What to give as a housewarming gift? 12 ideas and the one they’ll keep

We all know the moment: friends are moving in, the housewarming party is coming up, and the question arises — what do we give them? You want to please them and mark the occasion, without resorting to the plant they already have three of or the candle that will end up at the back of a drawer. Here is how to find the right housewarming gift, idea by idea, and the one that hits the mark every time.

What makes a good housewarming gift

Moving in is an emotional moment: you turn a page, settle in and make a property into a home. The gift that strikes the right note usually ticks three boxes.

1. It is personal. It is about them, their home and their story, not an interchangeable object.
2. It lasts. It is kept for years; it does not get used up and does not go out of fashion.
3. It finds its place. It suits the decor, it is on show, and every time they walk past it reminds them who gave it.

12 housewarming gift ideas, sorted by who is moving in

The right gift depends first and foremost on who is moving in. Here are our ideas, from the most classic to the most personal.

For a couple setting up home

1. Their two first names and the date they got the keys engraved on a tomette: the first official keepsake of their home together.
2. The address of their first flat, street and town, like a terracotta address plaque.
3. A phrase for the two of them: “Notre premier chez-nous” (“Our first home”), “Ici, on s’aime fort” (“Here, we love each other dearly”).

For friends

4. The “Apéro entre amis” design with their name: a reminder of all the evenings to come at their place.
5. A saying they keep repeating, an in-joke from the move, engraved for good.
6. A joint gift: a single, well-chosen tomette, and a card signed by the whole group.

For a family or a first house

7. A personalised street-sign plaque with the family name and house number, to hang right by the entrance.
8. The name of the house: “La Bastide”, “Villa Lou Soleù”, “Les Jours heureux”.
9. The family name and the first names of the whole clan on a single piece.

For a holiday home or a gîte

10. The name of the place and the year: “Mas des Oliviers, depuis 2026” (“since 2026”).
11. A welcome message for guests: “Bienvenue chez nous” (“Welcome to our home”), “La porte est toujours ouverte” (“The door is always open”).
12. A photo of the place, engraved on a tile: the front of the house, the view, the gate.

Classic gifts and their limitations

A plant, a candle, tableware, a bottle, a homeware voucher or a trendy object: all these ideas start from a good intention. The trouble is that they are rarely personal. The plant is fragile and often one of three. The candle leaves nothing behind six months later. Tableware means matching their taste exactly. The bottle is forgotten by the next day. The voucher has no soul. The trendy object goes out of fashion.

The safe bet: a tomette or plaque engraved with their name

The material counts for a lot. A tomette in Salernes terracotta carries a material steeped in Provençal heritage, with its warm colour, its subtle variations and its character. Laser engraving inscribes the message directly into the material: it is neither ink nor a sticker. The house may change its colours or its furniture; the keepsake will remain.

What to engrave? The words that work

The best personalisation is not necessarily the longest. A few well-chosen words carry more weight than a long speech. Think about what this place means to the people moving in: a first purchase, a return to a much-loved region, a renovated family home, a fresh start as a couple.

A first name, a house name or an address

First names immediately set a warm tone: “Chez Louise et Martin” (“Louise and Martin’s”), “La maison des Durand” (“The Durands’ house”), “Bienvenue chez nous” (“Welcome to our home”). A house name adds a more distinctive touch, especially for a second home or a gîte. An address suits a first flat or a house bought after a long search: the number, the street name, sometimes the town.

A date that marks the beginning

The date the keys were handed over, or the moving-in date, gives the gift depth. It is discreet, but it becomes precious a few years on: “Depuis le 14 septembre 2026” (“Since 14 September 2026”), “Maison ouverte depuis 2026” (“Open house since 2026”). If you are unsure of the exact day, keep just the year. An accurate inscription is better than an approximate one.

A few kind words that suit them

The most touching messages borrow their vocabulary from the people receiving the gift: a saying they repeat, a family motto, a phrase heard during the renovation work. A few ideas: “Ici, on s’aime fort” (“Here, we love each other dearly”), “La porte est toujours ouverte” (“The door is always open”), “Plus qu’une maison, notre histoire” (“More than a house, our story”), “Entrez, le café est prêt” (“Come in, the coffee’s ready”). There is no universally right length: there is the tone that suits them.

Budget and lead times: what you need to know

Format	Price	Best for
Hexagonal tomette 12 × 10 cm	€18.90 (€21.90 with a hanging hole)	First names, a date, a few kind words
Square tile 13 × 13 cm	€24.90 (€27.90 with a hanging hole)	Street-sign plaque, name and number, longer compositions

Personalisation is included, and the online preview shows you the result before you order. Your order is dispatched within 3 working days from the workshop, then allow 2 to 4 working days for delivery within mainland France. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from €39, which is two pieces. If the housewarming is soon, order as soon as you have checked the spelling of the first names, the street and the date: these are the easiest details to proofread, and the ones you want flawless on an engraved piece. Our “satisfied or re-engraved” guarantee covers the rest.

Workshop designs made for moving in

Each one is personalised online: you write the text and the engraving appears live on screen.

All the designs are gathered in our personalised housewarming gifts collection.

A photo of the new home, engraved for the housewarming

The first portrait in front of the house, or a view of the place, can also become a housewarming photo gift. Your image is interpreted as a drawing, then engraved on a tomette or a decorative tile. “Chez nous” (“Our place”) and the moving-in date are all this keepsake needs.

Discover the personalised photo tomette and tile, and our guide to choosing and framing your photo.

Frequently asked questions about housewarming gifts

In summary

For a housewarming, a move or a first property purchase, aim for a gift that is personal, long-lasting and finds its place. A terracotta tomette or plaque engraved with their name brings these three qualities together, for €18.90 to €27.90, and turns a simple present into a keepsake they will treasure for years. A question about personalisation or lead times? Write to us at contact@mytomette.fr.