Flat-warming presents for small spaces – all for under £35
Celebrating someone moving home feels like a chance to pile in with pretty oversized vases full of flowers, brightly coloured candles, and “live, laugh, love” framed prints to liven up the place. But the problem is, flats are normally too small to have tonnes of decorative things and the smallest extra object can throw off the decor that your friend has meticulously crafted. With this in mind, we’ve come up with unobtrusive gifts to bring to a flat-warming party that will suit any space - or that are perishable and will mercifully disappear. We’ve considered price, with the most expensive present being just £35 and starting as low as £12.60.
Read more: Best housewarming gifts overall
Aesop sarashina aromatique incense, £35, aesop.co.uk
With notes of sandalwood and comforting spice, Aesop’s incense with tiny hold is a way to ceremoniously purify the new home and create some moments of calm for your new host.
This set contains 33 sticks and a holder which is minimal in design and tiny enough to not take up room in a small flat. Housed in a lovely green box that will look great displayed, the incense’s scent permeates any space and the wafting smoke creates a heady and atmospheric vibe.
Moth cocktails taster pack, from £26, mothdrinks.com
Moth has some of the best canned cocktails that liven up any event, so bring this along to a flat-warming party or leave with the hosts to enjoy in their new home at leisure.
Highlights in this variety taster pack - which starts at £26 for eight, but also come in 12 or 24 - include a spicy margarita which has a real chilli kick, the refreshing minty mojito, and a personal favourite, the paloma: a mixture of sweet grapefruit and tequila. Simply shake with ice.
Austin Austin palmarosa & vetiver hand soap, £22, austinaustinorganic.com
Austin Austin is a certified organic body care company founded by a Norfolk-based father and daughter team.
This herbal, fresh hand soap is formulated with plants to clean and protect hands, plus it smells amazing. It’s also not as ubiquitous as other hand soap makers (not naming names).
The minimalist packaging will appeal to lots of tastes and should the new flat owners be so inclined, the brand offers refills of the hand wash to keep topped up for years to come.
M&S stone coasters with holder, £20, marksandspencer.com
Protect your pal’s new coffee table with some chic coasters that look much more expensive than they are. M&S’s homeware range has been compared with designer brands like Soho Home thanks to its neutral palate of colours and luxurious materials that go into each piece.
Made with durable stone and housed in a chrome holder, this set of four coasters is both classic and on-trend thanks to the pop of metallic. This practical gift also doubles as an objet d’art that will look pretty in a living room or dining table.
Kinfill multi surface cleaner, £14, kinfill.com
So many chemicals are used in a home every day, from laundry detergents to cleaning products. It’s unfortunate that items made to keep our homes clean and safe may be having a negative impact on our health.
Kinfill’s surface cleaner is made with non-toxic plant-based ingredients that are safe for kids and pets and won’t leave nasty remnants behind, just lovely scents.
The refillable ‘ever bottle’ can be loaded with an earthy ambrette scent or a fresh tangerine, and is a lovely gift for a new home.
Ferm Living baies napkins, £29, fermliving.co.uk
Ferm Living is one of our favourite homeware brands of the moment, and their baies (“berries”) napkins are made from organic cotton and are a calming neutral colour with a natural dark brown berry design. This will match with many home tastes whether minimalist, rustic cottage or to warm up an industrial space.
This set of four is made from certified organic cotton, and will make dinner a little bit fancier. They are festive enough for wintertime but fun and playful enough for summer, so will also work year-round. Our tip is to try them out as placemats.
Le Creuset stoneware spoon rest, £17, lecreuset.co.uk
Something that people definitely won’t think to buy themselves but that comes in handy every single day is a good spoon rest.
Instead of slopping down your crockery onto the countertop, a spoon rest will keep things clean and tidy, while looking good on their countertop.
With 18 colours to choose from, Le Creuset’s option can be tailored to your giftee’s taste. Once dinner’s done, all you have to do is pop this hard-wearing piece in the dishwasher instead of a full on kitchen hose down.
St Eval dinner candles, £12.60, st-eval.com
For all No Big Light people, candles are an important facet of setting the mood. Bringing nice quality candles made with natural waxes with you to a housewarming party will be a welcome gift for your friends in their new place.
These St Eval candles are a lovely olive colour and will make for a cosy dinner to celebrate the new place, and they are scentless so won’t overpower the tastes and smells of the meal.