Like the saying goes, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” and there’s few things in life that emphasize this expression better than someone’s first apartment. Who knew a can-opener could be a life saving device?
The ideas below are geared for those moving out for the first time. If this is not their first move maybe have a look at our Housewarming ideas. If your giftee is heading off to school check out Moving to a Dorm Room ideas.
Whether you choose to purchase some new household items or simply want to unload some old furniture so you can buy new stuff, it all helps make life a little easier for a first time tenant.
These ideas are intended for someone who is moving out for the first time or leaving a shared living space and doesn’t have much of their own furnishings or conveniences.
These are some things that could be helpful on night one in a new place:
First aid kit (the odds of something happening on move in day are slim but the odds of having a bandaid handy are even slimmer)
Chair (something simple like folding chairs serve the purpose until more permanent furnishings come along, then they can be easily stored and brought out again to accommodate guests at the official housewarming)
.
The following are gift ideas that can come along in due course and for the most part are generic enough they wouldn’t be imposing a style onto the recipient:
Step ladder
Toaster oven
Pots and pans
Drinking glasses
Measuring cups
Cutting board
Oven mitts
Knife set
.
If you’re looking to go with one of these suggestions, you may want to have some idea as to your recipients tastes and visual preferences:
Depending on the size of your gift, wrap it in map of the city, province or state that your giftee is moving to. For extra effect, you could mark an “X” on their new address.
If you don’t have an old map laying around and don’t want to purchase one only to sacrifice it for a gift, quite often hotels/gas stations/info centres have free tourist maps you can take.
Another option is to print off a map with the new address shown on it.
If this is someone’s first apartment, there’s a decent chance they will wind up visiting or at least ordering from local restaurants. Try wrapping your gift in a take out menu from those local establishments or big name pizza chains even.
Kitchen tea towels (which also double as gifts) could be used as wrapping.
If you wrap with ribbon or twine you could tie items to it like a key chain or ceremonial key.
