Gift ideas
Housewarming gifts: what to give without getting it wrong
Giving a gift for a new flat without imposing your own taste is quite an art. My safe bets, and what I steer clear of.
By Lara — published on 2026-07-28
A housewarming gift is the trickiest of all: you're giving something for a home you haven't seen yet, to people who have just finished choosing everything themselves. So the right strategy is usefulness, not decoration.
The safe bets
A lovely bottle to open that same evening, a serving dish, a carafe, a jug, a linen tea towel, a candle. Anything that gets used up or filled up always works.
My favourite combo: a bottle of natural wine and an object to drink or share it with.
What I avoid
Large, strongly styled decorative objects, picture frames, bold colours: these need to be chosen by the people who'll actually live with them.
And anything that takes up a lot of space in a first Brussels flat — space is already the rarest gift there.
Matching the moment
First flat: useful and warm. Moving in together: a shared piece, a dish or a carafe. A family home: something that gets passed down, a slightly stronger artisan piece.
The gesture that changes everything
A handwritten note. An artisan piece paired with the name of the workshop that made it becomes a story to tell at the next dinner, not just an object on a shelf.
Frequently asked questions
- What budget should I plan for a housewarming gift?
- Between €25 and €60 you'll already find lovely artisan pieces; below that, a well-chosen candle or bottle is still perfect.
- Is giving wine too unoriginal?
- Not if the bottle comes with a story. A natural wine with the winemaker's name and a couple of sentences about their work is a very personal gift.
- Can I put together a custom gift set?
- Yes, in store we're happy to pair an object with a bottle to suit your budget.
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