By the time you’re attending hosted dinners, housewarming parties, or marking a friend or colleague’s new digs, you’ve likely outgrown the default candle-and-wine routine. Still, figuring out what to give can feel a little like buying jeans online—high stakes, low certainty.
The best gifts don’t need to scream sentimental—or strictly practical—to land. They strike a balance: elevated but usable, personal without trying too hard, and just indulgent enough to feelchosen, not grabbed. Whether you’re showing up for dinner or acknowledging someone’s next chapter, a handful of local finds are the kind of gifts that, well, feel right at home.
1. Chili crisp is the ultimate chameleon ingredient—Sichuan chili flakes and peppercorns with green onion and garlic—and a little drizzle pairs well with pretty much everything. Chili crisp oil, $14, strochraleigh.com
2. Everyone uses olive oil on the reg, but rarely splurges on a good bottle. An infused version adds a little luxury to everyday meals. Tuscan herb extra virgin olive oil, $35, midtownoliveoil.com
3. It may look unsexy, but it’s one of the few gifts *guaranteed* to be welcomed—and used. An upscale cleaner paired with a kitschy kitchen towel is especially handy for first-time homeowners (or even recent grads). Ratatouille tea towel, $28, shopquintessentials.com
4. Picture this: A low-maintenance and purely analog pastime to break out over an afternoon coffee or an after-dinner glass of wine—plus you still get to chatter and collaborate. Stationery puzzle, $29, decoraleigh.com
5. Dress the bar—but better. Dare your home-bar-obsessed friends to step out of their comfort zone with a funky bottle of bitters. Bittermens bitters, $21, thebitterync.square.site
6. Don’t call it basic—call it classic. Both functional and aesthetic, candles and diffusers are staple home gifts for good reason. Flamingo Estate night blooming jasmine & damask rose candle, $58, lamaisonraleigh.com
7. When in doubt, opt for booze. If the recipient drinks, a bottle of local liquor paired with a funky bar tool is a low-maintenance, high-reward pick. Abaco bottle opener in blue and yellow, $36, edgeofurge.com; Damn Fine Vodka, $22, durhamdistillery.com
8. Who doesn’t love the novelty of a completely customized yet genuinely useful knickknack? Seal your wishes with a stamp. Custom stamp, prices vary, shop similar at raleighstamps.wixsite.com
By the time you’re attending hosted dinners, housewarming parties, or marking a friend or colleague’s new digs, you’ve likely outgrown the default candle-and-wine routine. Still, figuring out what to give can feel a little like buying jeans online—high stakes, low certainty.
The best gifts don’t need to scream sentimental—or strictly practical—to land. They strike a balance: elevated but usable, personal without trying too hard, and just indulgent enough to feelchosen, not grabbed. Whether you’re showing up for dinner or acknowledging someone’s next chapter, a handful of local finds are the kind of gifts that, well, feel right at home.
1. Chili crisp is the ultimate chameleon ingredient—Sichuan chili flakes and peppercorns with green onion and garlic—and a little drizzle pairs well with pretty much everything. Chili crisp oil, $14, strochraleigh.com
2. Everyone uses olive oil on the reg, but rarely splurges on a good bottle. An infused version adds a little luxury to everyday meals. Tuscan herb extra virgin olive oil, $35, midtownoliveoil.com
3. It may look unsexy, but it’s one of the few gifts *guaranteed* to be welcomed—and used. An upscale cleaner paired with a kitschy kitchen towel is especially handy for first-time homeowners (or even recent grads). Ratatouille tea towel, $28, shopquintessentials.com
4. Picture this: A low-maintenance and purely analog pastime to break out over an afternoon coffee or an after-dinner glass of wine—plus you still get to chatter and collaborate. Stationery puzzle, $29, decoraleigh.com
5. Dress the bar—but better. Dare your home-bar-obsessed friends to step out of their comfort zone with a funky bottle of bitters. Bittermens bitters, $21, thebitterync.square.site
6. Don’t call it basic—call it classic. Both functional and aesthetic, candles and diffusers are staple home gifts for good reason. Flamingo Estate night blooming jasmine & damask rose candle, $58, lamaisonraleigh.com
7. When in doubt, opt for booze. If the recipient drinks, a bottle of local liquor paired with a funky bar tool is a low-maintenance, high-reward pick. Abaco bottle opener in blue and yellow, $36, edgeofurge.com; Damn Fine Vodka, $22, durhamdistillery.com
8. Who doesn’t love the novelty of a completely customized yet genuinely useful knickknack? Seal your wishes with a stamp. Custom stamp, prices vary, shop similar at raleighstamps.wixsite.com
You don’t have to spend a fortune to throw a great party according to event planners Chad Biggs and Jessica Tilton of Chad Biggs Event Planning and Design. “The key is personality,” says Biggs. “I have a friend who is a big reader. Whenever I go to his house, he uses old books as elevation to bring up his white platters. It’s appealing to see seven books here, two big encyclopedias there, all giving you depth.” Business partner Tilton agrees, adding that she walks around the house to find items that can be repurposed for entertaining. “It’s about putting thought and creativity into the details of the event,” she says. The duo offers these tips in making your next event a resounding success.
Drinks anyone!
Create a signature cocktail that guests receive as soon as they walk in the door. “It makes guests feel special,” says Tilton. Glasses are a great way to showcase your personality—from vintage champagne goblets to mason jars. For larger-scale parties, consider renting stemware from CE Rental (cerental.com); it’s more affordable than you think. Tilton also offers this trick: purchase disposable stemless wine glasses and dip them in gold paint. They look fantastic and don’t have to be washed at the end of the night.
Vintage goblets, $60/set of six; Affordable Chic
You’ve got the beat.
Nothing dampens a party more than awkward silence, so make sure you have music playing the moment guests arrive. It helps makes early guests feel comfortable as more people arrive while also setting the tone for the party. You may consider investing in a Bluetooth speaker that can easily move throughout the house: Biggs is a fan of Sonos wireless speakers. Though the style of party you’re throwing often dictates the tunes you choose, Biggs recommends the Postmodern Jukebox station on Pandora as a great background option. “Music changes the mood completely,” adds Tilton.
Be whimsical with your presentation.
When serving food, elevating platters can make a big difference visually. Have fun with what you use: small wooden crates, books, board games. Also, collect cutlery and napkins together. Biggs has a small vintage suitcase that he fills with four mason jars. Each jar is outfitted with forks, knives, spoons and napkins. “It’s a great presentation,” he says. Stick to one color when it comes to your platters and serving dishes. Tilton prefers white: “I have a ton of white platters, so if I need extras I don’t have to worry about mixing and matching. You can add detail with greenery or candles.”
Lighting counts.
Make sure you’ve turned all of your lights on, including lamps and overheads. If you have dimmable options, turn the lights down slightly. Candles or lanterns are a great way to enhance the mood and add visual warmth to the space. “There’s a reason why water and fire look so elegant” says Biggs. “Anytime you include flames it adds life to the party.” Also, consider investing in an inexpensive firepit: you can pick one up at Target, he says. It creates a cozy setting outdoors—and don’t forget to bring out a basket of s’more fixings.
Lantern, $98; Candles, $7.50-$15; Affordable Chic
Set the bar.
Coffee can create a conundrum at parties—who wants to put their Mr. Coffee on display? Instead, invest in a nice coffee carafe and teakettle for entertaining. Create your own coffee or tea bar.Display an array of different tea bags, offer simple or flavored syrups and don’t serve sugar and sugar substitutes in packets. Empty them into quaint bowls with a little spoon. This small detail makes a big difference.
