Top 10 Housewarming Gifts Under $50

Not sure what to bring to a housewarming party? Knowing someone’s tastes can be tricky, and gift certificates are so impersonal. MainStreet brings you 10 surefire ways to impress that new homeowner (or renter), that won’t break your budget.

‘Green’ Cutting Board
Eco-conscious cooks who favor local ingredients and use energy-efficient appliances deserve an equally sustainable gift. ‘Green Lite’ Eco-Friendly Bamboo Cutting Boards ($10) from Sur La Table are made from organically grown bamboo that’s both durable and naturally anti-microbial.

Whimsical Dishtowel
Buy your favorite brunch buddy a kitschy Egg-And-Toast Dishtowel ($18) from Anthropologie (URBN). The pretty cotton cloth has whimsical egg drawings and French recipes for omelets, eggs Benedict and other breakfast treats that sound yummy in any language.

Artsy Bowl
A useful work of art is like two presents in one. And Target’s (TGT) http://www.thestreet.com/quote/TGT.html?omorig=header  Beaded Crystal Bowl ($19.99) is as functional as it is interesting. Made from iron and embellished with shiny crystals, it can be used as a centerpiece and a receptacle for keys and loose change.
 
Mail Organizer
If bills are going unpaid, invitations unopened and magazines unread, then it’s time for the gift of organization. The 2d:3d Letter Holder ($26) from the MoMA Store is made from steel and can be folded flat once the mail has been sorted.

Drinking Glasses
No matter what you drink to — world peace, good health, more wine — Williams Sonoma’s (WSM) Salute Glasses  (set of four; $22) deserve their own toast. Perfect for casual meals with friends, each glass has a 1930s-style label that evokes a classic Tuscan retreat.

Tea Pot
Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. It’s loaded with antioxidants that fight nasty things such as cardiovascular disease and halitosis. Plus, it’s delicious and aromatic. Encourage that coffee-drinker to make the switch with Michael Aram’s hand-carved tribal-inspired African Porcelain Tea Pot ($29). Its polished aluminum and cast texture provides a dose of serenity to any tabletop.

Home Fragrance
The sweet scent of vanilla is said to relax even the most stressed person. Lift someone’s spirits with the Vanilla Chai Gift Set ($40) from Blissliving Home. The classic gold and turquoise box includes a fragrant jar candle and miniature reed diffuser with brown colored reeds. 

Sofa Pillow
Landlines may be going the way of the dinosaur, but that doesn’t mean the telephone is going out of style. The mod Telephone Pillow ($42) from West Elm features an old-fashioned black phone that signals “call me” to any recipient.

Wall Clock
If your globetrotting pal can never remember what time zone he’s in, buy him the 18 City Clock ($49) from the Conran Shop. It covers important business destinations around the world, including Amsterdam, Beijing, Bombay, Chicago, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo. Best of all, it’s easily transportable, perfect for a quick trip across the pond.

Bookends
Voracious readers will love CB2’s Fu Dog Bookends ($49.95). This red resin couple symbolizes protection in China and commands respect on any bookshelf. The male lion guards the home while the female lion protects its residents.

Start shopping!