House warming parties are a popular past time for those who've recently moved into a new home. And when you go to one, it's not a good idea to show up empty handed. Bringing a house warming gift is critical. Luckily, there are a lot of choices with how much you could spend. These presents can run the gambit from 'just a little something,' to a moderate gift, to a major surprise. Here are some great ideas for a house warming gift that can fit any budget.

Potted Plants

This is probably one of the most classic gifts. Giving them a plant to decorate their home is something you can rarely go wrong with. After all, plants usually 'match' all décor. And you have lots of options here too. Get them a small cactus for their kitchen windowsill, a little herb garden for the enthusiastic chef, or a potted palm plant for their living room. Plant life can add a lot to a home, and they'll definitely appreciate this traditional gift.

Stuffed Animals

Plush toys are a great item for decorating. They're great on shelves or other nooks and crannies, like the top of your kitchen cabinets. Just make sure you get a high-quality stuffed animal, with a natural and classic design. Teddy bears are a particularly great choice for homes, but you can go with anything as long as it looks nice enough to add to the décor. Seasonally or holiday decorations are great gifts too. Like Santa Bears for Christmas, stuffed bunnies for Easter, or Polar bears for winter. You could even include a bottle of celebratory champagne and wrap the stuffed animal's arms around it for a cute variation on this gift.

Kitchen Basics

If this is their first home, then they probably don't have all the kitchen essentials yet. Things like toasters, oven mitts, kitchen towels, wine or can openers, or bake ware. Even if they have a pretty well stocked kitchen, there's always something that they could probably use that's slightly more exotic, like a cookie press or apple slicer. If you have a recipe that they've raved about in the past, you could even get them the tools they need along with the recipe itself. For example, say you have a famous waffle recipe. Get them a waffle iron and include the recipe in the card.

Tools

There are some basics that every home should have, even if the new owner of the house isn't particularly handy. A hammer, screwdrivers, nails, and some super glue are some essentials that everyone should have just in case. And if you know they're more handy then the everyday person, then get them something more exotic for their collection.

Home Improvement Gift Cards

This is a gift that every homeowner could use, even if they already seem like they have everything. After all, something will probably need to get repaired at some point, or they may be working on painting or doing something else to make the home their own. Get the gift card for any local hardware store, or the national chains in your area like the Home Depot or Lowes. This is a gift that's guaranteed to get used.

Paper Shredder

This is the gift you didn't know you needed. But we live in a dangerous age, with identity theft being a serious hazard. Get them a personal paper shredder so that they can protect their new home. They may not have put it on their list of 'must haves' as these safety concerns are often overlooked, but they'll be happy you thought of it for them.

No matter whose house warming party you're going to, there's an idea for everyone. Pick a gift that fits your budget and the personality of the host or hostess. You'll be pleased to release that you've helped make their new house a home.