10 Great Engagement Gift Ideas for Couples Who Live Together

Back in the day, marriage also typically meant that the wedded couple to-be was moving in together for the very first time. Translation? They needed a lot of new stuff to set up their household. From plates and pepper mills to curtains and carpets and cookbooks, bridal showers and engagement parties were designed to help make the whole endeavor of making a house into a livable home a little less overwhelming.

Flash forward to today. Now 76% of couples live together before tying the knot, which means they already have furniture and flatware. So what are their loved ones to do?

Don’t worry – if your favorite couple just popped the question and has decided to take the next step BUT they’re already cohabitating, there are still plenty of ways to shower them with love and support during this exciting season in their life. We’ve scoured the web and collected recommendations from our writers to bring you this list of the best engagement gift ideas for couples who live together, including:

• Personal engagement gifts they couldn’t get anywhere – or from anyone – else
• Experience gifts that are better than any simple gift of “stuff”
• Gift cards they can use on anything they still need for their home

1. Personalized Home Décor

While they only need so many cutting boards and toasters, little home decor items are something they probably switch out every season or so. Think room accessories, like hand towels for the kitchen, candles and knick knacks for their living room table, and even throw pillows and blankets for the couch.

It’s easy to add a personal touch when you shop on Etsy – there are lots of shops that can add their names or monogram their initials, not to mention totally custom pieces like this adorable candle, a Christmas ornament with the date they got engaged, or even a fancy welcome mat that’s tailored to their tastes.

Every time the couple walks past that custom wall art or wraps themselves in that cozy throw, they’ll be reminded of this special time in their lives and the person who made it even more special with an awesome engagement gift!

2. Cookware or Kitchen Gadgets

So… yes. This is a pretty traditional option. But we aren't talking about the big items like microwaves and coffee pots that they probably, definitely already have on their countertops. These things can be a nice quality of life upgrade, like swapping the old teflon pans they’ve been using since college for some snazzy ceramic ones, or a cast iron skillet they can pass down through the generations.

Other fun cookware and kitchen gadget engagement gift ideas include:

• Fun appliances like a milkshake maker, ice cream machine, or popcorn popper
• Cookware and utensils that will help them dive into a new type of cuisine, like a mortar and pestle or bamboo steamer basket
• Quirky takes on traditional utensils like a spaghetti monster colander or batty wine opener
• Servingware so they can host dinner parties as an engaged couples
• Odds and ends like egg toppers, salad spinners, strawberry hullers, garlic keepers, canning funnels, cooking twine, or apple spiralizers that they may never have even known they needed

3. Experience Gifts

Sometimes the best gift isn’t a physical gift at all – it’s the opportunity to spend some quality time together! You might be thinking that as a newly engaged couple, they’ll be spending plenty of time together from now until death do they part. But anyone who has planned a wedding knows how utterly hectic it can be, from hounding Aunt Helen to finally turn in her dinner choice to making sure vendors all know what to do on the big day. It is stressful, to say the least.

So give the engaged couple in your life a chance to step away from wedding stress and focus on what’s truly important… their love for one another. Experience gift ideas for couples can be just about anything they’re into, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Chill date night out at the movies or mini golf
• Treat them to a fancy dinner at the nicest restaurant in town
• Get their adrenaline pumping with tickets to a theme park or activity like ziplining
• Let them enjoy the finer things with tickets to a symphony, opera, or musical
• Send them on a weekend trip, whether you handle the booking, text them an Airbnb gift card, or let them choose their own adventure with a getaway gift from a company like Tinggly

4. Smart Home Gadgets

Couples who are just starting out probably have the basics – like laptops and televisions – but this is a great opportunity to upgrade their gadgets. Smart home gadgets are designed to make life easier, so what better way is there to make sure their life of wedded bliss gets off to a smooth start?

Consider options like:

• Smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Nest
• Smart bulbs that can change color with the tap of an app
• Cleaning devices like a Roomba or Litter Robot for the cat owners
• Smart thermostats to keep their home at the perfect temperature
• Devices like the Oura ring or Somnee headband to optimize their sleep

5. Customized Recipe Book

In the age of Doordash and Uber Eats, there’s something nice about taking the time to prepare a meal from scratch, particularly when you’re in the kitchen with someone you love. Give the couple in your life the opportunity to bond over cooking when you create a customized recipe book for them.

