Housecolding gifts: what not to give

Searches for ‘best housewarming gift 2021’ were up 600% last year, showing that Brits are conscious of gifting their loved ones with the best or most thoughtful items possible [1].

Whilst it’s a lovely tradition in the UK to gift an item to someone when moving house, there are some presents which first-time buyers would prefer not to receive. A survey conducted by VonHaus reveals the top 10 housewarming gifts that are perfect for a new home as well as the 10 worst housewarming presents which appear to be better left on the shelf[2].

The top 10 best and worst housewarming gifts

The housewarming gifts that people really want…

Money (28%)
Gift cards (27%)
Plants (24%)
DIY Tools (17%)
Kitchen crockery (17%)
Alcohol (16%)
Scented candles (16%)
Basket of tea and coffee (13%)
Food (12%)
Glassware (11%)

The housewarming gifts that people don’t want…

Toilet paper (28%)
Exercise gear (27%)
Air freshener (19%)
A house pet (17%)
Prints with quotes such as ‘live laugh love’ (15%)
Underwear and socks (15%)
Second-hand appliances (14%)
Calendar (14%)
Novelty drinking cups (13%)
Teddy Bear (13%)

Money is the most desired housewarming gift

VonHaus’ research revealed that Brits chose money as their favourite housewarming gift (28%), closely followed by gift cards (27%). This suggests that you should save the time and effort of guessing what someone wants, and just give them some pennies instead. Other highly desired, and a little more personal, housewarming gifts include house plants (24%) DIY tools (17%) and kitchen crockery (17%.)

On the flip side, apparently nothing says useless like a novelty drinking cup or prints with quotes such as ‘live laugh love’. The survey revealed that toilet paper (27%) is the worst housewarming gift you could give. Other housewarming gifts to steer clear of are exercise equipment (27%), air freshener (19%) and a house pet (17%).

First-time buyer spending habits

On average, first-time buyers spend £1,397[3] within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishings without knowing how long your pieces will last. Which is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their pieces of furniture need some extra TLC.

Putting your DIY skills to work and making old items look as good as new can be a fun challenge. Alternatively, if upcycling isn’t for you, make sure you research reputable furnishing websites which stock good quality items. This can be more expensive, but your items are likely to last for the long haul than upcycling already worn items.

Katie Thomas, Interior Designer and Founder of KTM Design comments: “”The life expectancy of most pieces varies by several years and is greatly dependent on the original materials used and construction of the pieces, the amount of daily use, and the amount of care taken during the use of the furniture. A sofa in a family room with small children, teenagers, and lots of pets will not last as long as one in a formal living room

“Although there isn’t any specific life expectancy on furniture as a rough guide, sofas and chairs last between 7-15 years, dining tables between 15-20 years and beds between 15-20 years, however it is all dependant on usage and care.

“It’s obvious when it’s time to replace your milk or an everyday essential like your toothbrush, but the expiration dates of our furniture isn’t always clear. While furniture doesn’t have an expiration date like packaged foods, most consumers no longer purchase home furnishings with the plan that they will last forever.”

Emily Caloe, Senior Buyer for Vonhaus adds: “Buying your first home is a huge milestone and it’s super exciting to prepare each room with your desired pieces of furniture. First-time buyers want gifts that add value to their homes. So, when thinking of the perfect gift, stick to practical and functional items as opposed to products which add clutter or items which are gifted without much thought behind them.”

To find out more, visit: https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/blog/Housecolding-gifts.html