This link might give you some ideas, both good and bad. I kind of like the idea copied below from the article.
The Best & Worst Housewarming Gift Ideas Revealed - AOL Shopping
"My husband and I were newspaper editors at the time, and a co-worker brought us a housewarming gift that was both thoughtful and personal to us. We were given a tray of wooden blocks that had words on them. You set this tray on a table in your living area, and people can re-arrange the wooden block words to create sentences and thoughts. As people who worked with words every day, we found this gift to be special and geared toward us. The "Words Cubed: Poetry For Your Table" is simple and inexpensive but fun." --