DD and her fiance just bought a house (the first for both of them), and I want to give them a housewarming gift. I asked DD for ideas, and she said they’re looking at patio furniture and a grill. I like those ideas - but right now, their house has no deck or patio. They’re hoping to build one in the spring, but I’d like to give them something the next time we see them at Labor Day, and I’d like to give them something(s) they can use now.
H suggested a gift card for the furniture/grill, and I could do that - but I hate just giving a card. I like to give physical things you can open! So I was thinking about giving them a large empty planter/flower pot (D wants to start gardening) filled with those little household things you may need but often overlook: household tools (a laser level?), pruning shears, maybe gardening gloves, the Weber Grill Cookbook. I’ll also throw in that gift card.
Fiance’s parents bought them a lawnmower. (Rats! That was one of my ideas originally!) Any suggestions? I’m open to small handy household items as well as larger things.
I guess I’d be reluctant to select a grill for others, as there are lots of differences among folks as to what’s “best.”
Furniture would pose a similar challenge for me. We never got any housewarming gifts as far as I can recall, so I am not sure what’s the norm. For friends, I give them a nice orchid plant or bottle of wine or similar. For one of our kids, I’m not sure. I think maybe a gift card to HomeDepot or a furniture store and some other gifts, maybe including a gorgeous picture frame.
My niece bought her sister a customized throw that had their last name woven into it. It was a neat gift but the vendor wrote a different word than their last name so gave them the incorrect one and then gave them a corrected one with their last name.
Yes, DD and fiance live in a cold climate, so the patio stuff would be stored from October to spring. I’d like to get them something they could use now, but that’s not a deal breaker; after all, if I get them the gift card, they probably won’t use it until later.
I actually thought about getting them a snowblower, but I have to admit, I didn’t think of a hammock (great idea!) or a wreath (also a great idea). And I’m kind of leery of getting them furniture or actually choosing the grill myself - I’d like to let them get what they want…although the Weber is a great grill.
I would love a grill! But I’d like to pick out my own features.
I would love a hammock! But I’d like to pick out my own pattern/style.
I would love a wreath! But I’d want to pick out my own size/shape/colors.
I know you probably know your D pretty well as far as taste…but one of the best gifts can be the gift of not having to accept a gift that isn’t quite what you had in mind.
Agree that a promise to buy a grill pf their choosing (a gift card would work) is a great gift. You can always get some grilling utensils and cookbook to wrap up for your first visit.
That said, one of the best housewarming gifts we got when me moved into our home was a toolbox filled with basic tools (ex. hammers, screwdrivers (regular and phillips – different sizes), tape measure, leveler etc.). We had lived in an apartment and had next to nothing.
By Labor Day you should be able to easily find tulip bulbs. I’d buy dozens and dozens different color tulips and daffodils, along with a basic gardening book and a few tools. You could even plant some bulbs together
One of my favorite gifts when I built my house was my brother commissioned a custom made, hand painted sign with our name on it, the address and the date of construction. Hangs next to the door bell. You could do something like that to commemorate their move in, and then get a grill for them later as well.
We gave my sister in law a grill when she got married/bought a house. Got her a good Weber one (our selection - I think we had the local Home Depot deliver it assembled). They were recently talking about how they had it for over 20 years. We grill all year round (shovel to get to the grill when it snows), so I think it is a great gift even for colder climate and even if they don’t yet have a deck/patio. (In my opinion better than a lawnmower - which although also practical doesn’t bring you joy like a grill can!)
I like the “bring you joy part”!
My parents got us the washer and dryer and I will say that brought us joy too!
But since kids ASKED for a grill–that’s the ticket.
Random info. That helped me with grill and may be useful here.
lowes sometimes sends out 10% “welcome to the neighborhood” coupons. I was able to use one of them for the last Weber grill I purchased. For some reason I had to call in the order, as opposed to going to the store (so it was more convenient for me), but they let me use it. Saved a hundred bucks or so.
