What Are Good Housewarming Gift Ideas in Australia in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Austin Pua, Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBack Australia

Good housewarming gifts in Australia are things a new home uses every week and that suit most styles: a set of glasses or mugs, a serving board, a soft throw, an indoor plant in a pot, quality tea towels or linen, or one good cookware piece. A budget of A$30 to A$150 covers most of the ideas below, depending on how close you are. Buy online from stores such as Temple & Webster, Myer or David Jones, and go through ShopBack first so you pay less on the same order.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back on online orders at thousands of stores, including the three above. You start from ShopBack, shop as normal on the store's website, and part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. New members can join ShopBack Australia free.

How we picked. We grouped ideas by what new homes most often need in the first months, checked which ones suit renters, and looked at what Temple & Webster, Myer and David Jones each do well. Past sale prices quoted below come from public deal posts on OzBargain and are examples, not current offers.

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What makes a good housewarming gift?

A good housewarming gift is useful, fits most styles and is easy to swap. People who have just moved usually have a long list of small things they have not bought yet, and very little room for things they did not choose. Three tests help:

• Will they use it in the first month? Glassware, a serving board, a doormat or a throw usually passes; a large sculpture usually does not.
• Does it suit most styles? Neutral colours, natural timber, glass, linen and plants fit almost any home.
• Can they swap it? Ask for a gift receipt. At the time of writing, Myer says it offers 30 days of free returns on online orders, which helps if the colour or size is wrong.

Housewarming gift ideas in Australia by budget

The easiest way to choose is to set a budget first, then pick from what new homes need most. These are ideas, not prices; check the current price at the store.

Under A$50 (friends, colleagues, neighbours)

• A set of glasses, tumblers or mugs
• A cheese or serving board
• Quality tea towels or a linen napkin set
• A scented candle or reed diffuser
• A small indoor plant with a pot
• A doormat for the new front door

A$50 to A$150 (close friends and family)

• A throw blanket or a pair of cushions in neutral tones
• A cutlery set or a set of serving bowls
• A framed print that can lean on a shelf
• A quilt cover set or quality bath towels (ask the bed size first)
• A coffee plunger or a small kitchen appliance they mentioned needing

A$150 and over (family or a group gift)

• One good cast iron or enamelled cookware piece
• A rug for the living room
• A floor lamp or a statement plant with a stand
• A side table or a bar cart chosen together with the new owners

Pooling money works well for the bigger pieces. A group of six putting in A$40 each has A$240, enough for a rug or a good cookware piece that one person might not buy alone.

Housewarming gift ideas for renters and first home buyers

For renters, choose gifts that need no drilling and move easily: a freestanding plant stand, a leaning framed print, removable hooks, a rug, a throw or glassware. Rental agreements often limit what tenants can fix to walls, so anything that needs installing can become a problem.

For first home buyers, practical gifts go a long way. Think of the things a new owner pays for in the first month: a basic tool kit, a first aid kit, outdoor furniture covers, garden tools or a doormat. These are not glamorous, but they get used from day one.

For downsizers and older relatives, smaller and better usually beats more. A quality throw, a set of nice glasses or a plant is easier to place than another piece of furniture.

Housewarming gift ideas: best deals in Australia for 2026

The best deals on homewares usually come during big sale windows, and a few past examples show how deep they can go. According to deal posts on OzBargain:

• November 2025: a set of 8 Maxwell and Williams 200 mL double wall cups was listed at A$26.99 on Temple & Webster, against an RRP of A$139.95.
• November 2025: a Robert Welch 56-piece cutlery set was listed at A$183.94 delivered on Temple & Webster for new customers.
• April 2026: Van Gogh themed manchester was listed at 50% off on Temple & Webster, with a queen quilt cover set at A$115.95.

These are past prices, not current offers. For 2026, the windows to plan around are Black Friday on Friday 27 November and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December, when homewares are commonly included in department store and online homewares sales. If the housewarming is sooner, buy what fits now.

