Housewarming gifts people can actually use in the house

Going to a close friend's housewarming party and you're not that good at choosing gifts ? Here is a roundup of gift-buying guidelines and ideas galore.

Start smart and try to go align these key rules.

Take into consideration if we're dealing with a newly-wed couple or a single mate. If it's a couple, the present should satisfy both of their interests equally.

Make sure you don't give your host or hostess something he or she already has. You don't want to waste your money on objects that will end up in a drawer or the back of a closet.

Get your friends something they’ll not only be proud to use, but that will prove convenient to have at hand at any given moment or at least use several times within the year to come.

Imagine what you would like to receive as a present that would make your days easier. The answer will be similarly useful to your target. Also, learn from your own mishaps. If some of your past gifts have been a total fail, try not to repeat the same mistake when it's your turn and avoid things that wouldn't be suitable in general.

Consider the recipient's personal preferences and lifestyle. Take into account if he or she is quite modest in taste and will sincerely appreciate something not too expensive but with a little thought behind it, like a special cooking oil, an original welcome mat, an interesting bottle opener or a nice plant, or if we're talking about a person that has a thing for luxury. In this case we suggest not to be tight-fisted and pick out something according to his or her liking.

Help make his or her brand-new house or flat a home with a goodie present that will remind them everyday that there are people who love and care about them. Making a unique contribution to their new space will more than certain make that person think of you.

Anything that is personalized with their names or monograms is welcome, but don't forget about practicality. Don't lose yourself with unuseful decorations and clutter. It's better if it's something that is usually stored away but with utility rather than always on show and with no purpose.

You can literally imprint or engrave a name on almost anything : a wooden cutting board, stoneware casserole dishes, baking dishes, aprons and oven mitts.

You can add a personal accent by customizing some throw pillows with the image of the host's favourite lead singer or adored pet.

Because usual home decorative presents tend to take up a lot of room, we recommend a poster or painting that has emotional value or illustrates an image that is a symbol of a past experience close to the heart.

You can't go wrong with a template gallery frame, anyone has a wall where they can hang some wall art or pictures. Just make sure the pictures you want to make a collage out of are dear to the person you want to give it to.

Deck his or her new space with wireless speakers, no one can say no to entertaining. Or even a personalized tool kit. Who would want to spend time searching to get the right tools with so many chores to do around a new living place ?

Treat your best friend with some good looking window blinds or curtains. With such an inspired product, you will leave your buddy speechless, without a doubt. You wouldn't want to buy something as tricky as window coverings and see they don't actually fit, so first ask the lucky possessor of the house to give you the correct sizes of the window, so you can get them made to measure. You will not ruin the surprise, you will just give him or her a long-lasting and efficient method of protecting their interiors from heavy sunlight and offering perfect intimacy.

Kitchen appliances are always a must in any household, so a coffee machine, a juicer, a blender, an ice cream machine or a microwave oven will definitely strike a chord.

If the owner of the new home is a food master and a real chef in the kitchen, items related to his passion will never disappoint, for example a helpful cookbook or a round slate server to put his delicious dishes on when serving his guests.

Should the house have a backyard or front lawn, inhance your friend's outdoor disfrut moments and get him or her the whole package : a portable electric or charcoal garden grill, a grilling tool set and a barbeque board.

Show up with a fancy champagne or wine bottle in hand at the housewarming party and christen their new property with joyful times, laughter and jokes.