A gift for a new home
Short answer: Towels and tea towels are what a new home is missing first. They do not cost much, they are used from day one, and nobody has too many. Choose neutral colours, and ask for the measurements if you want to give bed linen. Asking is perfectly normal at a housewarming.
What is missing first
Towels, tea towels and an extra set of bed linen are the three things you notice are missing on the first evening, when all the boxes are still closed. You do not have to guess, because everyone needs them from day one, and they take up no room in a home where the cupboards are not yet sorted.
Towels are the safe choice
Towels are used every day and worn out over time, so there is always room for more. They do not cost much and need no knowledge of taste or size. See Turiform if you want a set that suits a newly furnished home and that the receiver can use straight away.
Neutral colours
In a new home the interior has not been decided yet, and a white or grey towel suits whatever they end up choosing. Avoid strong colours and patterns that only work once the rest of the home is in place. Calm shades are easy to combine and can be added to later, when the interior is finished.
Tea towels and kitchen textiles
A new kitchen often lacks tea towels, because they were packed together with everything else. A couple of good tea towels are a small gift that takes little space and gets used from the first evening. They are also easy to wrap and hand on to someone you do not know very well.
If you want to give bed linen
Ask for the measurements first. The size of the duvet and pillow in centimetres is the only thing that decides whether a cover can be used, and those numbers cannot be guessed. Asking is perfectly normal at a housewarming. See bamboo sheets, and choose a neutral colour that suits any bedroom.
Homewear for the first evenings
In the first weeks in a new home there is often not enough furniture, and evenings are spent on the floor or on a sofa without decoration. A set of soft clothes makes those evenings more comfortable. See bamboo homewear, but know the size first, so you do not guess wrong on the fit.
How many towels are needed
Two large and two small per person in the household is a good starting point, so a clean set is always to hand while the other is in the wash. If you do not know how many people live there, you can give one set to a single person and let them add more as needed.
Agree with the other guests
At a housewarming it is a good idea to agree with the other guests, so that five sets of towels do not arrive. Ask the hosts what is missing, or make a shared list so every gift can be used. It also makes it easier for them to say thank you, because they get something they actually need.
Include the receipt
A gift receipt makes exchange easy if the receiver has already been given the same thing or the colour does not fit. Write on the card that exchanging is perfectly fine, so nobody feels obliged. A practical gift with a receipt puts no pressure on anyone and can never become a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too practical as a gift
It gets used every day. Practical is not the same as boring. A gift that solves a problem on the first evening in a new home is remembered longer than something that has to stand on a shelf.
How many towels are needed
Two large and two small per person in the household is a good starting point. That way a clean set is always to hand while the other is in the wash, and there is room to wear them out.
Should you agree with other guests
At a housewarming, yes, so that five sets of towels do not arrive. Ask the hosts what is missing, or agree on a shared list so every gift can be used from the first day.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
