The Best Housewarming Presents for Every New Homeowner

Looking to set the mood in a new home? During our review, the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance kit impressed with vividly saturated colors and finely adjustable warm-to-cool whites, plus easy integration with Alexa, Google, and other ecosystems. The expandable Hue lineup means you can add bulbs, switches, and sensors over time. It’s pricier than many smart bulbs and some folks hit setup hiccups or dimmer incompatibilities, but once configured, routines and scenes worked reliably for us day after day.

We love smart plugs as an easy first step for a new home, and the Tapo Smart Wi‑Fi Plug Mini shines. In our testing, the compact design didn’t block the second outlet and Matter support meant painless pairing with major platforms. Setup through the Tapo app is quick, though a few reviewers and we saw minor connectivity hiccups at first and the side button feels a bit stiff. Watch for sales—single units sometimes beat multi-pack pricing if you’re buying just one.

A compact smart speaker like the Echo Dot is a helpful housewarming add-on for timers, intercoms, and quick weather checks. Our experience shows the latest Dot delivers clearer sound for its size and the price is often budget-friendly—especially on sale. On the downside, some units can become unresponsive, volume settings occasionally reset, and the 5th‑gen model drops the 3.5mm audio jack. If you want external audio, plan on Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi speakers and keep a power-cycle in your troubleshooting toolkit.

Want a gift that doubles as decor and conversation starter? The Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons create customizable layouts with dynamic scenes that can shift from calm ambience to party mode, and they work with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant. We appreciated the physical controller for quick scene changes without opening the app. It’s a premium-priced starter kit and some users encounter pairing issues or flimsy-feeling linkers, but once mounted and tuned, the effect is striking and endlessly adaptable for a new space.

If the homeowners love smart upgrades, Nest Protect combines photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide detection with helpful smartphone alerts for peace of mind. During our review, the pathlight that glows when you walk underneath proved surprisingly useful for late-night trips. Do note Google has discontinued the product, so future availability and support are uncertain, and all units have a fixed 10-year expiration. It's pricier than basic alarms, but the remote notifications and simple status checks may justify the premium for some.

Know a coffee lover moving in? The Ember Smart Mug 2 lets you dial in an exact sipping temperature and, on its charging coaster, maintain it all day—no trips to the microwave. During our review, it felt sleek and office-ready, though the on-battery runtime is under 80 minutes away from the coaster. The app can be finicky for some, especially on Android, and the price is high, but the daily comfort of never-lukewarm coffee is hard to beat.

For new cooks and grillers, Thermapen ONE is the instant-read we reach for because it locks onto a stable temperature in about one second. In our testing, the +/-0.5 F accuracy and auto-rotating, backlit display made readings effortless at awkward angles or in low light. It's pricier than basic thermometers and doesn't have a magnetic mount, so storage needs a sheath or hook. There are occasional longevity reports, but our experience shows it's still the most confidence-inspiring tool for nailing doneness.

A great small appliance for new kitchens, the Breville Smart Oven Pro looks premium in stainless steel and cooks far beyond toast. In our testing, presets and convection handled weeknight essentials—from crispy veggies to reheated pizza—while the auto pre‑heat trimmed downtime. Be aware the convection fan can be noisy and some owners report failures or worn-off button markings after a few years. Given that, we’d register the warranty and clean gently to extend life while enjoying its everyday versatility.

This little sandwich maker is a crowd-pleasing housewarming pick for anyone who skips breakfast. In our testing, it cooked a hot egg-and-cheese English muffin in about five minutes, and the compact footprint tucks neatly into small kitchens. Cleanup is easy with dishwasher‑safe parts, but preheating is key—otherwise eggs can leak out the sides. Note that it’s too small for many bagels and some versions lack a built‑in timer, so set a phone timer for consistent results.

Moving into a new place, we found the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart to be a space-saving workhorse for small households. The one-touch programs for rice, stews, and even yogurt make weeknights easy, and the detachable cord plus slick inner pot simplify cleaning and storage. In our testing, pressure and saute modes performed best, while the slow-cooker setting can create hot spots, so we'd keep that in mind. Some users report early failures and slow support, so consider retailer protections.

A stylish mirror can instantly elevate an entryway, and the Umbra Hub delivers a clean, modern look that doubles as wall art. During our review, we liked the rubberized frame, which cushions edges and helps protect walls if you’re leaning it instead of hanging. Do note that some buyers report flawed hardware or glue failures and occasional cosmetic imperfections. It can be heavy and awkward to mount, so plan for strong anchors or a two-person install to keep it secure.

For families spread out, this Nixplay 10.1-inch frame brings everyone into the living room. We found the HD display crisp and bright, and the companion app makes it easy for relatives to drop in new photos or short video clips anytime. Our experience shows the frame leans heavily on cloud storage and recent subscription changes may lock certain features behind paid plans. Setup can occasionally be finicky with Wi‑Fi pairing, but once connected it’s a delightful, low-maintenance housewarming centerpiece.

Few housewarming gifts get used as instantly as a truly soft throw, and this Barefoot Dreams CozyChic blanket nails it. In our testing, the plush microfiber feels luxuriously velvety and the generous size offers full coverage or easy sharing on the sofa. It’s machine washable on gentle cycles, which is simpler than many luxury throws, though you’ll want to baby it to maintain stretch and softness. The price is steep and some units arrive with a mild factory smell, but it airs out quickly.

For wine lovers who open a bottle on weeknights, the Coravin Pivot+ is a thoughtful gift that keeps still wines fresh for roughly four weeks when used properly. During our review, we appreciated the faster, needle-free pour and compatibility with screw caps - no fiddly clamps. Our experience shows it's not as airtight as Coravin's needle systems for long-term aging, and proprietary argon capsules add ongoing cost. Some stoppers may not seal perfectly with certain bottles, so test fit before storing horizontally.

Moving day leftovers and meal prep are easy with OXO's Smart Seal set: the borosilicate glass bases go from freezer to oven to dishwasher without fuss. In our testing, the four-tab lids and removable silicone gasket stayed leakproof in bags and lunch boxes, and the pieces nest neatly to save cabinet space. Our experience shows the lids fare best with hand-washing, and some tabs can feel stiff at first. Note the assortment skews smaller, so bulk preppers may want extra large pieces.

These Brooklinen Super-Plush towels instantly make a new bathroom feel hotel-level. In our testing, the hefty 820 GSM Turkish cotton felt incredibly soft and soaked up water fast, drying body and hair in just a few passes. Our experience shows the trade-off is longer drying time on the rack, and there are occasional reports of pilling or color bleed - wash them separately at first. They're pricier than basics, but as a gift, the splurge reads as truly luxe and memorable.