How to Say Congrats on the New Home (with Words and Flowers)

Skip the estate agent language about "making memories" or "new chapters beginning". Avoid writing a novel when three sentences will do.

Close friends and family appreciate personal details. Mention the bay window you know they love, or the kitchen island they've planned for years. Reference conversations you've had about their search. If they battled bidding wars, acknowledge the victory.

Colleagues require warmth without intrusion. A simple "So pleased you found somewhere perfect" works better than lengthy wishes about their future happiness.

New neighbours need practical brevity. Your house number and a genuine welcome suffice. Save elaboration for when you actually meet.

First-time buyers often feel the weight of their achievement. Mentioning the milestone matters. Long-term searchers appreciate recognition of their patience. Match your message to their journey.

Not all flowers suit housewarmings. Some bring the wrong associations, and others don't last long enough to be worth giving. The best choices brighten new spaces while lasting long enough to be enjoyed during the chaos of unpacking.

Peonies say luxury without trying too hard

Peonies arrive like a celebration in flower form. Their ruffled blooms fill entire rooms with presence, making empty spaces feel less stark. Pink shades warm up spaces that feel too new, white blooms catch light in darker corners, and coral brings life to neutral walls.

Buy them between May and July for the best quality. Winter peonies from overseas cost triple and last half as long. 

When in season, three or five stems make more impact than a dozen roses would. They last about a week, dropping petals dramatically at the end like nature's confetti.

Roses work when you choose the right colours

Roses for housewarmings need thought. Red ones scream romance when you want to say friendship. White can feel wedding-like. Yellow roses work brilliantly, radiating warmth and friendship without confusion. Peach and coral shades bring sophistication. 

Garden roses with their looser petals and varied sizes are a decent choice for the occasion. They look less formal, more like something picked from an established garden, which suits the hopeful feeling of a new home.

Freesia fills new rooms with scent

New homes smell of paint, cardboard, and cleaning products. Freesia changes that. Their perfume fills rooms without overwhelming, sweet but not cloying. The stems curve naturally, creating movement in arrangements.

White and yellow freesia smell strongest. Pink and purple varieties trade some fragrance for colour impact. Mix them with unscented flowers to add perfume without overpowering. 

They bruise easily, so check stems carefully when buying. Handle gently and they'll perfume the new home for over a week.

Gerberas bring instant happiness

Some flowers whisper, but Gerberas shout. Their daisy faces in neon pink, sunshine orange, and electric yellow demand smiles. They're the flower equivalent of exclamation marks, perfect for celebrating significant life changes.

Choose stems with straight heads facing forward. Drooping gerberas won't recover. They drink heavily, so warn the recipient to top up water daily. 

The effort pays off with two weeks of unrelenting cheer. Mini gerberas work well mixed with other flowers, while standard ones make bold statements alone.

Lilies make an impression if you pick carefully

Lilies divide opinion. Some love their drama and perfume; others find them funereal or overpowering.

Oriental lilies with their heavy scent suit large homes with good ventilation. Asiatic lilies offer colour without fragrance for smaller spaces.

Remove pollen-heavy anthers immediately. Orange pollen stains everything. White lilies risk giving off funeral vibes. Pink and peach shades suit housewarmings better. Mix with eucalyptus or garden roses if you want to soften their formality.

Wait until they've found the kettle. Moving day chaos means flowers become another problem. Give them a few days to establish basic order.

Visiting? Bring arrangements in containers. Nobody wants to hunt for vases while you stand in the doorway holding dripping stems.

If you need flowers fast, consider sending same-day flowers.

Write your card first. Let the message guide flower choice. Funny messages pair with gerberas. Heartfelt words suit peonies. Neighbourly notes match cottage garden mixes.

Keep gestures proportional. Big bouquets need brief cards. Modest flowers let messages do more work.

Moving exhausts everyone. It costs more than budgeted, takes longer than planned, and something always breaks. Your card marks survival. Your flowers prove life continues beyond cardboard and chaos. The combination acknowledges both the achievement and the upheaval. That recognition matters more than perfect phrasing or expensive stems.