Congratulations! You’ve just moved into your new home. Each piece of furniture is in its ordered place, the deeds have changed hands, and you’re about to settle your snugly stockinged feet in front of the fire. But before you do that, there’s one final task to accomplish: organizing a stellar housewarming party.
In the following walkthrough, we’re going to share some of our favorite housewarming ideas. So dig out your little black book, arrange a quirky new playlist, and unearth that barbecue grill from the depths of your toolshed, because we’re about to throw a party…
What is a Housewarming Party?
‘Housewarmings’ are a centuries-old tradition. Originally conceived of in France, where residents would light a fire to literally warm a house, the ritual also served to banish spirits and cleanse the new living environment. Nowadays, housewarmings are an ideal opportunity to unwind after the stress of moving, to meet your neighbors, and to integrate yourself within the community. But you’ve got to make sure your house looks its best and that the party is enjoyable, so that’s where we come in.
How to Plan a Housewarming Party!
Housewarmings are generally more of a casual affair than dinner parties. In terms of housewarming party etiquette, a quick chat, text, or social media post will suffice as an invitation, because stamped addressed envelopes and RSVP cards would suggest a more elaborate occasion. You don’t even need to give much notice to your guests if it’s a housewarming that you’re planning: as it’s a relatively relaxed event, with little pomp and circumstance, they shouldn’t need much time to prepare.
In terms of a date and time, we’d recommend a weekend afternoon around 2pm or 3pm. Any earlier and you’ll discomfit those looking forward to their Saturday morning sleep-in; any later, and you’ll run the risk of your guests arriving with hungry bellies, anxious to eat a dinner you haven’t shopped for yet. Some sites also advise mentioning your housewarming registry at a particular store, akin to a baby or bridal shower, but this can be off-putting for guests. Some of these guests may be your new neighbors, after all, and an Amazon wishlist doesn’t always make a good impression. Sign your name and a friendly greeting, and that’s the first thing scratched off the checklist.
Once all that’s decided we to put your ideas to paper! We know we mentioned that it’s more a casual occasion, but we do find housewarming party invitations would be a nice touch to celebrate the incredible milestone of being homeowners. You can opt for printing wonderful invites and hand delivering them to your neighbors as a nice gesture. Or, you can download your invitation as a PDF, and send it by email to all the people you want to attend.
Housewarming Party Etiquette
Setup and Decorations
Giving your party a theme, even if it’s only a slight ‘80s vibe or a spooky Halloween mood, will add to the fun. But bear in mind that it’s possible to go overboard, too. Cutting back on housewarming party decorations will help you to stay within budget, and it’ll prevent your unique interior design being eclipsed by a mountain of party décor. Focus instead on allocating space for the party guests, kids, or pets, and making the house smell fragrant with scented candles or incense. Then you can strike a line through that item in your checklist! That brings us to organizing food and drinks!
Food and Drink
One of the most important ingredients in the recipe for a delectable housewarming is, naturally, the food. Rather than schlepping cooking equipment and chafing sets between the kitchen and living room all evening, however, keep it simple. Platters of finger food like spring rolls and finger sandwiches are easy to make and present en masse.
You may not know the dietary requirements of your new neighbors just yet, so it’s best to adopt a catch-all approach to your menu. Offer a variety of vegetarian options alongside the chicken wings and deli meats, and furnish the refreshments table with a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Replenish the food in waves to cater for new arrivals, too, especially if it’s an ‘open house’ party.If you’d prefer a more casual vibe, try a large grazing board or a range of charcuterie boards with sweet and savory snacks, along with the ultimate crowd-pleaser – cheese!
When it comes to drinks, you can specify on the invitation if it’s an ‘open bar’ style party, BYOB, or an alcohol-free zone. To mark the occasion, you can get custom glassware, which can later be stored in your home bar or saved for the next occasion you want guests over
How to Host a Housewarming Party!
Finally, as we move on to the last aspects of the party – games, activities, and the guests themselves – there’s one last thing to be said about the food. Potluck dinners, where each person contributes a different dish, often provide an excellent talking point and conversation starter. You’ll learn about your community’s cuisine, and you’ll surely pick up some interesting cooking tips!
Unless there are kids at your party, it’s likely your guests will cringe with discomfort when they see you unfolding the Twister mat. We can think outside the box here and you can invest in games that are both adult and kid-friendly, such as, cornhole, topple tower, or fast four. All these games can be played indoors or outdoors depending on your party location and you can keep them for family game nights in the future. Meanwhile, having a YouTube or a Spotify playlist in the background will liven the mood, and you can move the party outside if you feel things are getting stale indoors.
It’s common for new homeowners to take a group on a ‘grand tour’ of the house, letting the guests see inside each room and pointing out their favorite spots and features. However, it’s a much better idea to take guests one by one through the house, making sure that nobody feels left out. You’ll get a chance to talk to everyone, and each guest will get a chance to see your house at its finest!
With the decorations stored away, the leftovers recycled, and some ‘thank you’ texts sent, you finally have the house to yourself. Crack open that bottle of bubbly, unwrap that box of chocolates, and tell us how it went in the comments below!
Hazel is a content specialist that reigns from the amazing land of Cork, Ireland. If her natural red hair doesn’t showcase her Irish roots, her love of humor and spontaneous outbursts would be a clear indicator. When she’s not looking out for her amazing team mates, she’s usually re-writing song lyrics – tirelessly trying to incorporate them into her writing pieces. She has a quirky, lively, and caring personality and her little dog Eddie makes her the happiest overall.
