Gift IdeasHousewarming gift ideas
Do not arrive at a housewarming with empty hands. The gift should be for the home, and it should not need a particular colour scheme to fit in.
A potted plant
Pick a hardy one that survives missed waterings: money plant, snake plant or jade.
A set of diyas or scented candles
Hand-painted clay diyas suit the season and support a local potter.
A jar of homemade pickle, jam or laddus
Label it with the date and what is inside. Homemade food carries your time in it.
A tree or fruit sapling
For someone with a garden. Planted on the day, it marks the year.
A doormat, name plate or set of wind chimes
Small things that make a new house feel finished.
A pack of dry fruits
Keeps for weeks, suits every age, and nobody has to guess a size.
A board game for the whole family
Choose one that grandparents and children can play together.
A set of bath towels
Thick, plain and in pairs.
A tea or coffee set
For a home that loves guests.
A wall clock or table lamp
Simple designs suit more homes. Note that some people consider a clock an unlucky gift.
A toolkit for the house
Every new home needs a hammer, a screwdriver set and a measuring tape.
Money in an envelope (shagun)
Welcome on almost every family occasion, and the giver never has to guess a size or a taste. By custom the amount ends in one.
A gift card for a shop they use
Less personal, never wasted. Good when you live far away.
A hamper of snacks and tea
Build it yourself in a reusable basket. Choose things the person actually eats.
A fruit basket
Seasonal fruit, well arranged. A good gift for elders and for visits to the unwell.
A cooking spice box filled with fresh spices
A masala dabba for a new kitchen.
A set of storage jars
A new kitchen never has enough.
A silver coin
A traditional token of good fortune at Diwali, weddings and the birth of a child.
A good pressure cooker, mixer or non-stick pan
Only if they have said they need one. Then buy the best you can.
A dinner set or a set of glasses
Plain white or clear glass fits any home.
Bed linen in plain colours
Check the bed size. Good cotton in a quiet colour is always used.
A brass or silver item for the puja room
A diya, a bell or a small plate. Only when you know the family's faith and practice.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
Choosing a housewarming gift
- Plants, good bed or table linen in plain colours, and kitchen things are safe.
- An idol or a picture for the puja room is traditional in many families, but only if you know their faith and practice.
- Avoid large decorative pieces. The owners have their own plan for the walls.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good housewarming gift?
Plants, good bed or table linen in plain colours, and kitchen things are safe. Two ideas from this page: "A set of diyas or scented candles" and "Money in an envelope (shagun)".
Is it fine to give money?
In India, money in an envelope is a normal and welcome gift on most family occasions, especially weddings and festivals. Add a line of blessing and your name. See our page on shagun.
Other occasions
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.