Housewarming Gift Idea - Parents Downsizing

[greenmonkey1]

My parents sold my childhood home and are moving into a smaller house in the same city.  It's exciting, but obviously bittersweet.  

I imagine this move is at least marginally emotional for my parents despite them being ready.  They have been in the house almost 30-years.  Any suggestions for a nice housewarming gift?  There will definitely be wine, beer, and food, but I am struggling to come up with something more meaningful.  No price point right now because there are 2.5 families to chip in.

My family is Irish, but my Dad already got my Mom a nice Gaelic cross to put by the door (that was my first idea).  They have a shamrock for over the door as well so I think we have the Irish side covered.  Any ideas?  I am not the creative one in the family - my first thought was to get them a lawn service.

[mae0111]

My dad really loves the digital picture frame that my sister got him. It's set up so that we can just email photos right to the frame - no need for someone to sit and load it up. I'm sorry I don't have a link for you, but I'm sure they're not hard to find...

[saraml13]

What about one of these fresh wreaths? We received one as a housewarming gift and really enjoyed it.

www.williams-sonoma.com/search/wreaths/agrarian/results.html?words=wreaths&N=4294967293&cm_sp=HeaderLinks-_-OnsiteSearch-_-MainSite&cm_type=OnsiteSearch&typeahead=cat-expansion+wreaths+

[2chatter]

The most meaningful gift we received was from a friend whose husband is a minister - a wind chime with a verse that had been blessed.

With that level of budget do they need outdoor patio furniture for front or back? A bistro table and bright cushions?

[rach]

We got an ornament with a place for a picture of our house. It was engraved with the year we bought this house. I'm quite Christmas obsessed so it was perfect for us.

[specialK]

What about a sketch/photo of your childhood home? This may take some time though.

[olenka]

Tickets to a show and gift certificate for dinner at a great restaurant?

When my parents retired, they downsized to a smaller place and they were really anti getting more stuff. So I started getting them experience-type gifts, like tix to ballet, musicals, orchestra, etc. and they just love it.

[mommyatty]

What about paying for a whole-family photo shoot and a big print to hang?

[sdlaura]

My parents bought a smaller condo and I ended up waiting to get them stuff that they specifically needed that they didn't already have. So like one of their condo bathrooms didn't have a tub, so I got them a teak stool for that shower. They needed some smaller patio furniture, so we got them that too (for a different holiday), as well as some curtains that matched their new décor.

[sdlaura]

May 16, 2017 11:44:09 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

What about paying for a whole-family photo shoot and a big print to hang?

I love this idea!

[greenmonkey1]

These are great ideas, thank you!

mommyatty We did that for Mom's 60th birthday - it was a definite winner gift. I could check with my Dad to see if there are any older family photos she might want printed on a canvas or something for display.

[judyblume14]

May 16, 2017 9:48:50 GMT -5 specialK said:

What about a sketch/photo of your childhood home? This may take some time though.

Similarly, my favorite birthday present ever came from my husband last year - a month after we moved into our current home.

We were VERY emotional about leaving our condo.  DH bought a collage frame and included a few of the sales-listing pics, as well as a few of us our front on the steps, and a couple of the kitties sitting on the windowsill.  It's hanging in our new entry way. 

[kimberlyb]

May 16, 2017 9:48:50 GMT -5 specialK said:

What about a sketch/photo of your childhood home? This may take some time though.

+1 to this. My grandfather gave my grandma a sketch of my mom's childhood home when they downsized. She absolutely loved it and it now hangs at my parent's house. I plan to do the same when my parents sell their house.

[tawneekevinson]

A wall painting would be great. I'm not really into it but whenever I see interior decoration sites and see those stuff, I feel I like I want to have something too for my flat.