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As most of us know, moving can be a painful experience—finding a home that meets all of your unique needs is no easy feat. So when your friends settle into a new place that checks all of their boxes, it’s understandable that you’d want to congratulate them on their accomplishment.
However, you may find yourself stumped as to what type of housewarming gift to give your newly moved friends. A lot of people faced with buying presents for others, no matter the occasion, are often faced with the same dilemma: What do you get someone who seems to have everything?
The answer is simple: give them something they can’t buy. Try going DIY.
There’s nothing quite like a handmade gift to show someone how much you care. Taking the time to craft something yourself will lead to a much more thoughtful and unique gift than anything you could buy in a store.
The best DIY gifts are made with the person on the receiving end in mind. Consider the following housewarming gift options for the cook, practical-minded, art fan, pet lover, and bath product enthusiast in your life.
Gifts for the Cook
Cookies in a jar is a fantastic gift for the person who loves to bake. Sure, you could order something on Etsy that looks pretty, but this gift is easy to make:
- Choose a recipe with a few simple ingredients, such as chocolate chip cookies.
- Layer the ingredients for a batch of cookies in a stylish mason jar.
- Use a decorative piece of ribbon or string to attach the recipe to the jar.
Voilà, your baker friend knows you appreciate and acknowledge their baking skills. They can now christen their new home with the scent of freshly baked cookies.
Herb planters are also a great gift that will inspire someone who loves to cook. You can get creative with what herbs and containers you’d like to use.
Reuse and upcycle old materials such as tins, cans, mugs, and bottles for your containers. Basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme all thrive indoors year-round. The herbs will lend pleasant scents and a cozy atmosphere to the new kitchen.
Gifts for the Practical-minded
A gift basket of essential home items would satisfy your practical-minded friend. Think about your friend and what they might be missing or anything that could have gotten lost in the shuffle of moving. In addition to those items, fill your gift basket with the following:
- Batteries (AA and AAA are commonly used in many small appliances)
- Nails and picture hangers
- Screws
- Duct tape
- All-purpose glue
Another practical gift is a hook for keys, bags, or coats. All you’ll need is a backing to mount the hooks, the hooks themselves, and some tools. Whether you want to use an old picture frame for your backing or repurpose utensils as hooks, there’s a lot of room for creativity with this gift option.
Who said practical had to be boring?
Gifts for the Art Fan
Make a paint swatch poster for your art-loving friend. An artsy gift will quickly help add some vibrancy to blank walls. Here are the materials you’ll need for this DIY art project.
- Paint chips from your local hardware store
- Vinyl letters for whatever phrase you want to include on your poster (some variation of “welcome home” would suffice for a housewarming)
- A frame with a paper insert
- Double-sided tape
- Scissors
If you’re up for something a little more advanced than the paint swatch poster, take a stab at creating some nail string art. These are well-known for being fun to make and serve as unique housewarming gifts.
Gifts for the Pet Lover
Print and cut out a picture of your friend’s pet, or a good lookalike, to use as a photo wall clock. You can purchase a clock kit online or at any hobby or craft store for this original gift idea. Now your friend can admire their pet and always know what time it is.
Pet silhouette art is another good option for your pet-loving friends. Be imaginative when choosing your materials for a finished product unlike any other. The new place will benefit from a stylish homage to the furry new resident.
Gifts for the Bath Product Enthusiast
Help your friend unwind after a hectic move with a DIY bath bomb. A fizzy bath bomb is sure to delight any bath product enthusiast and make them feel at ease in their new home.
Give the gift of soft skin with a homemade body scrub. Chances are your friend’s skin could use some pampering after dealing with the stress of moving. Experiment with different scents using essential oils. Be sure to package the final product in an airtight container.
Too Busy to DIY?
Not everyone has the time needed to create a unique DIY gift. That doesn’t mean there’s not another special way to welcome your friends to their new home.
Hiring a handyman to help out for a few hours after your friends unload all of their belongings is a great way to relieve the stress that often comes with unpacking after a long day of moving. Or, get in even earlier and hire a mover who offers unpacking services to help your friends get their truck unloaded.
If you’re going the DIY route, feel confident knowing that whether your friends like to cook, delight in the practical, admire art, love their pets, or indulge in bath products, you can make a gift as individual as they and their new homes are.
You’ll get the added benefit of flexing your creative muscles and saving some extra cash when you DIY. While there is extra effort involved in crafting a DIY gift, it will translate how much you care about the recipient and making them feel at home in their new space.
Now that’s something you can’t buy in a store.