Housewarming presents always come in swarms, and, as a smart consumer and thoughtful gift giver, you want to be sure to offer a gift that won't get tossed into the re-gift pile.

In order to achieve this, the rule to follow is to give the gift that will give your friends or loved one the most bang for your buck.

Whether the gift you are giving is a polite gesture to an acquaintance, a sincere declaration of a heartfelt sentiment, or a utilitarian necessity, the best gift is one that expresses your own unique relationship in an everyday, plain-sight item.

When shopping for a useful housewarming gift, ask yourself, "What is something that So-and-So could really use but would never think to get?" This art perfected, you will leave your receiver picking up or walking by your gift every day saying, "What a great idea."

These can be small gestures-trinkets and things that might otherwise be thought of as dust collectors-so long as your focus is on functionality. For example, a nice clock-very inexpensive-can be a stellar gift that will help transition a home into "lived in": telling time will never go out of style.

You should try to picture where your gift will be placed in the house, and be considerate of any preexisting motifs and décor. If your gift-getter has a vision of a theme but not the fixings, something as simple as a wicker basket set and some nice-smelling soaps can be genuinely thoughtful.

Here are a few examples of items that combine purpose and personality:

Self-Adhesive Mirror Tiles

Mirrors are great gifts but incredibly hard to buy without knowing exactly where they will go and what other furniture is in the room. Not only can a house never have enough mirrors, but a well-placed mirror can do wonders for creating the illusion of more space in rooms of all shapes and sizes.

Self-Adhesive Mirror Tiles, however, come in a pack of 20 4x4-inch tiles that will adhere to just about any surface. Placing them in the conventional grid pattern creates an attractive mirror with a contemporary design that will complement any room.

Even better, encourage your friends to place them creatively as part of a mural in a room for the new baby.

Also, they are affordable enough to buy several sets-perhaps enough to cover a whole wall or ceiling.

Crystal Grandfather Clock

A new house calls for nicer things. For such an occasion, the Crystal Grandfather Clock is an idyllic gesture, a subtle reminder that there are minutes inside all the memorable years that will pass by in a home.

Cast in genuine crystal, the Grandfather Clock is graced by a brilliant transparent body, features an active arm, antique-style roman numerals on a silver face, and runs on a single AA battery.

Only 3.5x5.5x10.5 inches, the Crystal Grandfather Clock is a beautiful adornment for an empty mantle, and its steady tick will fill up even the eeriest midnight silences with soothing, tranquil sound. The Crystal Grandfather Clock is an inexpensive gift that will long surpass the test of time.

5 Tier CD/DVD Rack with Baskets

Really, a home is nothing more than a sanctuary for stuff, the place to put it all. If it were not for all our stuff, a room in a boarding home with a bed and a place to cook would be entirely sufficient.

You can never go wrong giving the gift of a place to put more stuff. The Five-Tier CD/DVD Rack with Baskets is a gift that will quietly keep on giving.

Measuring in at 9.25x7.5x47.75, the rack is made of cornleaf and pinewood that will perfectly accent any room with a rustic theme or earthy tones without taking up too much space.

The loose racks are designed for CD's and DVD's but, surprisingly, the rack is actually a perfect storage piece for a bathroom or powder as well.

The Five-Tier CD/DVD Rack with Baskets is a great necessity that your friends won't realize they need until they have one.

Lighted Photo Cube

There is no better way to make a home feel like home that to deck the shelves, mantles, and walls with pictures elegizing life's most special moments.

For an inexpensive and sincere gift a Lighted Photo Cube is a simple way of "Your friendship means something to me."

The cube, 4.25x4.25x5.33 inches, holds up to five 3x3-inch photos and rotates 360 so no moment goes unremembered.

The soft backlight is powered by four AA batteries and the cube's sleek, black design will blend in to any room or office design.

To personalize it, be sure to fill the cube with pictures before giving it, and, if you really want to go the extra mile, include a few extras so your friends don't have to cut up any of their own pictures.