How to pick the perfect housewarming present
When it comes to hitting the gift-giving sweet spot, you can’t go wrong with one of these fail-safe picks, says Jane Rocca.
Whether you’re buying a gift for someone moving into a large residence with a penchant for mid-century modernism or a small apartment crammed with the essentials, when it comes to housewarming gifts, what you buy all depends on the friend or family member you’re buying for.
We know that choosing the right gift isn’t always easy, and it all comes down to how well you know the person you’re buying for – hitting the gift-giving jackpot comes down to having a clear intention to match your purchase to a personality.
Taking notice of someone’s home decor aesthetic will set you on the right track for starters; what does their home say about their style, how do their music playlists inform their homewares and would they be the type to choose Milan Design Week over a camping holiday?
Do they have enough shelves to show off objects, are their walls filled with art or photographs, are they high-end chic designer obsessed or more emerging artist kind? Do they eat waffles or prefer crepes? Are they wine snobs or zero fizz?
Do they want incense to conjure a noir mood, a candle to burn brightly at night or a room scent (Aesop is always a winner) that will remind them of a faraway place?
According to interior stylist Simone Haag, when it comes to giving housewarming gifts, her choices fall into three categories – books, ceramics and alcohol – occasionally, all three.
‘‘Books are the new art, and I would say chosen purely for the artistic value of the front cover.
‘‘Ceramics are also another
go-to, as one can never have too many ceramics and they can be grouped on any ledge shelf or bench and, in my opinion, the more, the merrier.’’
And when all else fails, a bottle of crafted booze hits the spot. ‘‘When in doubt, any kind of crafted gin bottle can make a bar trolley sing,’’ Haag says. She’s not a fan of gifting for the
kitchen or bathroom, but that all comes down to personal choice.
Interior designer David Hicks spends his days curating homes for his clients, but when it comes to gifting for a housewarming, it all comes down to keeping it personal. ‘‘I see many clients move into their new homes and often gift something personalised to them,’’ says Hicks.
‘‘I recently gifted a client a beautiful bottle of Italian olive oil as she is Italian and loves cooking and entertaining,’’ Hicks says.
‘‘She was delighted and sent me a beautiful picture of it sitting on her new marble bench.’’
According to Cult Design founder Richard Manao, buying a gift that will long be remembered comes down to choosing carefully, and it doesn’t mean you need to spend more to get longer-lasting either. But having a budget does help.
‘‘Think about what room they spend most of their time in and go from there,’’ says Manao.
‘‘I think you need to consider the house and choosing something that fits in with their individual style. You don’t want a modern contemporary gift for a house that’s filled with the furniture and ambience that says something completely different. You also want those receiving your gift to remember you.’’ And for the right reasons!
A portable lamp is a great gift idea and can glide from room to room with ease – it doesn’t take up much space and instantly creates ambience.
‘‘The difference between a showroom and a real home are those small objects, from lighting to candles,’’ says Manao.
‘‘Candles and lamps offer lowlevel lighting rather than the high downlights you see in Australia,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s a great way to gift a mood and create one instantly.’’
Vases with a difference also rate highly – think art-inspired shapes, where individual items tell the story, rather than bouquets.
‘‘These kinds of vases give the owner a chance to be creative and bounce their idea off the object, a really appropriate gift that looks beautiful too,’’ Manao says.
Still stuck for ideas? After a quick survey of friends and family about what they’d love as housewarming gifts, the vast majority hinted at plant life, yet all wanted to support local retailers.
If in serious doubt, however, a luxury hand wash or lotion will elevate your bathroom; because you know we’re all looking when we go in there, right?