A housewarming gift guide
When people move into a new home, finding the right accents and furnishings can be a struggle both mentally and financially. Maybe that’s why someone invented the housewarming party. The origins of housewarming gift giving are nebulous, but some historians trace it back to a bread-and-salt tradition in Russia. When rulers visited a village, merchants and gentry presented their guests with a round loaf of bread piled with salt, a sign of hospitality. When given at a housewarming, bread and salt signified that the recipient’s pantry would always be full.
These days, housewarming gifts range from wine and flowers to microwaves and bread makers. It’s fun to get creative on birthdays and holidays, but a housewarming gift is often of the practical sort. Don’t be afraid to stick with classic kitchenware or linens — they’re always useful. If you want to give an original gift, however, there are selections that are both practical and unique.
Consider the outside of your friend’s new home. Does he have a garden? If so, packets of seeds and gardening tools might help start a flower bed or vegetable garden. Depending on the size of the yard, a croquet set or a badminton net could make for fun lawn games. If your friends have an outdoor deck, a grill or set of grill utensils is a thoughtful gift.
To make your friend’s new home feel luxurious, look for bathroom products. Creating a personalized bath basket is both considerate and extravagant. Pick out a favorite scent for shampoo and conditioner, and throw in some bath oils and a tiny towel for a practical touch.
To cozy up a new home, there’s nothing better —or more welcomed — than homemade treats. A plate of freshly baked cookies or your special lasagna can do wonders for an empty kitchen, as can fresh fruit and veggies from your garden.
Of course, the fail-safe gift is always cash, but you can dignify it a bit by making it in the form of a home-store gift certificate. Then your friends can head to Pottery Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond or Target to pick up what they need and want to turn their new house into a home.