Should I give a housewarming gift?
Short answerYes if you're attending a housewarming party. $30–80 is the right range. Consumable or kitchen-practical lands best — never decor unless you know their taste exactly.
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If you're attending a housewarming party, bringing a gift is expected. $30–80 is the right range — anything more starts to read like a wedding gift. If you're not attending but want to acknowledge a friend's move, a small considered gift sent by mail works.
Strongest categories: a great bottle of wine or champagne (consumable, immediately usable, doesn't add to clutter), quality kitchen consumables (good olive oil, salt, vinegar set), a beautiful candle from a real maker (Aesop, Hommey, Trudon), or a kitchen tool that's clearly an upgrade (a real chopping board, a quality bottle opener).
Plants work for some recipients (low-maintenance, pot-included) but not all. Don't gift a plant unless you know they want one — it can feel like homework.
What to avoid: any decor or wall art (their aesthetic, not yours), any furniture (assumes you know what they need), anything that demands shelf space, or anything that requires returning a borrowed dish later.
If the housewarming is a major upgrade (first home, after a long renovation), $100–150 is appropriate, ideally as a high-quality consumable or a curated entertaining gift (a great cheese board with a cheese selection).
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