How do you choose a stylish, non-obvious housewarming gift on a budget of up to 7,600 ₽? We put together ideas from 600 to 7,600 ₽: handmade concrete candles, vases and lamps that are useful in a home with few things in it and will not turn into yet another set of towels. Below is what to give colleagues, friends and close ones, and how to match a gift to the person.
What people usually give, and what is missing
Most guests bring something it is hard to get wrong: an envelope, bed linen, dishes, an air freshener from the nearest shop. That is fine, but a month later nobody remembers who brought what. The people moving in most likely want something else: a piece that settles into a room and makes it a little more their own.
Small interior objects do that well: a candle, a vase, a lamp. You do not need to know the size of the room or the colour of the walls: they fit into any corner, and each one gets to work at once: it gives light, decorates, sets a mood.
Why handmade concrete makes a good gift
It lasts. Architectural concrete does not dry out like wood and does not fade like painted plastic. The surface is sealed with a matt lacquer or a semi-gloss coating, so the piece is not afraid of dust or moisture and serves for years. A new home is furnished once, and a gift stays in it for a long time.
Made by hand. We hand-cast each piece in silicone molds and then sand it. That is why each one has its own character: a slightly different texture, slightly different tiny pores. Such a gift is more pleasant to give than something off a conveyor belt: it is not one more present, it comes from a small batch.
Versatile aesthetic. Warm white and smoky grey suit any interior, from Scandinavian to loft. You can have no idea what colour the hosts' sofa is and still not miss.
Lotus Candle
Smiling Buddha Candle
Jar Candle
Bunny Candle (grey)
Bunny Candle (white)
Oval Vase
Hexagon Vase
Rectangle Vase
Wave Lamp (wine)
Retro Lamp
Wave Lamp (eucalyptus)
A housewarming gift by budget
600 to 1,000 ₽: candles
A candle is the easiest way to give comfort. Our candles live in concrete bowls and figures, and the wax is soy. When the wax burns down, the concrete part stays in the home as an object in its own right.
- Lotus candle, 600 ₽. A concrete bowl shaped like an open lotus, scented with white tea and lotus. The most accessible choice for colleagues and neighbours.
- Smiling Buddha candle, 850 ₽. A figure in architectural concrete holds a tea light in both hands. A gift with a mood, for anyone who needs a little calm after the move.
- Jar candle, 950 ₽. A cylindrical concrete jar with a lid, scented with white lotus and orchid. When the candle has burned down, the jar stays and can be used again.
- Bunny candle, 1,000 ₽. A grey or white bunny with a tea light inside. When it is not lit, it is simply a small sculpture on a shelf.
1,200 ₽: a vase
A new home always has room for a first bouquet, but not always a vase. A concrete vase costs 1,200 ₽ and comes in three shapes: Oval, Hexagon and Rectangle. Each has a removable acrylic tube inside. Put in a single tulip, a branch or a dried flower; if you pour in water, a fresh stem stands in the tube and never touches the concrete. We wrote about arranging a composition in Choosing a vase for dried flowers.
From 1,800 ₽: a vase and a candle together
Two pieces together look like a considered gift rather than a chance purchase. A 1,200 ₽ vase and a candle at 600 to 1,000 ₽ come to 1,800–2,200 ₽. The Hexagon with the grey Bunny works well, and so do the Oval and the Lotus in warm white: concrete in one shade, in different shapes.
7,600 ₽: a lamp for the closest people
If the whole family is chipping in, or the recipient is very close, choose a concrete and glass table lamp. The Wave lamp is a glass block with a wavy pattern on a ribbed concrete base, in wine red or frosted eucalyptus. The Retro lamp is clear ribbed glass on smoky grey concrete, throwing warm stripes of light. A lamp weighs 2.7 kg and stands firmly, and in the evening it replaces the overhead light. We wrote about the light a bedroom needs in Concrete table lamp.
Choosing a gift for the person
- For colleagues and neighbours you hardly know: the Lotus candle or the jar candle. Neutral, pretty, inexpensive.
- For friends who have just moved into their first flat: a vase and a candle together. It is an instant first corner with things that are nice to look at.
- For people who love flowers or dried flowers: the Oval, Hexagon or Rectangle vase.
- For parents, close friends, family: a lamp. It will stand on a bedside table for many years.
If the hosts are furnishing in minimalism or loft style, go for the smoky grey Hexagon or Retro. If it is light Scandinavian tones, take the Oval and the Bunny in warm white.
Timing and delivery
Some pieces in the catalogue are in stock and some we make to order. The current status is shown on each card, and if the gift is needed by a certain date, order ahead. If the date is close, look at the In stock section: it shows only what is ready to ship. Lamps made to order take from 14 days after the details are agreed: a 50% prepayment once agreed, the rest before dispatch, paid through the Russian SBP system. Delivery is by CDEK or Ozon across Russia, so you can give a piece to someone who has moved to another city.
Slip in a short care note: wipe with a soft damp cloth, no abrasives. Wax and oil are not needed for concrete; on our coating they leave stains.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete housewarming gift cost? From 600 ₽ for the Lotus candle to 7,600 ₽ for a lamp. Vases cost 1,200 ₽ and candles 600 to 1,000 ₽.
What to give if you do not know the hosts' taste? A candle or a vase in warm white or smoky grey concrete. Those shades suit any interior.
Can I put water in the vase? Yes. The vases have a removable acrylic tube: the water stays in it and never touches the concrete.
Can I choose another colour? Lamps come in six standard concrete shades, and we mix a non-standard colour to order.
A housewarming gift is remembered when it is both beautiful and needed. See everything in the catalogue, and if you need another shape or colour, we can make it to order. And if you want to understand how to choose concrete decor in general, start with How to choose concrete home accessories.
Featured in this article
See the full collectionLotus Candle
Smiling Buddha Candle
Jar Candle
Bunny Candle (grey)
Bunny Candle (white)
Oval Vase
Hexagon Vase
Rectangle Vase
Wave Lamp (wine)
Retro Lamp
Wave Lamp (eucalyptus)
