Housewarming gift ideas they'll actually use

Someone you like just got the keys. Maybe it's a BTO they've waited four years for, a resale flat with questionable tiles, or a first condo with a view they won't stop sending you. Either way, you've been invited round, and now you need a housewarming gift that isn't another scented candle bought in a panic at the MRT station.

The best housewarming gifts are useful from day one and don't demand a spot on the wall. Think incense for when the flat still smells of paint, good glassware for the first toast, a portable lamp for the corner the electrician forgot, or a serving piece for their first dinner party. Below are our favourite housewarming gift ideas for Singapore homes, sorted by budget and by the kind of home they're moving into.

Housewarming gifts under $30

Small, cheerful and easy to carry round on the day.

Fluid Market Garden Mini Vase Surprise Box. A tiny vase in a blind box. They get a surprise, you get to watch them open it.

DOIY Freshup Incense Holder. A tiny ceramic detergent bottle that holds a stick of incense. Laundry day, but it smells nice.

Housewarming gifts under $50

The sweet spot for most friends, colleagues and neighbours.

APFR Incense Sticks - Fig. Japanese incense from APFR. The fastest way to make a new place smell like home.

Ichendorf Milano Tabby Cat Tumbler. A handmade tumbler with a little cat inside. Every one is slightly different, so buy two.

HKLIVING 70s Ceramics: Lungo Mugs, Set of 2. A pair of glazed 70s-style mugs for the first coffee in the new kitchen.

Soft Spot Soft Tea Towels (Set of 3). Tea towels are the gift nobody buys themselves and everybody needs by week two.

DOIY Teddy Vase. For the friend whose new place needs a little personality before the furniture arrives.

Housewarming gifts under $100

For family, close friends, or when you're splitting with a group.

NouNou Classic Wine Glass Set. Wine glasses with faces on them, drawn by Jean Jullien. Instant conversation starter at the first dinner party.

NouNou Juice Glass Set - Clear. The same cheerful set, for households that don't drink. See the etiquette notes below.

&klevering Haines Butter Dish. A proper butter dish: the small upgrade that makes a new kitchen feel grown-up.

TASCHEN The Gourmand's Lemon: A Collection of Stories and Recipes. Stories and recipes for the friend who's finally got the kitchen they wanted.

Fatboy Edison La Surprise - White. A rechargeable, dimmable lamp that works indoors and out, including rooms where the lights aren't in yet.

Worth the splurge

When it's family, or the whole group is chipping in.

Normann Copenhagen Porta Table Lamp. A cordless table lamp from Normann Copenhagen, designed by Simon Legald. Moves from the dining table to the balcony without a cable in sight.

&klevering Glimpse Portable Lamp. Shaped like a doughnut, rechargeable and dimmable, and good-looking even when it's switched off.

Housewarming gifts by the kind of home

For the new BTO or HDB flat owner

HDB key collection day is exciting, but the flat is usually a shell and the renovation is months away. Skip anything that needs a home in a finished room. Incense, tea towels and a cordless lamp all work in an empty flat and still earn their keep after the contractors leave.

For the first-time renter

Landlords and nails don't mix, so choose things that don't need drilling: a portable lamp, a vase, good glasses, a lovely tray for keys by the door.

For the host who's been waiting to throw a party

Glassware, a butter dish, a serving piece or a cookbook. Anything that makes the first dinner party feel like an occasion.

For the design lover

Go for one good object over three small ones: a sculptural incense holder like stillgoods' Ebb, a TASCHEN book for the coffee table, or a statement lamp.

What to bring to a housewarming party

Don't arrive empty-handed, but don't overthink it either. A small gift plus something for the table (dessert, drinks, fruit) is plenty. Pick things that don't need to go on display, so your host isn't obliged to hang your print in the living room forever. And if you'd rather not carry it, send the gift straight to their new address before the party.

Housewarming gift etiquette in Singapore

A few things worth knowing before you wrap anything:

• Skip clocks for Chinese households. Giving a clock (送钟, sòng zhōng) sounds like 送终, attending to someone at the end of their life.
• Avoid knives and scissors for the same audience: sharp objects are said to “cut” the relationship. Sets of four are best avoided too, as 四 (four) sounds like the word for death.
• Pineapples are a lovely extra. “Ong lai” (pineapple in Hokkien) sounds like “prosperity arrives”, which is why you'll often see them at housewarmings.
• For Muslim friends, skip anything alcohol-related, like wine or cognac glasses; the NouNou juice glasses are an easy swap. If you're bringing food, make sure it's halal-certified.
• When in doubt, ask, or choose something neutral: glassware, textiles or a plant.

Sending a housewarming gift

We deliver across Singapore, usually within 1 to 5 working days, and it's free on orders of SGD 100 and above. Add their new address at checkout and we'll take it from there. Want to browse in person? Come by our New Bahru and Gardens by the Bay stores.

Housewarming gift questions

What is a good housewarming gift?
Something useful that works in any home: incense or a room spray, good glassware, textiles, or a serving piece for their first dinner party.

How much should I spend on a housewarming gift?
There's no required amount. Under $50 gives you plenty of options for friends and colleagues. For family or close friends, you might spend more or pool a budget for something they've wanted. The invitation isn't an invoice.

What if they haven't moved in yet?
Keep it small, check where it should be delivered, and avoid giving them something awkward to store during a renovation. Tea towels or a compact cordless lamp are easy to save for move-in day. Waiting until they've settled in is perfectly reasonable too.

Still deciding? Browse all our housewarming gifts, explore gifts under $50, or try the gift finder for ideas by personality.