Moving into a home can be a stressful experience. Packing, moving, and unpacking is a lot of work! It is likely that friends, family, and neighbors have all lent a hand in your moving process. Celebrate your new home by inviting people close to you to a housewarming party. No need to rush. A housewarming party can be done anywhere from 6 months to 1 year after you move in. This article will discuss steps to throw a great housewarming party after you move in.
Invite Close Friends and Family
When you throw a housewarming party, you should absolutely invite close friends and family. Family members have been with you since the beginning, and care about your success. Close friends also want to cheer you on. Welcoming them into your home establishes a deep connection. It also shows your loved ones how much you love and appreciate them for their support. Keep in mind, your home doesn’t have to be perfect before they see it. They’re not looking to judge you for your interior design skills, only celebrate with you.
Send Out Invitations
In preparation for the party, it is important to design and send out invitations. Invitations can be simple cards, evites, or given verbally. They do not need to Include extravagant envelopes and wax seals. On your invitation, be sure to include your new address, time of the event, style of party, and a phone number so they can contact you. Do not add a gift registry. Because it is not a wedding or a baby shower, gifts are welcome but not expected. Many guests will choose to bring you a gift and may ask you in advance if there is anything you need. Invitations should be sent to family, friends, new neighbors, and anyone else you want to celebrate your new home with.
Plan an Activity
While many guests have come to support you and your new home, you are not always available to entertain everyone. Let’s face it, you’re playing host and your guests can’t rely on you to constantly entertain them. Planning an activity can keep your guests occupied and makes it a memorable experience for everyone. Show off your new home and get your guests laughing all at the same time. You can do a scavenger hunt, play card games, or even host a dance party. This will help your guests relax and get to know each other, without your active involvement.
Prepare Food
No party is complete without food. However, the food should not stress you out. What you serve should be light, and mess free. Hors d’oeuvres are ideal for a housewarming party, so is a buffet. Skewered food is tasty, easy, and provides visual appeal. Bamboo skewers add visual appeal to your food and can impress guests. If you are worried about preparing the food, consider asking a friend or hiring a caterer for help. A variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks will also be appreciated by your guests. If you are worried about spills, you can always ask your guests to keep food and drinks in a designated area.
Deep Clean
Even when your home is a new construction, there is a lot of debris that can be left behind. Before you get your furniture and decorations put in place, it is important to do a deep clean. This is one of the few times where you will be able to reach every nook and cranny. Clean ceilings, baseboards, appliances, flooring, and anything else you can reach. Hire a professional or take the time to do it yourself. Cleaning every space will sanitize your home, get rid of left-over allergens, and prepare the space for your future guests.
Decorate Your Home
Prior to hosting your party, you should finish decorating your home the way you want it. House decorations are a great way to add personality and style to your home to fill the space and reflect your personal style. Feel free to put up pictures and arrange furniture the way you want it. Remember, the party should be about celebrating your new home, not the hundreds of balloons you purchased at the party store. If you want to add some extra party decorations, keep it simple. Well placed flowers, candles, and treat bowls can go a long way in adding depth and energy into your space for party guests.
Be Prepared for Tours
One of the main reasons people come to your housewarming party is because they want to see your new home. Your house reflects who you are and what you have made of the space. Be prepared to give tours. If there are certain areas that have not been finished and will be dangerous to see, it is safe to point it out but leave it behind closed doors. The tour will be more impressive and let friends see part of your personality if you can show them the entire space. Don’t be shy! No one is judging how you assembled furniture, they just want to see the new space you’ll be living in.
Prepare Party Favors or Thank You Notes
The guests that come to your party have taken time out of their day to visit you and welcome you into your new home and neighborhood. It is a generous idea to hand out simple party favors to thank your guests for making you a priority. When it comes to guests that bring a housewarming gift, you may want to go the extra mile and send a thank you note following the party. This will help establish or maintain friendships that will last for years.
When you move, there is a long list of to-dos to get the space livable for you and your family. It is perfectly acceptable to take your time unpacking and setting things up the way you want them to be. When you are ready, let yourself relax and enjoy your new home with a housewarming party.