As a (very) new homeowner, I feel qualified to say what gifts make sense to celebrate this milestone. While bottles of wine and succulents are an easy choice if you don’t know your host well, a little more creativity and thoughtfulness can go a long way in a) securing your friendship and b) relieving stress and anxiety about the host. Just moved-in. Although asking new homeowners what they need can be tricky as it will be followed by the obligatory “Don’t worry! We don’t need anything!” the truth is, owning a home is chaotic before the physical and symbolic dust settles in. Here are ten new homeowner-approved gifts worth the investment to help them through a stressful yet exciting time.
1. This cooling pillow
Credit: Leesa
A better home starts with a better night’s sleep.
Home isn’t just where the heart is; it’s also where you fall asleep when your head hits the pillow. It has cooling gel inserts, so you never have to flip your pillow to the cold side, and the inserts also allow you to adjust the thickness you want. The padded and flat sides are reversible, and in the four years I’ve had the pillow, I’ve never had a bad night’s sleep on it (except when my cat steals it).
Buy the hybrid pillow at Leesa for $125
2. This cult-favorite candle
Credit: Diptyque
The bestseller of an iconic Paris fragrance brand? You can’t go wrong.
It’s unbelievable how a bright and fruity scent instantly transforms a home. With over 500 reviews on Nordstrom, this best-selling candle comes in 2.4 or 6.5 ounces and has uplifting rose and black currant aromas. Reviewers report how well it burns and smells: “This candle has to be THE most fragrant candle I’ve ever burned. A gentle scent that fills the whole house. Worth the $ spent!”
Buy the Diptyque Berries Candle at Nordstrom from $36
3. A super soft throw
Credit: Crate and Barrel
Throw some warmth and comfort them away.
You don’t necessarily have to be familiar with your host’s decor or color palette to offer them a throw that will brighten their living room or soften their bedroom. This unique, handwoven throw that references Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat proves that more is more. Rows of pale olive, mustard, red, blush, blue, and orange contrast with cream, gray and black stripes, with rose gold thread brightening up the entire piece. The fringes on each side of the blanket give it a rustic look that will make them think you scored this piece in a faraway boutique. Reviewers say it adds the perfect pop of color and allows you to change up your color scheme multiple times: “Received both the Carreno throw and the lumbar pillow on our wedding list. They’re perfect for adding a little pop of color to a room.” while keeping the overall design simple and clean. We use them with a white linen duvet in one of our guest bedrooms and have gotten so many compliments!”
Get the Carreno Multicolored Throw at Crate & Barrel for $89.95
4. A sleek trash can
Credit: Brabantia
One person’s bin is another high-tech, stylish bin.
This is less of a decorative gift and more of a functional piece. With over 240 reviews, customers love how it looks as sleek as any other piece of furniture in their home. Many of us (like me) struggle with overflowing trash cans, but this one will keep our kitchen, office, or bathroom looking beautiful thanks to its high 16-gallon volume. Since using this bin for the past month, my kitchen has become much tidier. It has a lid that opens and closes with a light push of your hand, plus a compartment for waste and compost (or recycle – if you prefer!).
Buy the Brabantia Large Touch Top Trash Can at Home Depot for $230
5. These soft bath towels
Credit: Parachute
Experts and the internet have approved these highly absorbent towels.
You can never have too many bath towels, especially if they’re made from high-quality long-pile Turkish cotton (which is supposedly much softer than your standard cotton). These towels are available in six neutral shades and are the perfect addition to any homeowner’s arsenal. Our expert Camryn Rabideau calls the parachute towel “The Goldilocks of the towel” because it feels just right: it absorbs water quickly and effectively, isn’t too heavy, doesn’t get a musty smell after being in the moisture for a while, and removes stains without a hitch. Pre-treatment.These towels are aand
Buy the classic towel at Parachute for $14
6. These handmade vases
Credit: Pottery Barn
As charming as grandma’s antique china.
Like showing up with a planter, a vase, or a stylish container, you’re helping your hosts put things in order in the landscaping department. Pottery Barn’s most popular vase collection includes a small and large urn (you don’t have to use them for anything morbid, keep in mind), a bowl, a pitcher, and a medium-sized cachepot. Made of terracotta with a glazed finish and wrought iron handles, they work with real or fake flowers and plants.
Buy Marlowe Handmade Ceramic Vases at Pottery Barn from $14
7. A doormat for their entrance
Credit: Mubin
It is the most down-to-earth gift you can find.
A doormat is one of the first impressions of a home, so a stylish one is a good choice (read: no cheap sayings or over-the-top patterns). You want to opt for a weatherproof doormat so they can wipe their shoes before entering. This handwoven checkered doormat also works perfectly for the bedroom, laundry room, kitchen, and more. It fits perfectly as a rug under my 24×36 doormat and gives the extra cozy vibe I was looking for to provide our guests. It’s not too stiff but seems durable and lays nicely flat. Of the 360 reviews, many reviewers report how well it works as a layer under another rug for a surprising decor choice: “Love!! The quality was much better than expected!”
Buy the Mubin Cotton Buffalo Plaid Rug on Amazon for $20
8. A smart coffee maker
Credit: Hamilton Beach
Because we could all use one less thing to worry about in the morning.
It’s not a house until you’ve had your first breakfast and a cup of piping hot coffee. Our smart home writer Rachel Murphy says the Hamilton Beach coffee maker has transformed her mornings because you can control it via the Amazon Alexa app or an Alexa-enabled smart speaker like an Echo. Either pre-program it to brew you a pot of the good stuff at a certain time or “ask” Alexa to brew it for you the moment you wake up.
Buy the Hamilton Beach Works with Alexa Smart Coffee Maker on Amazon for $100
9. A custom armchair
Credit: Allform
Sitting in style.
Consider a custom recliner if your budget is a little higher for someone special. This accent chair connects the room and is comfortable as a pole. Customers can choose their fabric, including seven colors, two shades of leather, and legs in three distinctive finishes. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough? Add an ottoman, square or lumbar pillow to bring the look together.
Buy the modular armchair at Allform for $845
10. This tribute to their furry relatives
Credit: Animalist
It doesn’t get more sensitive and thoughtful.
It’s been seven months since I started working from my new home office, and it never felt quite complete until I used the bare walls to celebrate my favorite colleagues: my cats Hendrix and Freddie. Animalist is an incredible service from Swedish artist Emil Tiismann. It lets you choose from dozens of dog and cat breeds and turn them into unique modern art prints from busy linework or bold geometric patterns. You can top off the photo with their pet’s name for an extra layer of personalization that’s so thoughtful they’ll want to display it centrally.
Get personalized pet artwork at Animalist from $50
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