How to Throw a Housewarming Party

Your new house isn’t going to celebrate itself — that’s where a housewarming party comes into the picture! Housewarming parties needn’t be a dime-a-dozen experience. In fact, with a little old-fashioned creativity and some planning, you can throw one that’s talked about for months to come.

Clean the House

First and foremost, be sure your house is ready for guests. Take the time to scrub all the areas that you’re planning to show off to visitors. Grab some help if you need it. It’s worth your trouble and a little extra cost to make your palace shine.

Plan a Theme

Want to do something unexpected? Attach a theme to the housewarming party. Then, follow the theme for everything from handwritten or emailed invitations to the foods you serve. You may want to use the home’s architecture as a guide. For instance, a Victorian-inspired two-story could encourage Victorian-era to invite colors and delicate finger foods. On the other hand, a more rustic style could be the ideal place for an outdoor barbeque extravaganza.

Consider the Guests

How big do you want your housewarming to be? Some homeowners prefer to invite only a few people to come for a long night of conversation and great food. Others would rather offer an open format so invitees can come and go as they choose during a specific timeframe. Just be sure you have enough places for your guests to sit and mingle — especially if you have a huge guest list. And if any are spending the night, have those visitor spaces ready!

Set the Stage

You may need to maneuver your furniture and other belongings to accommodate everyone during your housewarming party. Be sure to consider the ages of your guests, too. A toddler can easily get into mischief when her parents are talking during a celebratory atmosphere. Go from room to room and ask yourself how you can make it inviting to the people who will share in your day or evening.

Lay Out a Spread

No housewarming party would be complete without goodies to eat. Although many homeowners have food on hand, some do prefer to ask guests to bring a dish for a potluck experience. Either way is fine, as long as you make your choice known to invitees in advance. Pay attention to the ingredients you have on hand so almost every guest — even picky eaters or those with allergies — can partake in some way. Oh, and be cautious if you’re offering adult beverages and kids will be in attendance.

Use Outdoor Spaces

Unless you have limited outdoor space or the weather turns nasty, you should make your outdoor living spaces part of the housewarming fun. Set up chairs on your patio or deck, or simply put together a lawn volleyball net. That way, you can expand the areas where minglers can get together and meet.

Be Aware of the Neighbors

Obviously, you want to make a good impression on your neighbors and not seem like the noisy newcomers! Be certain your party doesn’t devolve into loud music and late-night chatter that will turn neighbors sour. If your guests become a little rowdy, act immediately. Otherwise, you could always just invite the neighbors, too, which may solve part of the problem! Housewarming parties are a terrific way to relax after the stress of moving to a new house. Whether you’re moving across town or across the state, be sure to take time to celebrate this next exciting chapter of your life with good friends and family.