Hello again and welcome back to Gifted! This month I’ve been focusing on housewarming gifts and what makes one great. Integral to a great housewarming gift is utility, getting your friend or family member something they will actually use. You also want to be keen to find something that will fit their aesthetic; it never hurts to inquire about how they will be furnishing their new space. Finally, spend some time thinking about what this person might love, but might not purchase for themselves (art, a beautiful vase, candlesticks). I believe I’ve found some wonderful gift ideas that I too will be giving to friends who are moving in the near future. So let’s get started…
For their kitchen:
How about some Wirecutter approved kitchen towels paired with some delicious craft olive oil? Or a sturdy cutting board for the chef in your life? I use these ones from Material (they come in great colors too), but if your giftee prefers wood, this looks like a great option as well. A colorful spoon rest might be small, but incredibly useful and it adds a pop of color to the kitchen.
For the cheese lover, here is the perfect cheese grater (my mom swears by a similar version).
Do they love tea? Perhaps a playful tea kettle is the way to go. You could accompany it with some of their favorite tea (or a personal favorite).
How about a multi-use bowl like this beautiful checkered one from Etsy? Or this gorgeous serving bowl? Anyone who loves to entertain will surely enjoy them.
Since a book is always a great gift, a cookbook is no exception. Some of my favorites include Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman, The Classic Italian Cookbook by Marcella Hazan, or any Ina Garten cookbook. My vegan friends have praised Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats and the next cookbook I’m dying to read is Tanya Holland’s Brown Sugar Kitchen. Consider heading to your local bookstore and check out their unique selection.
For their tables (dining, coffee, side, etc):
Bringing fresh flowers to a new home is always a thoughtful gift, but bringing them in a cool vase is a step above. I happened upon many interesting vases during my search, so I am going to list them according to their price (low to high):
Sparnicht desk friend in lilac (small bud vase perfect for a desk) $22
Daniel Vu Mini Vase No. 43 (mini ombre vase perfect for a bud or decoration) $35
Mirabou Vintage Cherry Blossom Ceramic Vase (for a big, gorgeous bouquet) $41.27
Retro Eclectic Colorful Bud Vase (for your friend who loves color) $45
Hay Moroccan Vase (the perfect vase to sit in the sun) $55
Block Design Tall Reversible Vase (modern, minimalist, multi-color) $55
A very trendy gift would be candlesticks with candles to match:
Short, glass candlestick by Pigeon Toe (comes in two colors) for $28 each
Simple, black & white candlesticks by btw ceramics for $60
The ceramic Sophie Candelabra by Yonder for $68
These Taper Candles come in really cool colors at a great price $7.50
For a candle without holders, look no further than La Hija: beautiful, minimalist, and $32
A scented candle makes a great gift too, especially if it’s a true and trusted scent.
Something they might not buy for themselves is a cute catch-all to put their keys in by the door or their jewelry in by their bed. I found two cute daisy-shaped catch-alls: one from Christi Ahee Ceramics and one from SAMAAJ. If your friend loves wildflowers, this catch-all from Dorotea might be the perfect fit.
If they still have a lot to buy, maybe gift them a few neat water glasses? You could go with these handblown ripple glasses, these recycled Moroccan handblown cone glasses, or these fun colored checker board design glasses.
To protect their tables, why not buy them some funky coasters, the perfect functional gift. Try these glass tile coasters or these concrete pastel ones.
For their walls:
Friends don’t let friends live with bare walls, and if your friend is moving to a bigger space, they might need some more art to hang up! So why not find a cool print like this retro pink print or this flower field landscape and find a vintage frame from Goodwill or Facebook Marketplace to put it in?
For their couch/bed:
For your friends who run a little cold, a warm blanket will be greatly appreciated. Try these Turkish Blankets or this Ombre Knitted Throw.
A few fun birthday gift ideas:
I’m obsessed with this ceramic daisy travel cup, sustainable and cute! For your work-from-home friend: a cute table lamp for their desk that comes in a bunch of fun colors. Finally, my friends and I have been enjoying the board game Wingspan, where we compete and learn about birds (I promise it’s a blast).
Location based gifts:
In the San Francisco Bay Area…
San Francisco Ballet is performing Don Quixote this week and Program 4 starts later this month, both will be excellent I’m sure. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be touring through the Bay this month, which is a must-see and a great gift for those who love dance.
For a last minute gift, catch Susan O’Malley and Leah Rosenberg’s One Day at a Time at SF MoMA this weekend before it’s gone!
In New York City…
For the gift of dance, check out Alvin Ailey II performing a few times at the end of the month. For the gift of musical theater, Funny Girl opens this month starring Beanie Feldstein. For the gift of art, check out Labyrinth of Forms: Women and Abstraction at the Whitney Museum.
And finally, in Los Angeles…
Jose Gonzalez will be performing at the LA Philharmonic, which is sure to be a great show. At LACMA, check out Golden Hour: California Photography, a great show to gift to a friend.
Giving to those in need:
Please consider donating to Ukrainian Heroes Support, which is organized by a friend who has family currently in Ukraine. Another great place to donate is to World Central Kitchen, who are currently getting meals to those who need it most in Ukraine.
Thank you for reading this month’s installment and I will see you back here again in April!
Emma