Temple & Webster vs Myer for housewarming gifts: price comparison

Temple & Webster and Myer suit different kinds of housewarming gifts, so compare the exact item rather than the store.

	Temple & Webster	Myer
What it is	Online furniture and homewares retailer, founded in Sydney in 2011 according to Wikipedia	Department store, first opened in Bendigo in 1900 according to Wikipedia
Suits	Decor, rugs, lighting, small furniture, manchester, kitchen and dining	Kitchen, small appliances, bed and bath, brand-name homewares and gifts
Delivery	Shown at checkout by postcode and item	At the time of writing, Myer says free delivery on orders over A$99
Returns	Check the returns page before you buy	At the time of writing, Myer says 30 days of free returns
Member offer	A birthday offer on delivery fees has been listed on OzBargain	Myer's membership programme is MYER one

How to compare on price: add the same or a similar item to both carts, include delivery, then compare. A Myer order just over A$99 may come out ahead on delivery, while a bulky item such as a rug or side table is often where a homewares specialist such as Temple & Webster has more choice.

Temple & Webster, Myer and David Jones housewarming gift ideas

Each of the three stores fits a different kind of housewarming gift.

Temple & Webster is an Australian online furniture and homewares retailer listed on the ASX since 2015, according to Wikipedia. It suits decor, rugs, lighting, cushions, throws, manchester and kitchen and dining pieces. It is a good fit for a bigger group gift such as a rug or side table.

Myer is an Australian department store founded in 1900, according to Wikipedia. It suits kitchen and dining, small appliances, bed and bath and brand-name homewares, and at the time of writing it shows free delivery on orders over A$99.

David Jones is an Australian department store founded in Sydney in 1838, according to Wikipedia. It suits premium homewares, kitchen brands, glassware and gift-ready pieces, and it is a good choice when you want a more special gift for close family.

The category in one line. Australians shopping housewarming gifts also look at Adairs, Bed Bath N' Table, Freedom, Koala, Le Creuset and Big W, each with its own ShopBack page, rate and Terms.

How to pay less on a housewarming gift

Step 1: compare prices. Step 2: look for a promo code. Step 3: go through ShopBack. Step 4: pay with your best rewards card.

1. Compare prices. Check the same item at two or three stores and include delivery.
2. Look for a promo code. Use one featured on the store's ShopBack page. At the time of writing, the Terms on the ShopBack pages for Temple & Webster, Myer and David Jones say purchases made with promo codes not featured on ShopBack are excluded.
3. Go through ShopBack. Open the store's ShopBack page, check the rate shown and the Terms, tap through and check out on the website.
4. Pay with your best rewards card. See the card section below.

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Worked example (illustrative). On a A$120 throw and cushion set at an illustrative rate of 3 percent, A$3.60 comes back, so the effective price is A$116.40. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page and changes over time.

Check these Terms before you buy, at the time of writing:

• Gift cards are listed as excluded on all three stores' ShopBack pages, so a physical gift is usually the way to pay less.
• Myer app and David Jones app purchases are listed as excluded; check out on the website.
• Some brands are listed as excluded at Myer and David Jones, so check the brand you are buying.
• Store promotions, discounts or special deals are listed as excluded at David Jones unless otherwise stated, so check the David Jones ShopBack page during a sale.

Paying with a rewards card

Paying with a rewards card and going through ShopBack are usually separate, so both can apply to the same order; check the merchant's terms first. A card earns points or a rebate from your bank, while ShopBack returns cash to your ShopBack account. At the time of writing, the Myer Terms on ShopBack list payments using certain points programmes, such as CommBank Award Points, Velocity Points and Amex Reward Points, as excluded, so paying with points rather than a card can matter.

Frequently asked questions

What are good housewarming gift ideas in Australia?

