Housewarming gifts your friends will actually use (and get you invited back again)
Bring on the dinner parties.
It’s an unspoken rule of the millennial lifestyle that you and your pals are going to rent, and then have to move house, and then rent, and then move and rent with seemingly no end in sight. That means there’s always going to be another housewarming on the horizon and you don’t want to be the person who comes empty-handed – or the person whose present instantly gets binned when everybody’s left the building.
We’ve curated an edit of affordable housewarming gifts that your friends will fall in love with and use again and again, with the help of a few home interiors experts.
Housewarming gifts ideas
We chatted to Alessandra Wood, interior design site Modsy’s Director of Style, to get her advice on the ideal housewarming gift.
She told Marie Claire, ‘Housewarming gifts should be three things: thoughtful, useful and affordable. There is no need to outshine others with an expensive gift; as long as it is from the heart and something you can envision your friend using, your job is done! Try to think of a gift that brings people together and will also add a pop to the decor of their new home…Anything marble is sure to be stylish and is a major home decor trend for 2018.’
For a more practical present that’ll go a long way, DIY and interior design YouTuber Hermione Chantal said, ‘The best gift I’ve received since moving into my new home has been a helping hand. Many of my family members and friends pitched in to help with painting, cleaning, plumbing and other bits around the house, which has been absolutely invaluable. Without their help I’d be pulling my hair out, and the best things about it? It’s free! It only costs time.’
She continued, ‘Failing that, a great housewarming gift would be a hamper of cleaning supplies and tools, such as picture hanging hooks and screwdrivers, these seem to be depleted or go missing within hours of moving so it’s nice to have a few extra items on hand.’
Housewarming gifts for couples
Handmade Wood and Bronze Resin Cheese Board
This faux marble cheese board is a necessity for the inevitable dinner party nights. With a marble-effect detail, it’s more affordable than the real deal but still looks no less chic.
Priced at £30, available on Etsy
Jo Malone Candles
White Lilac & Rhubarb Charity Candle
Bring the smell of summer into your friend’s home with this candle from Jo Malone (always a classic housewarming gift). The beautiful illustrations give it an extra special touch, plus proceeds from the candle go towards supporting those in need of help with their mental health.
If you’re thinking of buying luxury candles, diffusers, linen sprays – well, anything smelly really – for your friend, Jo Malone gave us a little bit of advice on what scent to buy when. Emma South, their Fragrance and Lifestyle UK Expert advised, ‘Let peonies and freesias bloom during the summer months, then layer juicy berries and tart redcurrants with grounding woods later in the year.’
Priced at £47, available at Jo Malone
Funny housewarming gifts
Bathroom Guest Book
Some people leave stacks of magazines out, others leave a bathroom guest book – or well, they should now that this is available. This hilarious little notepad allows guests to rate their toilet experience, with sections including which songs that best describe your bathroom visit through to a dedicated doodle space you can rate as ‘crap’ or ‘not crap’.
Priced at £11.95, available at Oliver Bonas
Personalised Housewarming Gifts
Personalised Home and Front Door Illustration
Latest Stories
This beautiful print by MelSmithDesigns is one that requires a little forward planning, but it’s oh-so-worth it. If your friend is one of the lucky ones who’s just bought their very first home, this print is a cute commemorative piece that celebrates that.
Priced at £75, available on Etsy
Housewarming Gifts for Men
Theo French Press Coffee Maker
Know somebody obsessed with coffee? This sleek black cafetiere may be a little pricier, but it’s one your pal’s likely to hang onto forever. Perfect for the minimalist, it’ll add a chic Scandi vibe to any kitchen counter.
Priced at £64.95, available at oggetto
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James Barker Botanical Coasters, £11 at Wolf & Badger
There'll be no ring marks here with these on-trend botanical bits.
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Extra Large Recycled Glass Vase, £17.50 at Grace & Grey
Somebody's going to bring a bouquet of flowers - and your friend's going to need something to put it in.
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Rick Stein Set of 4 Dinner Plates, £48 at qvcuk.com
Everybody needs a set of good plates for special occasions and these watercolour plates are it.
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Casper sheets in white/slate, from £40
Because sheets really do maketh the bed - don't give yours anything less than these super soft, super chic sheets from the sleep experts over at Casper.
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Aroma Diffuser, £59.95 at Muji
Ever since we bought one of these babies, our lives changed for the better. This diffuser and lamp hybrid is the coolest thing ever, plus Muji sells little packs of scented oil that you can pick up.
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Washed Linen Dressing Gown, £34.99 at H&M
If your friend's been using the same ratty old bathrobe since uni, this chic linen piece is a good reason to finally chuck it out.
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Difney Bergamot and Cassis Diffuser, £34 at Ted Baker
Can't trust your pal to blow out a candle? Give them a reed diffuser they can leave out in their loo instead.
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Medium Hosta Plant in Ceramic, £35 at Marks and Spencer
We're partial to a potted plant, but not everybody is blessed with a green thumb. This faux bit of greenery will do the job and bring boho vibes to the house with its patterned planter.
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Honolulu Bamboo Placemats Set of Two, £5 at Yonder
Bring natural fibres into your pal's dining area - a great shout for utterly Instagrammable table set ups.
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The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, £34 at The Botanist
Leave out the cheap champagne and grab a bottle of gin instead - this artisan choice is one of our favourites.
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Marble-Effect Brush, £19.99 at Zara Home
This may be the grossest thing in any loo, but at least this toilet brush looks super classy. (Probably the most practical bit on the list, to be honest.)
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Tiger Bath Mat, £35 at Urban Outfitters
This tiger bath mat adds a playful touch to any bathroom, plus it's more eco-friendly than an actual tiger-skin rug.
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Teapot: Inspiration, £24 at kikki.K
The quintessential British staple (in an utterly cute and trendy style).
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Crab Vintage Sea Cushion, £13 at Sass & Belle
This nautical pillow will bring a vintage feel to any lounge or bedroom.
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Large Glass Flower Pot, £17 at Arket
Chuck a low-maintenance snake plant or mini rubber tree in here and it's the perfect starter plant for a new homeowner.
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Hop and Peck Handmade Oak Wine Rack, £99 at Amazon Handmade
This unusual wine rack is a great shout for all the inevitable bottles of wine your pal's going to get at the party.
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Jasper Conran Platinum Espresso Cup and Saucer, £95 at Harrods
Start your day off right with these fancy espresso cups, designed with a striking platinum pattern.
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Octopus Candle Holder, £30.94 at Anna + Nina
Beef up your coffee table game with this chic octopus centrepiece - stick a few black candles in there for an ultra alternative look.
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Ekin Throw Denim, £105 at Wolf & Badger
This neutral blanket would look cool thrown over the edge of a bed or hanging off a couch arm, plus it's made of soft denim which gives it a unique touch.
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AmazonBasics 1.5 Litre Blender, £25 at Amazon
20 odd quid for a blender? Definitely wouldn't say no to that.
