Housewarming Gifts

A friend recently asked for ideas on what to give as a housewarming gift, and I thought I would share what I told her with all of you.

I believe that the best housewarming gifts are the ones that help make a new house feel like home. So, to that end, here are some ideas:

1. A cute bucket (such as the plastic Michael Graves mop bucket from Target, which doesn't appear to be online) filled with high-end, nice smelling cleaning supplies.

2. A really cozy throw, gourmet popcorn, and a really great DVD (or book).

3. A binder filled with menus for local restaurants/take out places and a couple of gift cards for the new home owners to use while they're still unpacking their pots and pans.

4. Breakfast for their first morning in their new home -- chocolate croissants, gourmet coffee, and a French press.

5. A custom return address stamp or labels.

6. Have a photo of your friend's family enlarged, framed, and ready to hang in their new home.

7. A nice bottle of sparkling wine and wine glasses to toast their first night in their new home.

8. A metal pail or toolbox filled with all the things you need when moving into a new house, but inevitably forget -- light bulbs, extension cords, cable cords, picture hangers, felt pads, furniture polish and scratch remover, furniture movers, super glue, level, tape measure, etc.

9. A small fruit tree (the gift that keeps on giving) to plant in their new front yard. Year after year they can watch it grow and enjoy its fruit.

10. A personalized doormat using their new address instead of their last name.

image from www.williamssonoma.com