28 Housewarming Gifts for the Friend Who Doesn’t Need Another Candle

Because everyone is moving these days.
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Moving into a new home is stressful enough, so why not present your relocating loved ones with something they’ll actually need (or want) once the moving van pulls out of the driveway? Housewarming gifts are at their best when they walk the line of pretty and practical—they’re versatile but not generic, they add a hit of instant style, and they’re a welcome addition, not clutter. 

You might be reaching for a candle, but let us stop you there. Instead, bring a smartly-packaged aperitif, inspiring design book, or an oil cruet. Try a fancy cleaning spray, set of linen napkins, or a cute catchall. Here are 28 no-fail places to start.

For the Bar 

Unpacking. Is. Stressful. A bottle of stylish vermouth—or a two-pack of French classics—takes the edge off and looks stylish on a bar cart, too.  If they don’t drink, the world of N/A cocktails is just as exciting these days.

Parcelle

Red and White Burgundy 2-Pack

$85 $72
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Astor Wines

Cueva Nueva Vermut

$22
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French Bloom

Le Rosé Organic French Bubbly, 0.0% Alcohol

$44
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The Zero Proof

Lapo's Non-Alcoholic Negroni Canned Cocktail, 4-Pack

$20
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For the Bathroom

No one in the history of the world has ever been able to locate their hand towels on moving day. Combine checkered terrycloth with a shiny new bottle of hand soap (equally essential right now), and you’re golden.

Nordstrom

Josephine Organic Cotton Hand Towel

$40
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Ssense

Le Labo Hand Soap, Hinoki, 250 mL

$35
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Goodee

Frama Hand Wash and Lotion Set

$160
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Amazon

Onsen Saru Himalayan Pink Salt Magnesium Onsen Bath Soak, 8oz

$23
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For the Bookshelf

An empty home is a blank canvas. Help your friend pull theirs together with a little bit of decorating inspo via these design books.

Amazon

Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design by Rodman Primack and Rudy Weissenberg

$51
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Amazon

Donald Judd Furniture

$70
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Shoppe Amber Interiors

Call It Home: The Details That Matter by Amber Lewis

$40
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Amazon

Stand in My Window: Meditations on Home and How We Make It by LaTonya Yvette

$23
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For the Coffee Table

A cute box of matches, French bud vase, and a lacquer tray for holding bits and bobs, like a chic keychain, are the type of items that add personality to just-out-of-the-box furniture.

Schoolhouse

Schoolhouse x Clare V. Sonia Rectangle Lacquer Tray

$69
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Anthropologie

State the Label House Matches

$16
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Mark & Graham

Oversized Leather Tassle Keychain

$49
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Obakki

La Soufflerie Amour Vase

$40
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For the Dining Room

Even if they’ll be eating takeout for the foreseeable future (at least until they organize the kitchen boxes), fresh table linens, taper holders, and a splattered butter dish can make even those nights feel extra-fancy. 

Dusen Dusen

Woven Plaid Napkins, Set of 2

$32
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West Elm

RHODE Batik Cotton Tablecloth

$79
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Lulu and Georgia

Hand-Forged Iron Taper Holder

$34
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H&M Home

Stoneware Butter Dish

$25
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For the Kitchen

Stock your friends’ cooking space with tools that feel special, like a bistro-style spreader, good olive oil, a tin of dried pasta, and new spices. They’ll be used on a daily basis.

Unison Home

Sabre Bistro Spreader

$15.50
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Amazon

Frankies 457 Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil

$29
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Spicewalla

10 Pack Kitchen Essentials Collection

$65
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Big Night

Rubirosa Pasta Tin

$65
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For the Utility Closet

Win brownie points for life by bringing over cleaning supplies that they won’t dread using. The broom is finished with silicone bristles, the sponges will look great by the sink, and the room spritzer is editor-loved. Plus, who can resist tomato-scented all-purpose spray? Any of these would be an underrated—yet so appreciated—present.

Flamingo Estate

Roma Heirloom Tomato Surface Cleaner

$28
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Food52

Dotti Multi-Surface Broom & Dustpan

$85
Shop Now

Homecourt

Cece Room Deodorant

$45
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Hawkins New York

Lurex Sponges, Set of 3

$6
Shop Now

Samantha Weiss-Hills Avatar

Samantha Weiss-Hills

Managing Editor, Home & Shopping

Samantha Weiss-Hills is the managing editor of home and shopping for Domino. She edits and writes home tours, shopping guides, and features, and she’s the friend who everyone texts for glassware, sofa, and sheet recommendations. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Alex, and their beagle-corgi, Elsa.