Giving the right housewarming gift is principally a matter of not falling into the common trap of giving a terribly wrong gift. The criteria that determine an excellent housewarming gift are simple.

Non-invasive

The gift should not be so large it takes up valuable living or display space. Unless you know for certain the taste of the recipient or know they want a particular gift – do not give an exotic or esoteric gift – no matter how expensive or currently popular. Generally, paintings and other works of art fall into this category. The recipient should not have to be concerned about displaying a gift that they do not care for. A good rule of thumb is to give a gift that is simple to carry in your hands.

No Live Pets

Never give a cat or dog, tropical fish aquarium or other pet for any reason. Even if the recipient has previously expressed a desire for a pet it is not wise to give one at a housewarming. The new homeowner generally does not have time or energy to care for a pet. They also don’t need a pet that potentially could soil carpets, damage doors or scratch up furniture. They certainly don’t need to allocate a good deal of time to the care of a pet when settling into a new home.

No Furniture

Furniture is made to last for years. If the recipient is a friend they may work the furniture into their design scheme and live with it for a long time. However, every time they use furniture they don’t like or is uncomfortable they remember you gave it to them. It becomes a burden to them. They don’t like it yet feel they cannot get rid of it, because of your friendship. If you must give furniture, arrange with the seller to take it back if necessary and enclose the receipt with a note to the recipient telling them to return it for cash or furniture more to their liking.

Food

Be very careful when giving food. First, the recipient must have adequate refrigerator or freezer room to store it in addition to the foods normally stored there. It’s necessary to give foods that the recipient enjoys and is not allergic to. If the recipient cannot consume it before it goes out of date it must be trashed. The best course of action is to give a gift certificate to a restaurant close by that the recipient likes. They then do not have to worry about preparing food while trying to settle into their new home.