Browse All Gift Guides Idea Generator Secrets to Gifting Games Contact
Muse/Gift Guides/The Host
Gift Guide

The Host

For whoever's opening their home — a dinner party, a long weekend, a holiday spent at someone else's table. A good hostess gift says thank you without asking for a place to live in their house afterward.

How to actually shop for this person

Four ways in, for showing up somewhere with the right thing in hand.

Bring something that isn't for the meal itself

They're already handling dinner. A gift that competes with the menu — a bottle they now have to serve, a dish they now have to plate — just adds pressure.

Consumables win here too

Wine, candles, good coffee — nothing that needs a permanent place to live in their house afterward. Used up is a feature, not a limitation.

Skip anything monogrammed unless you know their taste well

A personalized item is a bigger commitment than it looks. Save it for someone whose house you've actually been inside more than once.

When in doubt, go small and useful

A nice bottle opener beats a large decorative object for a first-time visit. Save the statement piece for someone you know better.

36 gifts in this guide
Small African Decorative Basket with Handle, Navy Black, 10 Inch Wide
Small African Decorative Basket with Handle, Navy Black, 10 Inch Wide
price varies Shop →
SIPBYSOP Tortoise Shell Drinking Glasses, Set of 4 (10oz)
SIPBYSOP Tortoise Shell Drinking Glasses, Set of 4 (10oz)
price varies Shop →
Speckled Stoneware Vase, Handmade Texture
Speckled Stoneware Vase, Handmade Texture
$17 Shop →
Nuanchu 12-Pc Black Spiral Taper Candles, 7.5 Inch
Nuanchu 12-Pc Black Spiral Taper Candles, 7.5 Inch
price varies Shop →
Blue Q "I Have a Bit of a Plant Problem" Woven Jacquard Dish Towel
Blue Q "I Have a Bit of a Plant Problem" Woven Jacquard Dish Towel
$16 Shop →
Retro Portrait Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers, Set of 2
Retro Portrait Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers, Set of 2
$17 Shop →
Genuine Fred UNZIPPED Hand-Blown Glass Bowl
Genuine Fred UNZIPPED Hand-Blown Glass Bowl
$23 Shop →
Lilly Pulitzer Hobnail Glass Cocktail Shaker, Blue Stream
Lilly Pulitzer Hobnail Glass Cocktail Shaker, Blue Stream
$34 Shop →
Bocce Ball Set 100mm - Pastel Multicolor
Bocce Ball Set 100mm - Pastel Multicolor
$60 Shop →
Danica Jubilee Berry Sweet Ceramic Berry Basket
Danica Jubilee Berry Sweet Ceramic Berry Basket
$15 Shop →
Speckled Splatter Serving Bowl, Green
Speckled Splatter Serving Bowl, Green
$28 Shop →
Handmade Wool Felt Ball Coasters, Set of 4
Handmade Wool Felt Ball Coasters, Set of 4
$31 Shop →
Shark-Shaped Silicone Ice Mold
Shark-Shaped Silicone Ice Mold
price varies Shop →
Abbott Collection Dachshund Shaped Doormat, Coir Fiber, Brown, 18x30"
Abbott Collection Dachshund Shaped Doormat, Coir Fiber, Brown, 18x30"
$30 Shop →
Stellar Snacks Pretzel Variety Pack, 3 Flavors
Stellar Snacks Pretzel Variety Pack, 3 Flavors
$15 Shop →
Ribbed Acrylic Coupe Glasses, Set of 6
Ribbed Acrylic Coupe Glasses, Set of 6
$25 Shop →
10 Strawberry Street Morado Mexican Glassware, DOF, Set of 4
10 Strawberry Street Morado Mexican Glassware, DOF, Set of 4
price varies Shop →
Colorful Terracotta Pinch Bowls, Set of 8
Colorful Terracotta Pinch Bowls, Set of 8
$21 Shop →
Counter Culture Apollo Whole Bean Organic Coffee, Medium Roast
Counter Culture Apollo Whole Bean Organic Coffee, Medium Roast
$19 Shop →
Vesici Hand-Blown Cocktail Glasses, Set of 4 (Ladybug)
Vesici Hand-Blown Cocktail Glasses, Set of 4 (Ladybug)
$37 Shop →
MILAVERA Premium Glass Match Cloche
MILAVERA Premium Glass Match Cloche
$39 Shop →
Holkcog Vinyl Record Birthday Sign
Holkcog Vinyl Record Birthday Sign
$17 Shop →
OTOTO Sip Safari Cocktail Shaker Set
OTOTO Sip Safari Cocktail Shaker Set
$30 Shop →
LEEDJUINE Fairness Cup with Tea Strainer, 350ml, Thicken Glass Kungfu Tea Set Dispenser
LEEDJUINE Fairness Cup with Tea Strainer, 350ml, Thicken Glass Kungfu Tea Set Dispenser
$30 Shop →
ban.do Glass Cocktail Jigger, Pink & Green
ban.do Glass Cocktail Jigger, Pink & Green
$18 Shop →
GEFEDESUL Glass Candlestick Holders, Green Wavy Boho, 6-Pc Set
GEFEDESUL Glass Candlestick Holders, Green Wavy Boho, 6-Pc Set
$49 Shop →
Blue Q Party's in the Kitchen Funny Oven Mitt
Blue Q Party's in the Kitchen Funny Oven Mitt
$18 Shop →
Art Deco Colored Wine Glasses, Set of 2
Art Deco Colored Wine Glasses, Set of 2
$30 Shop →
Cloudnola Swirl Glass 2-Piece Flower Vase Set, Pink Orange and Green Blue
Cloudnola Swirl Glass 2-Piece Flower Vase Set, Pink Orange and Green Blue
price varies Shop →
LKKCHER Bicycle Wine Bottle Stopper
LKKCHER Bicycle Wine Bottle Stopper
$16 Shop →
Meri Meri Tapered Candles, Pack of 2
Meri Meri Tapered Candles, Pack of 2
$24 Shop →
SIUPER Highland Cow Silicone Ice Molds, 2-Pack
SIUPER Highland Cow Silicone Ice Molds, 2-Pack
price varies Shop →
Green Army Man Bottle Opener
Green Army Man Bottle Opener
$7 Shop →
Baltimore Map Coaster by O3 Design Studio, Set of 4, Sapele Wood
Baltimore Map Coaster by O3 Design Studio, Set of 4, Sapele Wood
$26 Shop →
Afuly Vintage Brown MCM Picture Frame
Afuly Vintage Brown MCM Picture Frame
$20 Shop →
Abbott Collection Corfu Long Slim Fish Plate, Stoneware, White/Blue (12.5" L)
Abbott Collection Corfu Long Slim Fish Plate, Stoneware, White/Blue (12.5" L)
$25 Shop →

Every gift on this page carries the same tag Muse uses across the whole catalog — this isn't a separate list, just this slice of it, pulled out because enough people search for exactly this. Real products, real prices, no sponsored placement. If nothing here feels right, the Idea Generator asks a few quick questions and narrows things down further.

More gift guides

Bar Cart Person →Actually Cooks →Practical →Gadget Heads and Techies →Outdoorsy →The Animal Person →Plant Parent →The Photographer →