Start by adding a few of your favorite recipes, or even collect recipes from the whole family to get them started. But be sure to leave room for them to add their own culinary creations! They’ll love sharing their favorite foods and getting to know each other on another level, plus the book itself will become a treasured keepsake full of memories and flavors of home as they fill it together.

Cooking is an act of love, and a custom recipe book gives them a scrapbook to remember it all in. Each recipe will tell a story, whether it’s the dish they made on a rainy Sunday afternoon on their first autumn in their first home or the dessert they perfected for their first dinner party as an engaged couple. As the years go by, this book will become so much more than just a collection of recipes.

6. Matching Robes or Pajama Sets

There’s something undeniably cozy about matching robes or pajama sets, and they make for a cute and comfy engagement gift. Whether they’re lounging around on a lazy Sunday morning or getting ready for bed after a long day, matching loungewear adds a little extra touch of togetherness.

Just imagine them slipping into their matching robes after a long day, relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine, and just enjoying each other’s company. It’s these small, intimate moments that can mean the most in a relationship, and this gift idea can be a part of that.

7. Gift Cards to Home Goods or Furniture Stores

Gift cards are often seen as impersonal, but in reality, they’re one of the most practical gifts you can give—especially to a couple who is preparing to take the next step in their relationship. 

Who knows what being engaged will throw at them? With a gift card, they can upgrade their mattress or go all in on seasonal decor for fall. They can pamper their pooch, or treat themselves to a nice dinner out when they don’t feel like cooking after a long day of wedding planning. The choice is totally up to them.

Especially when you text or email a digital GiftYa gift card. Choose from thousands of local and national brands, add your wrapping paper, schedule it, and it’s off! Then the happy couple can redeem in whatever way suits them best, including:

• Using the gift balance directly online or in store
• Cashing the balance out to a physical Visa card
• Connect the balance to a card they carry all the time anyway to be used automatically when they shop at the brand
• Cashed out to their bank account using Zelle
• Or even swapped for another merchant in the catalog for a small fee

Or you can let them decide which brand they like best from the get go when you choose the quick, secure, and personalized option that is GiftYa Select!

8. Wine or Cocktail Set

For couples who enjoy a good drink, a wine or cocktail set can be a fantastic engagement gift. A set of high-quality wine glasses, a decanter, or even a wine subscription service can elevate their home bar game. If they’re more into cocktails, consider a cocktail shaker set complete with all the tools they’ll need to craft the perfect drink.

Whether they’re hosting a dinner party for their friends or just unwinding together after a long day, they’ll love having a cocktail set that’s as adult as the lifelong commitment they’re about to make to one another.

9. Artwork or Photography Prints

Adding some new artwork or photography prints to their home is a great way to celebrate their engagement while helping them personalize their space. Whether it’s a beautiful landscape, a piece of abstract art, or a custom portrait of their favorite pet, art is a gift that can bring joy for years to come.

Artwork is very personal, which is why it has so much power to transform a house into a home. Plus, art is a gift that grows with them—unlike many other engagement gifts, it doesn’t wear out or go out of style, which means it will be a lasting addition to their home.

10. Keepsake Box

Last but certainly not least, a personalized keepsake box is a lovely way for the couple to store their most treasured mementos from their engagement, wedding, and beyond. You can have the box engraved with their names, engagement date, or even a special quote that means a lot to them. Inside, they can store things like love letters, wedding invites, or small souveniers from their adventures together.

But don’t mistake this for a basic storage bin from the Container Store – it’s a veritable treasure chest of their precious memories from this once-in-a-lifetime phase in their relationship. From the ticket stubs of their first concert as a married couple to the cute sticky notes they exchanged while planning their wedding, this box will hold the physical mementos of their love and experiences as they start out on this next journey together. 

That’s it for our list of engagement gift ideas for couples who live together. 

Finding the perfect engagement gift for a couple who already lives together might seem like a challenge, but with a little thought and creativity, you can find something that’s both meaningful and practical. Whether it’s a personalized piece of home décor, a smart home gadget, or an experience they can enjoy together, these gifts are sure to make them feel loved and celebrated as they embark on this exciting new chapter of their lives.

And don’t forget, if you don’t see the perfect thing here, be sure to check out the GiftYa catalog for more great ideas!