The Melbourne Housewarming Guide: Thoughtful Gifts for Small Spaces

These days a housewarming is quite often held in a one-bedroom flat or a narrow townhouse, with guests perched on the arm of the couch and someone's coat draped over a moving box that has not been unpacked yet. Smaller homes are a common choice for first-time buyers, downsizers and renters alike, since space close to work, transport and friends tends to come at a premium, and a housewarming in a home of that size has a logic of its own. For anyone buying a gift, this changes the brief a good deal; the kind present is usually the one that takes up little room, gets used up or earns its place quickly, and does not leave the host wondering where on earth to put it.

Start With What Gets Used Up

It is quite common for new owners and renters to receive three candles and a decorative bowl in the same week, and in a small kitchen that adds up fast. Consumables avoid the problem entirely. A bag of beans from a small-batch roaster, a good bottle of olive oil, a jar of honey from a small producer or a loaf from the bakery around the corner will all be gone within a fortnight, and in this way the gift is remembered without ever cluttering a shelf. For someone who has just moved to a new suburb, a short handwritten list of favourite local spots, from the best coffee to the quietest park bench, can be worth more than anything wrapped, particularly when it comes with a voucher for one of those places. Edible gifts are easily shared at the housewarming itself, which takes some pressure off a host who has not yet worked out where the glasses are kept, and a non-alcoholic option or a bottle of good cordial is a considerate choice when the guest list is mixed.

Flowers, Timed for When There Is Somewhere to Put Them

Flowers that arrive on moving day tend to end up in a saucepan, since the vases are still sealed in a box marked "kitchen misc". Most local flower delivery can be booked for a particular day, so a posy can arrive a week or two after the move, once the boxes are flattened and there is a clear spot on the bench. Arrangements that come in their own jar get around the vase problem altogether, and natives with a bit of gum through them are generally hardy enough to cope with a sunny apartment window. In the event that a cat lives in the new place, it is worth leaving lilies out of the bunch completely, since every part of the plant, even the water in the vase, is highly toxic to cats.

Things That Go on the Wall

Wall space matters a lot in a small home, since it is often the only room left to grow into. Rental rules differ from place to place, and in some places renters can make certain minor modifications without asking their rental provider, including picture hooks or screws for shelves and brackets on any surface except exposed brick or concrete, although this does not always extend to short-term agreements. In the case of apartment buildings, some building by-laws also limit what can be fixed to common walls or balconies, so it is sensible to check before giving anything that needs a drill. As a result, a framed print, a slim floating shelf or a row of hooks by the front door are all reasonable gifts for most renters, as well as for owners. It is worthwhile asking about the walls first, because a heavy mirror bought for a flat with a feature brick wall is quite a different proposition.

Sending Something From Further Away

Family and friends who live further away often want to mark the occasion without making the trip. Imported stems can be several days old before they reach a shop, whereas locally grown flowers spend considerably less time in transit and can therefore arrive with more of their vase life left, which counts for a lot when a bunch is going to sit on a kitchen bench for a week or more. A short note with it, mentioning something specific about the new place, generally does more than a long one.

Greenery That Fits on a Windowsill

A single small plant is usually a safer choice than a statement fiddle-leaf fig, which will need a corner the host may not have. Low-light varieties suit flats with one window, whereas a trough of herbs can work well on a balcony, provided it is sheltered from the wind that whips between apartment towers. A self-watering pot is a thoughtful addition for anyone who travels or works long hours, and it is advisable to check about pets before choosing anything, since a number of common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs.

Practical Kindness Still Counts

Some of the most appreciated gifts are not glamorous at all. A small tool kit with a level and a stud finder, a basic first-aid kit for the bathroom cabinet or a set of good tea towels will all be used within days. Offering an afternoon of help, whether that means hanging pictures, assembling a bookshelf or carrying the last boxes up three flights of stairs, is often the gift people talk about years later. A meal that is dropped off on the first night, when the kitchen is still in boxes, is remembered for a long time as well.

A useful question to ask before buying anything is simply what has not been unpacked yet. The answer usually points straight to a gift that will fit, both in the flat and in the life of the person moving into it.