Our Favorite Housewarming Gifts


It seems like just about everyone we know is currently moving or just moved into a new home. And that means that we’ve had a lot of housewarming parties and visits to these new spaces. No one ever wants to show up to a party empty-handed, so we have some go-to housewarming gifts that we typically give in these situations. Some are DIY projects…others are straight from the store.

Housewarming Gifts

Hopefully, our list of housewarming gifts can help you the next time you RSVP “yes” to one of these get-togethers.

New Homeowner Jargift-housewarming-jar

This unique gift is a really popular post of ours, and we think it’s for good reason. It’s a creative way to give your friend a collection of items that they actually need for their new pad. Plus we are pretty obsessed with those clear canister jars (from Crate & Barrel), because they’re functional and pretty. And any crafty project that just involves tracing pretty handwriting works for us!

Personalized StampPersonalized_Stamps

I just purchased 3 of these stamps from Etsy (2 for new homeowners, 1 for an engagement), and I’m happy to report that they were a hit. A personalized stamp with the home’s new address is a thoughtful touch, and you can probably guarantee that the homeowners haven’t yet gotten around to ordering one for themselves. So not only are you helping them dress up their snail mail, but you’re checking off a small task on their new home to-do list! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time for this gift, as it can take a few weeks for this order to arrive.

Personalized Doormatdoormat

Everyone has a front door, so a new doormat is always a welcome gift (pun intended). If you’re on a budget, you can DIY one for the new homeowners with their address or monogram. Here’s a super easy tutorial for that. Or you can always buy one and ship it directly to their new home. We love this one from Pottery Barn and this one from Mark & Graham.

Upgraded Gift Card

Giftcard_diy_craft_ideas_Michaels_makers-11

Gift cards are another item that everyone can use when moving into a new home. We often give cards to Amazon, West Elm, or Lowe’s Home Improvement….3 retailers that you’re bound to hit up after a big move. Instead of just throwing the plastic card into a greeting card, we suggest dressing it up a bit. You can take a small gift box and make it look like a moving box in just a few minutes.ย Giftcard_diy_craft_ideas_Michaels_makers-30

Or you can dress up that home improvement gift card in a small plastic paint bin, along with a brush. It’s those small touches that make an otherwise simple gift, a special gift. Check out this post for tips on how to take your gift card to the next level.

City-Themed Gift Basket

Bridget_Chicago_Athleta_WorkoutIf your friends or family are moving to a new city, we think it’s fun to create a little gift basket full of popular items from their new town. For example, if someone was moving to Chicago we might include Garrett’s popcorn, local brews, a fun postcard to frame and even a map of the city. Here’s an example of a Chicago gift basket we made a few years back. This gift does take some extra effort, but could be well worth the time to make your friends feel more at ease and excited to be in their new city!

When in Doubt…Bring Champagne!champagne-glass-bottle

You guys know we love champagne for any celebration…big or small! A new home is definitely something to celebrate, so bubbly is our final go-to gift for housewarming parties. If you’re heading to a get together at the last-minute, a simple stop at the store for a bottle of wine or champs is always a bright idea. Stuff a cute ribbon or tag in your purse to tie around it on the way in for a little extra creativity!

So is it just us, or are a lot of your friends & family also on the move? What are your go-to gifts for all of those housewarming parties? We’d love to consider them as future go-to housewarming gifts!

Bridget&Casey


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.