Hostess Gift Ideas That Aren't Wine or a Candle

Wine and a candle. That is the hostess gift autopilot, and there is nothing wrong with it, except that your host has probably received four of each this month. If you want to show up with something they will remember, the trick is to bring a small, useful thing with a little color to it. Something that outlasts the evening.

Here are my favorite hostess gifts that are not a bottle of red or another jar of wax.

The one-and-done pick

If you want a hostess gift that is already assembled and looks like you tried, the Summer Bounty Hostess Bundle is exactly that. It pairs coordinating pieces in my sunny Summer Bounty floral, so you can hand it over as-is and skip the wrapping entirely. This is the pick for when you are short on time but still want to arrive with something lovely.

Build your own little set

If you would rather put something together, a pair of patterned linen tea towels is my most reliable hostess gift. They are useful the second the party is over, they are not perishable, and a good print feels like a real present. Add a set of reusable sponges or a reversible towel from the Once Again Home Co. collection for a kitchen-minded host who cares about cutting down on waste.

Presentation is the whole trick

A hostess gift lives or dies on how it looks when you hand it over, because you are watching them open it. Slip your gift into a reusable gift bag, or wrap it in a sheet of coordinating wrapping paper. It takes two minutes and completely changes the impression. For more on that, my post on creative gift bag ideas is a good companion read.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good hostess gift?

Something small, useful, and not perishable that the host can keep, like patterned tea towels, a ready-made hostess bundle, or reusable kitchen goods. A little color and a nice presentation go a long way.

What is a hostess gift that isn't wine?

Linen tea towels, an eco-friendly sponge set, or a coordinated gift bundle are all great non-wine options. They last well past the evening and do not assume anything about what the host drinks.

How much should a hostess gift cost?

Most hostess gifts land comfortably in the fifteen to thirty dollar range. The point is the gesture, so a thoughtful, well-presented small gift beats an expensive generic one.

Is a tea towel a good hostess gift?

Yes. A patterned linen tea towel is useful, not perishable, and easy to present nicely, which makes it one of the most dependable hostess gifts around.

What is a good hostess gift for someone who has everything?

Go for something they would not buy for themselves, like a colorful oven mitt set or a coordinated kitchen bundle. Useful items with real personality are hard to already own a version of.