ice bucket filled with ice and a bottle of champagne. Laurent Perrier is one of my favorite champagnes to give. If champagne doesn’t feel appropriate, a pretty bouquet of flowers inside of the personalized ice bucket also makes for a thoughtful housewarming gift.
6. Personalized Bath Towel Bundle
I love to gift a little luxury and Weezie bath towels are soft, fluffy and as luxurious as they come. Plus, they can be fully customized! I love to use the new homeowner’s house number, street name, married monogram or last name on these bath towels. The personalization is the perfect added touch to make them a thoughtful housewarming gift.
7. Handmade Wooden Cookbook Holder
There’s nothing like the warmth that the kitchen provides in a home. This handmade wooden cookbook holder is not only useful, but also beautiful. It allows the user to free up their hands while cooking and is made of 100% plant based materials, making it safe to be around food. I’m loving this sage green one and you could pair it with a favorite cookbook for a sweet and traditional housewarming gift.
8. Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
If you’re really wanting to wow the new homeowner, this cream colored cast iron dutch oven will do the trick! I use my Le Creuset dutch oven quite often and fewer things feel more like home to me than when I have something simmering in it. If you’re not wanting to spend quite that much, I actually really love my $50 dutch oven as well!
9. Monogrammed Door Mat
Depending on the size of their front door, I love this monogrammed long door mat because of its sophisticated and classic style. You can personalize it with the homeowner’s last name or house number for a traditional housewarming gift.
10. Custom Watercolor House Illustration
Can you think of anything sweeter than a personalized watercolor illustration for a new homeowner? Additionally, a watercolor illustration of their old home is just as sweet, especially for empty nesters. You can simply send in a digital photo of the house and the artist will create the watercolor illustration. Moreover, she can even add special touches, like a wreath with the owner’s name and address! I’ve used and loved this artist for many years. It is truly one of the most thoughtful housewarming gifts I’ve come across.
11. Floral Wreath Sash
New homeowners are sure to swoon for this beautiful floral wreath sash. It’s available in white or blue and is the perfect finishing touch to a new front door! Riley Sheehey is the artist behind this design and I shared more about her artwork in my Mother’s Day gift guide. Everything she creates is beautiful!
12. Scented Candle and an Elegant Match Cloche
When searching for traditional housewarming gifts, you will most likely come across different quotes that go along with these gifts. One of my favorites is the tradition of gifting the owner a pretty scented candle and pairing it with the quote “May you always have light in the darkest of times.” You could even add in this classic match cloche to complete the gift!
13. Classic Coffee Table Book
The wonderful thing about coffee table books is that they are classic decorative pieces for a home while also being functional. I can always find so much inspiration in a great coffee table book and I love giving them as a simple and traditional housewarming gift. My current favorite is the book Celebrating Home by James T. Farmer.
14. Personalized Cocktail Napkins
These monogrammed and heron embroidered cocktail napkins are a fun and thoughtful housewarming gift. The attention to details is exquisite and I love that they are machine washable. These personalized cocktail napkins would also make a wonderful gift for a hostess or wedding shower.
15. French Blue Charcuterie Board
Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board? Even better, one that is useful for serving, but doubles as beautiful kitchen decor! This french blue charcuterie board does just that and would make for a wonderful housewarming gift in 2022 and beyond.
16. Loaf of Bread and a Pretty Dish Towel
Similar to the housewarming gift tradition of giving candles as “light” for a home, it’s also tradition to give bread to go along with the phrase “May your house never know hunger”. I love adding a pretty little dish towel or tea towel around the bread and a sweet little note printed on personalized paper to make the gift feel “complete”. If you don’t feel up to baking fresh bread, hit up your local bakery and grab a loaf. I have no doubt it will be just as appreciated!
17. A Plant for Their New Home
A plant can be a thoughtful housewarming gift for the right person. My favorite plants to give are orchids or something fun like a lemon tree (with a bottle of tequila)! I think these are especially sweet for a housewarming gift, as it’s something that can be planted and watched year after year as they grow. I can tell you right now, a plant is always the right answer anytime someone is stumped on what to get me!
18. A Classic Tablecloth
You didn’t think this tablescaping-lover would leave out tablecloths, did you? Not surprisingly, I think a beautiful tablecloth can make for a practical and thoughtful housewarming gift. I love how a new tablecloth can give any dining room a fresh look! Depending on how well you know the homeowner, it might be a little tricky to pick out the perfect one. I would suggest choosing an elegant and classic tablecloth, as those are typically loved by all!
19. Classic Mug and Your Favorite Tea
For a thoughtful and affordable housewarming gift, I think this blue gingham mug is adorable. Additionally, you could pair it with some bags of your favorite tea and tie it all up in a pretty bow! Simple, cute and easy.
20. Personalized Ornament of Home
Another sweet and personal housewarming gift is a personalized ornament of the owner’s new home. You could also have the artist create an ornament of their previous home or childhood home. This housewarming gift is extra special around the holidays!
Classic Housewarming Gifts in 2022
I hope this list of classic and thoughtful housewarming gifts helps make your shopping a little easier! However, if you’re not currently looking for a housewarming gift, be sure to bookmark this post for future reference. If you do purchase one of these housewarming gifts, I’d love to hear which one you bought and how you liked it. Do you have a thoughtful housewarming gift you like to give that didn’t make my list? If so, please share it in the comments below. I’m always up for new gift ideas, especially with so many friends and family members moving in 2022!
