What to give for a new home? 6 decorative housewarming gift ideas
Choosing a housewarming gift is tricky: the home is not set up yet, you may not know the owner’s taste well, and nobody wants their gift to end up in a cupboard. The ideas below are for picking something that looks good and actually finds a place in the home.
1. Look at the colours of the home first
The piece you give should get along with the rest of the home. If you are unsure of the owner’s style, neutral tones are the safest choice: cream, grey, white and earthy colours suit almost any room. A calm piece such as the grey-white marble-patterned AURA STONE settles easily into both a minimal and a warm interior.
2. Light suits every home
In the first months, most new homes only have a ceiling light. A table lamp is therefore both useful and memorable. Choose one that comes with its bulb so it works straight out of the box: AURA TERRA and FLORA SUNSET come with an E27 socket and a 10 W LED bulb. The translucent orange shade of FLORA SUNSET gives an amber glow in the evening.
3. Small lamps for small corners
A bedside table, a desk or the corner of a shelf does not need a large lamp. At 18 × 19 cm, the mushroom-shaped RETRO makes a low, warm night lamp by the bed; for a calmer colour, RETRO White or the khaki-based FLORA OLIVE are good options. If you are after a lamp that runs on USB, the curved MOKKA comes with a 3W LED module and a switched cable and runs on 5V USB; the USB adapter is not included. If you would rather give a calm object than a lamp, the MUSUBI Sculpture Set has two interlocking chain-form pieces, one large and one small; the marble-patterned, 3D printed pieces take up about 12.5 and 8.5 cm as placed.
4. A story for the wall
Walls in a new home often stay bare for a long time. A small framed piece is the easiest way to fill that gap. The NAMI Wall Art comes fitted in a 27.5 × 27.5 cm frame with screws and wall plugs, ready to hang, and its layered surface looks different as the light changes. For a plant lover, a wall shelf is another good choice: the ROOTS Wall Shelf stands on its own like a sculpture with its tree-root form and comes with screws and wall plugs. You can add a note on where to hang it: Where and how high to hang wall art.
5. Something to use: a side table
A gift-sized piece of furniture is one of the most useful things in a new home. Every home needs a table for a glass by the sofa or a book by the bed. The ORBI Side Table is 60.5 cm tall, arrives in 4 pieces and screws together by hand, no tools needed. For placement: Where to put a side table.
For a smaller, cheerful gift, the MACARON Candle Holder Set is a pair of colourful holders that settle straight onto a table, console or side table. It is decorative and comes without candles.
For someone setting up a home office or with a permanently crowded desk, the TRIO Vertical Stand holds a laptop, a tablet and a phone upright side by side and frees up desk space; a laptop in a case fits the widest slot too. The wood-look, 3D printed stand is 9 × 16.5 × 10.5 cm and comes as TRIO OAK with a light wood look. Laptop, tablet and phone are not included.
6. Think about the season
If the move falls close to the New Year, a first Christmas decoration makes a lovely starter gift. The KIŞ MASALI Christmas House Set includes two houses, a pine tree and three LED tea lights; with no open flame, it can be used with peace of mind in a new home.
One last note: 3D printed objects can soften above roughly 55–60 °C. When you hand over your gift, it is enough to suggest a spot away from radiators and windows in direct sun. A short care guide for the lamps is here: Choosing a bulb for a 3D printed lamp, and how to care for it.
