There are many factors to consider when purchasing a house-warming gift. Of course you should first set a spending limit. Will it be bigger than a breadbox? That depends if you are buying the gift by yourself, or if you have a partner or friends involved. Of course you can buy a larger, more expensive item (such as a piece of furniture), if you have other people contributing.
Before browsing online and searching shops, you should decide which room of the house you want to buy an item for. That will narrow the choices down and make the task less overwhelming.
Some good ideas for kitchen items would be new small appliances like a new blender, toaster or mixer. Since those items are fairly inexpensive, you might even consider buying a matching set. A good set of knives as well as pots and pans make a great addition for a new kitchen as well. It does not matter if the recipient already has a set of any of those. Kitchen items wear out fairly quickly with regular use; we just usually don’t bother to upgrade them ourselves.
If you want to purchase something for the dining room, consider china or crystal. A nice set of matching flatware in a case makes a great gift as well.
Gift selections for the living or family room could include an area rug, a nice coffee table book, or perhaps a magazine rack.
A great idea for the bathroom would be towels and matching washcloths. One can never have too many of those. Throw in some shower gel, soap and lotion and you have a perfect gift.
So, how do you choose exactly which item to get, what color, and what style? Keep in mind that buying a house-warming gift is a little different from buying a birthday or anniversary gift. Not only does it have to match the person or persons living there, it must suit the house.
It helps if you have been to the recipient’s home to get an idea about the colors and layout. If you have not been to the home you are purchasing the gift for, call the person that you are buying for and engage them in a conversation. It won’t be hard to make them talk about their new place, pay attention and take notes. You want to find out if there is a breakfast nook or a dining room, what size the kitchen is, as well as the color of the carpets and walls of the living areas. Don’t limit yourself to indoor items. Find out if there is a deck, patio or even a balcony, and if items are needed for outdoors.
Make sure the gift fits the personality. If you are buying for someone who does not like to cook, avoid kitchen items. When buying for a couple, make sure the gift suits both people. For example, if you buy them things for the bathroom, don’t buy pink towels and flowery lotion. A better option would be to purchase towels in a neutral color and assorted soaps and shower gels.
Follow these simple guidelines and you will be assured that your gift won’t be in the next yard sale.
