8 Useful Housewarming Gifts That Are Better Than a Candle

September 1, 2017

Moving on the regular is a fact of urban life. But that doesn’t mean hauling everything you own from one end of town to another is a breeze—even if you’ve done so five times in as many years.

We’ve all been there. Next time you wind up at a friend’s housewarming party, then, it’s worth paying it forward. Pick up these super useful housewarming gifts, which will really help them tackle that whole new-apartment experience. From home repair essentials to decorative flourishes, they’re more creative than another candle or bottle of wine, and will go a long way towards making a rental feel like a home. Bonus: They may just show up at your next housewarming shindig.

1. TERRARIUM: No house is a home without some cheerful indoor greenery. If you're looking to gift a plant, terrariums are the perfect choice. Effortless to maintain and resolutely on-trend, they also double as artsy design objects (and they last a whole lot longer than cut flowers). If you want to indulge your friends' creativity, a DIY terrarium kit also makes a fine choice.
2. DIY TOOLBOX: Moving has its ups and downs - and hanging pictures, building flat-pack furniture, and changing light bulbs definitely falls on the 'downs' side of things. That's where you come in. Stuff a pail, extra-large Mason jar, or other vessel of choice chock full of the (literal) nuts and bolts your pals will need to settle in, from wrenches to sewing kits. Simple, yet effective.
3. HOMEMADE ART: Speaking of hanging pictures: We're all for some minimalism, but blank walls can be a bummer. Send your friends a splash of color (with some sentimental value attached), and give them artworks made by your own two hands. Even if you're not destined to be the next Picasso, companies like CanvasPop can help transform your InstasInstas into grade-A art.

Image courtesy of Canvas Pop.
4. WELCOME MAT: It may sound old-school, but a welcome mat is one of the most useful housewarming gifts you can proffer. Not only will it help keep dirt and grime out, but it can also ensure that every visitor gets a cheery greeting (as well as a briefing on the apartment's all-important pop music allegiances).
5. NEST PROTECT: Sleep is a gift that anyone can appreciate, and your friends will rest easy at night knowing they've got a Nest Protect installed. This little guy is both an industrial-grade fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector. It also sounds specific voice alerts when smoke is detected in different areas of the apartment, and sends cell phone push alerts when anything is amiss.

Image courtesy of Nest.
6. TILE: It's every city-dweller's nightmare: accidentally locking themselves out of their brand-new apartment on moving day. That's why Tile is one of our favorite housewarming gift ideas. A Bluetooth tracker that connects with a companion app, it hooks easily onto keys (or wallets, or other essentials) and lets you call them directly. The future is now!

Image courtesy of Tile.
7. SPICE KIT: For many, moving tends to coincide with a kitchen purge. It is, after all, the perfect opportunity to finally excavate all those dusty jars that've been clogging up the cupboards for years. But because spices can be pricey - and restocking can be a pain - a gifted ready-to-go spice kit is sure to get some love at a housewarming party. Anyone else craving curry?
8. MEAL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Spices are one useful housewarming gift, but if picking up ingredients for home cooking is at the bottom of your friends' to-do lists, a gift card to a meal subscription service is another excellent bet. Blue Apron is a go-to for its delicious, diverse, and easy-to-make dishes. And why stop there, when there are also subscription boxes for cookies, coffee, and cheese out there? Dig in!

Image courtesy of Blue Apron.
1. TERRARIUM: No house is a home without some cheerful indoor greenery. If you're looking to gift a plant, terrariums are the perfect choice. Effortless to maintain and resolutely on-trend, they also double as artsy design objects (and they last a whole lot longer than cut flowers). If you want to indulge your friends' creativity, a DIY terrarium kit also makes a fine choice.
2. DIY TOOLBOX: Moving has its ups and downs - and hanging pictures, building flat-pack furniture, and changing light bulbs definitely falls on the 'downs' side of things. That's where you come in. Stuff a pail, extra-large Mason jar, or other vessel of choice chock full of the (literal) nuts and bolts your pals will need to settle in, from wrenches to sewing kits. Simple, yet effective.
3. HOMEMADE ART: Speaking of hanging pictures: We're all for some minimalism, but blank walls can be a bummer. Send your friends a splash of color (with some sentimental value attached), and give them artworks made by your own two hands. Even if you're not destined to be the next Picasso, companies like CanvasPop can help transform your InstasInstas into grade-A art.

Image courtesy of Canvas Pop.
4. WELCOME MAT: It may sound old-school, but a welcome mat is one of the most useful housewarming gifts you can proffer. Not only will it help keep dirt and grime out, but it can also ensure that every visitor gets a cheery greeting (as well as a briefing on the apartment's all-important pop music allegiances).
5. NEST PROTECT: Sleep is a gift that anyone can appreciate, and your friends will rest easy at night knowing they've got a Nest Protect installed. This little guy is both an industrial-grade fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector. It also sounds specific voice alerts when smoke is detected in different areas of the apartment, and sends cell phone push alerts when anything is amiss.

Image courtesy of Nest.
6. TILE: It's every city-dweller's nightmare: accidentally locking themselves out of their brand-new apartment on moving day. That's why Tile is one of our favorite housewarming gift ideas. A Bluetooth tracker that connects with a companion app, it hooks easily onto keys (or wallets, or other essentials) and lets you call them directly. The future is now!

Image courtesy of Tile.
7. SPICE KIT: For many, moving tends to coincide with a kitchen purge. It is, after all, the perfect opportunity to finally excavate all those dusty jars that've been clogging up the cupboards for years. But because spices can be pricey - and restocking can be a pain - a gifted ready-to-go spice kit is sure to get some love at a housewarming party. Anyone else craving curry?
8. MEAL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Spices are one useful housewarming gift, but if picking up ingredients for home cooking is at the bottom of your friends' to-do lists, a gift card to a meal subscription service is another excellent bet. Blue Apron is a go-to for its delicious, diverse, and easy-to-make dishes. And why stop there, when there are also subscription boxes for cookies, coffee, and cheese out there? Dig in!

Image courtesy of Blue Apron.