Emily, what are those?

Anyone want to come to my house? Don't be shy…bring one of those amazing gifts. :>)

Scott, today on Joss and Main, there were some great outdoor candle holders…I would love two or three to hang UNDER my deck.

sam…wine is GOOD, too. Sonoma Cutrer.

@Judyg I had never seen them before, but found them in a local shop. Apparently they are meant to be house blessings. They are made out of iron and you traditionally nail them to a tree in your yard (I think?). I just did a little googling and found they carry them at Neiman Marcus. The shop where I bought one is long gone, I'm afraid.

Anything consumable. I really don't like other people picking things I'm expected to display. I have two of them right now on a shelf, and I don't like either one.

I agree with groveraxle here.

The only non-consumable that I do give from time to time is a stack of tea towels. They don't have to be displayed and it's fairly easy to find neutral ones. I've yet to meet the homeowner who has too many good kitchen towels.

LOL groveraxle- I have to think when I know people are coming over, so I can go dig out their gift and put it on display. When they leave I go put it back in hiding.

Loppers.

I always appreciate a gift card to a hardware store

A living wreath! Our friend purchased this adorable wreath for her door but I think it would be a fabulous housewarming gift....

Hey judyg...I've got bunnies under my deck!

Bring me a case of champagne, please!

A book of how-to (if they're so inclined) or easy fix type things that can be done in emergencies. A gift card to their favorite decorating store or online retailer. A plant (boring...). Flowers. Treats (home baked goodies).

A picture of me!

Just kidding. For people I know really well, I'll design and make a mailbox or house sign with family name and date if appropriate.

(...and you're all picturing my portrait with a round white head and sloping shoulders, LOL.)

On a practical note, maybe a fan deck of a paint store.

If it's a new home with no landscaping, a gift card to a great garden shop? I know I'd LOVE that and I have an established garden.

*L* Well jeesh, Barnhardt, NOW we are..!

studio, we're twins!

*LOL*

If you know them really well, you may be able to get them a decor or art piece provided that you know their taste. If it is someone you don't know well, I suggest an edible item or a small outdoor plant. My Mom usually gives out plants as housewarming gifts to add warmth to the new home.

I made a "dinner" basket once and our friends were delighted. A basket with cloth napkins (and french bread), spaghetti, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a bottle of Chiati (the basket bottle kind), two small crystal candlesticks and two taper candles. They said they enjoyed the easy meal and when they use the candlesticks they think of their romantic Italian meal "we" made for them for their new home.

Herbs in pots

I am a Realtor so always giving house warming gifts- the best and most practical- a front door mat personalized with my client's last name. Always a hit and always needed!

A basket with champagne (or proseco, which I actually like more) and two pretty champagne flutes. But I like Darzy's idea of bringing a basket with all the makings of a meal too.

(Worst housewarming gift we received: Huge scented candle. I put it in the attic, planning to take it out only when the giver came over next, and it perfumed the whole attic with its overwhelming scent. We had to get rid of it.)

I would love a quality treeswing for a house warming gift!

I make pretty custom coasters if anyone ever needs to give a gift. People love receiving them.
www.studio-vhdesign.com

Darzy's idea was the first housewarming gift I received, and much appreciated. (On a side note, we had no furniture, and prepared a picnic on the floor with the gift; within minutes we realized the house was infested with fleas, so finished our "first dinner at the new house" in the car on the way to buy bombs - the second housewarming gift I received!)

Home Depot gift cards!!!

At my housewarming party, I received a lot of wine :), bath and body soaps, tea towels, candles, a spice basket, recipes with ingredients to make the recipe...all very nice. I saw the other day a cute idea on Pinterest. It was a bottle of wine with a miniature hammer tied to the top. The attached note said, "Take a break and let's get hammered." Lol, I thought it was cute and pretty funny. :)

I got a home made gift of dinner. It was an easy recipe Tuna noodle casserole, or tuna salad? A choice, maybe. All I I remember it had Whiskey and tuna and chopsticks. It might have had paper plates and napkins. The idea was you could mix the recipe with the chopsticks if you hadn't unpacked your kitchen. I was 7 months pregnant, it was an international move and we'd been living in hotels with a toddler for wayyyyy too long. I hadn't unpacked my kitchen and was really sick of restaurant meals. It was a great gift, but not as elegantly packaged as Darzy's.

I've given Brother label makers. The recipients often wonder why but once they use it a few times they tell me they can't live without them.

I got my sister a hammock....I use it all the time!

OnTheFence, Just today my partner said we had too many kitchen towels. It is very hard to fit all of them in the two drawers dedicated to their storage.

I would not want a welcome mat with my last name on it. I would be concerned that someone would come to the door acting like they knew me (using the name on the mat) and that a child who opened the door would be tricked and let them in.

The dinner idea, pizza gift card, or home improvement gift cards are always welcome. When my next door neighbors moved in I let them know that we would feed them, to just let us know what time they wanted to take a break. All they had tto do was show up, eat and then go back to their unpacking.

I agree with you on the welcome mat, preferring a plain simple one myself, my favorite being the Ikea one for $8 or $9. Sounds like you'd be a good neighbor to have!

A basket of home baked goodies with a nice card & gift certificate to Lowe's or Home Depot :)

I never thought about the dangers of having your name on a welcome mat!!!! Thanks for sharing that point Joyfullady.

Darzy, please move here? I will make you sauce. And a salad, and bread and wine and a cannoli.

Keitha, go to one of the satellite property searches. Right down to your street and up to your front door. Scary. You can just plug in your street address in google. Privacy and security are a things of the past.

How are you? :>)

Emily, et ux, just bring me salt for the margarita. xxxooo

YIKES!...now I'll stress over keeping my home " neat and tidy" cause you never know which nosy neighbor will be looking.... Guess I better keep those shutters closed too!

keitha, it will just be moi pressing my nose against your window.

Judyg.... I'm serious I just saw the google earth car going down the street several days ago!

Judyg... While you're looking I'll take any decorating recommendations you have!

P.S. just leave the house warming gift on the porch!

I agree, keep it simple. Most new homeowners want to choose their own things, and have just spent weeks culling out, moving, and unpacking boxes. They don't need any more "stuff" to store. So unless you know them well enough to fill a specific decor need, stick with food, wine, craft beer.

Bread, salt and wine = threshold covenant making elements and are very appropriate.

A tree to plant. A gift that gives life.