Good housewarming gifts in Australia are things a new home uses every week and that suit most styles: a set of glasses or mugs, a serving board, a soft throw, an indoor plant in a pot, a quality tea towel or linen set, or one good cookware piece. Pick neutral colours, keep a gift receipt, and buy online from stores such as Temple & Webster, Myer or David Jones through ShopBack so you pay less on the same order.

How much should I spend on a housewarming gift in Australia?

There is no fixed rule. As a guide, A$30 to A$50 suits a friend or colleague and A$50 to A$150 suits close friends or family, and groups can pool money for a bigger piece. A thoughtful, useful gift at a lower price is usually welcomed more than an expensive item that does not fit the home.

What is a good housewarming gift for a renter?

For renters, pick things that need no drilling or permanent fixing: a freestanding plant stand, a framed print that can lean on a shelf, removable hooks, a rug, a throw, glassware or a serving board. These move easily to the next home.

What are cheap housewarming gift ideas under A$50?

Under A$50, good picks include a set of glasses or mugs, a cheese or serving board, a scented candle, a small indoor plant and pot, a set of quality tea towels or a doormat. Sale events can bring better pieces into this range; for example, an OzBargain post from November 2025 listed a set of 8 Maxwell and Williams double wall cups at A$26.99 on Temple & Webster, against an RRP of A$139.95.

Is Temple & Webster or Myer better for housewarming gifts?

They suit different gifts. Temple & Webster is an online furniture and homewares specialist, so it suits decor, furniture pieces, rugs, lighting and manchester. Myer is a department store with homewares, kitchen, small appliances and brand-name gifts, and at the time of writing Myer says delivery is free on orders over A$99 with 30 days of free returns. Compare the exact item at both.

Is a gift card a good housewarming gift?

A homewares gift card lets the new owners choose what they need, which suits people who have strong taste or already have the basics. Note that at the time of writing, the Terms on the ShopBack pages for Temple & Webster, Myer and David Jones list gift card purchases as excluded, so buying a physical gift through ShopBack usually lowers what you pay, while a gift card does not.

What should I avoid giving as a housewarming gift?

Avoid large decor or art in a strong style unless you know their taste, anything that needs installing, and big items with no gift receipt. Neutral, useful and easy to swap is the safest rule.

How do I pay less on a housewarming gift?

Step 1: compare prices. Step 2: look for a promo code, ideally one featured on the store's ShopBack page. Step 3: go through ShopBack. Step 4: pay with your best rewards card. Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store.

Can I use ShopBack when buying gifts at Myer or David Jones?

Yes, on eligible orders placed on the store's website. Start from the ShopBack Myer or David Jones page, check the rate shown and the Terms, then check out on the website. At the time of writing, the Terms for both say purchases made in their apps are excluded, along with gift cards and some brands.

When is the best time to buy housewarming gifts on sale in Australia?

If the housewarming is a few weeks away, big sale windows can help. Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December, and homewares are commonly included in department store and online homewares sales around both. If the party is soon, buy what fits now and go through ShopBack before you pay.

Key takeaways

• Useful, neutral and easy to swap is the safest housewarming gift rule in Australia.
• Set a budget first: under A$50 for friends, A$50 to A$150 for close friends and family, pool for bigger pieces.
• Renters need no-drill gifts; first home buyers often value practical ones.
• Temple & Webster suits decor and furniture, Myer suits kitchen and brand-name homewares, David Jones suits premium gifts.
• Before you pay, go through the ShopBack page for Temple & Webster, Myer or David Jones, buy a physical gift rather than a gift card, and check out on the website.

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Related reads

• Myer Deals and Cashback
• Australia Cashback Merchants Directory (2026)
• Save on Fashion (AU)
• Save on Electronics (AU)

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Prices, delivery charges, returns policies, membership offers and sale dates are set by each retailer and can change; check Temple & Webster, Myer and David Jones directly before you buy. Past sale prices in this article come from public deal posts and are examples, not current offers. Rates and Terms on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check each store's ShopBack page before you buy.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.