Housewarming parties are a fantastic tradition that has held up through generations of new homeowners. Friends and family are invited to the new house to welcome you into your new home, filling it with love and warmth. Having a housewarming party is also a great way for you to get to know your new neighbors. While moving into a new home is stressful and the last thing you might want to do is to throw a party, it’s a perfect way to de-stress, have fun, celebrate a milestone and do it while stepping back and realizing no one is expecting perfection. Our housewarming party ideas can make your event a fun, welcoming celebration.
A housewarming party can be a motivator to get more unpacked than you would if you weren’t having guests over. If you’re sticking with family and close friends only, your guests may be happy to help you out with getting settled in. Take a breath and use these easy steps for planning a wonderful party filled with the comfy, cozy housewarming ideas.
The first step to throwing a stress-free housewarming party is to plan ahead. Are you thinking about doing a casual daytime get together or a more formal nighttime event like a dinner party? If you’re feeling spunky you can even pick a theme for your party. Once you have all the foundational details and Your general housewarming party ideas set, the rest of the planning will flow easily.
How to Throw a Housewarming Party?
Throwing a party takes a bit of work, but is completely doable with some planning and organization. Throwing a party right after moving into a new home can seem exhausting, but your planning will pay off. A housewarming party celebrates you and your new home, filling it with love and warmth…what better way to start a new chapter in your life? Start simply, by just gathering housewarming party ideas that appeal to you, then move on to planning. Here are three steps to get your welcoming party planning started.
- Make Your Guest List Include family and old friends along with new neighbors and new friends. You want to welcome the new people in your life into your new home, while letting your old friends and family know they’ll always have a place in your home.
- Choose a Date and Time Choose a date and time that works for you and your family and be sure to check the weather especially if your party will include outdoor activities.
- Housewarming Party Theme Decide if you want to give your housewarming party a theme. If you need theme ideas, check out a few of our favorite party themes below.
Etiquette for a Housewarming Party?
When you’re gather housewarming party ideas, remember that this type of party shouldn’t be overly formal, however it’s really up to you, to decide how formal or non-formal you would like your welcome to your new home celebration. Housewarming parties tend to be on the casual side so don’t worry about having the house in perfect shape. People understand you’ve just moved in. Try to unpack as much as possible and have boxes situated in the rooms they belong in. Since your guests will mainly be in the living and dining areas of your new home make these rooms a priority to either unpack first or to clear out for the party.
Most guests will bring housewarming gifts to welcome you into your new home so make sure you have at table cleared for them to place gifts. You can state on your invitation that you prefer that guests do not bring gifts if that’s what you decide. Just be sure to include it so guests will know what to expect to bring.
Who Should Be Invited?
Old friends, family, and new friends can be on the guest list to your housewarming party. Inviting new neighbors is a great way to get to know them. You may also want to invite your realtor as a thank you for helping to make your house dreams come true.
How to Write a Housewarming Party Invitation?
Housewarming party invites are as varied as the parties themselves. From what to write on them to when you should send them out, there are a few general guidelines to consider when throwing a housewarming party. The wording you select to print on your invitations will set the tone for Your party. Invitations should be part of your initial plan when you first start looking for housewarming party ideas. You want your invitations to reflect the style of party you are going for, such as relaxed or more formal. Are you going to be having your guests help you out with the unpacking and getting settled in? Will there be party games and kicking back to celebrate? Whatever style of housewarming party you decide on, it’s important to give your guests an idea of what the party will be like and your housewarming invitation wording Can help you do exactly that. A housewarming party invitation more often than not has three parts to it – the introduction, the details like date, time, and address, and RSVP info. Below are a few housewarming party invitation samples from Snapfish that can help you brainstorm for your invites.
Formal Housewarming Party Invitation Sample
We’ve moved into a new house
But to turn it into a home
it takes good friends like you
Because the warmth of your friendship fills our house and our hearts, too
Please join us at a
Housewarming Dinner Party
June 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Street Address, City, State
Hosts Names and Phone Number
Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m.
RSVP by May 31st
Informal Housewarming Party Invitation Sample
The drywall is hung
and we’ve wired the lights
So, now we’re constructing a
Housewarming Party
Saturday, July 25th at 8:00 p.m.
Natasha and Steve Jones
Street Address, City, State
Light snacks and drinks served
RSVP by July 15th to
Hostess and Phone Number
No Gifts Please; Your Presence is Your Gift
When to Send Out Housewarming Party Invitations?
Once you’ve narrowed your housewarming party ideas down to a specific type of party, your choice of invitations will be easier. If you are planning a formal dinner party or something that requires more planning and an exact head count, it’s important to be safe and make sure that you can get as close to accurate count of how many people will be attending the party. For this type of housewarming party, you’ll need to send the invites out from three to four weeks in advance. If you’ve decided on a more casual housewarming celebration you have a more wiggle room, usually one to three weeks in advance will work.
Housewarming Party Ideas – Themes
Help Us Get Settled Themes
Some housewarming parties are set up specifically to gather friends and family to help you settle in. From unpacking to helping you decorate your housewarming guests will be there to work while celebrating
- Painting Theme – Your new home or may needs a coat of paint in some of the rooms. Before you unpack everything have a painting party. This will make the job a lot more fun, with celebrating to go along with the work.
- Unpacking Party – Get settled in your new home by having help unpacking some of your boxes. Make sure that all of your moving boxes have labels on them so guests know where things go once unpacked.
- Stock-The-Bar Theme – Have your guests help you turn your house into an entertaining home by having a stock-the-bar housewarming party theme. Each guest brings their favorite liquor and cocktail mixers. Not only do you get to stock the bar in your new home, but you also get to try some delicious new drinks with new friends.
Traditional Themes
- Potluck – Of all the housewarming party ideas you’ll find, the most traditional of housewarming parties, a neighborhood potluck says welcome home while enjoying dishes you didn’t have to spend days slaving in the kitchen making. Ask your guests to bring over their favorite main dishes to share with the other guests.
- Garden Theme – If your moving date is in the spring or summer months a garden party is the perfect way to spruce up your landscaping whole having a plant to remember each guest. Ask each person to bring their favorite plant or flower and have a planting party.
- Open House – An open house themed housewarming party is one of the more relaxed, casual themes. As the host of the party, choose a block of time to keep your house open to guests. Guests can come and go as they please. This theme gives your guests more freedom as they can come over to see your new home whenever their schedule permits.
Games Ideas for a Housewarming Party
Your housewarming party will keep you busy as you give house tours, serve food, and mingling with your guests. However, games are a great way to break the ice with guests who don’t know each other. You’ll also get to know your new neighbors better while celebratIng with your old friends. As you browse housewarming party ideas, you may want to include a matching theme when it comes to the games.
- Scavenger Hunt – This tried and true party game involves hiding items around your new house. You then create a list of items for your guests to find along with hints as to where they are. This is a great way to give your guests a self guided house tour.
- Design a Room – Aso your guests to design a room in your new house. You may end up with some fabulous ideas you’ll use.
- Trivia – divide into teams to answer trivia questions about the area your home is in, the house itself, or about you (along the lines of who-knows-you-best).
Party Favors
Housewarming party favors for guests are usually small items as a way to say thanks or a gift to pay your guests back for all their hard work if you’ve had a painting or unpacking party. Photo magnets with your new address on them are the perfect way for your friends and family have a way to stay in touch with you within easy reach. Treats are also appreciated. Create a small favor bag with local treats and your name and new address on a hanging gift tag.
A housewarming party is an incredible way to get living in your new home started in the right foot, so make sure to do as stress free as possible with our easy housewarming party ideas.