How to Throw a Housewarming Party

11 steps to throw a successful housewarming party

When it comes to throwing a housewarming party, you can decide what event you want to have — there isn’t a template for how it should be done. However, following these 11 steps will keep the party planning low-stress and ensure your celebration fits the vibe you want your home to have.

If traditional isn’t your style, consider alternatives, like a stock-the-bar party.

1. Decide when to have your party

You may be eager to celebrate your arrival to your new home and want to start planning a party immediately. However, remember that moving will be exhausting and stressful enough. You may not want to create more stress and add party planning to your plate until you are settled.

Also, there's no set deadline or template for when to throw a housewarming party. You can wait three months, six months or longer if that's the time it takes to get unpacked and comfortable in your new place.

As you consider a timeline that works for you, think about what type of party you want to have and the atmosphere you want to create. For instance, do you prefer to show off your new home when it's fully decorated? If so, it may take a few months to add decor that fits your style. Another consideration may be the season and whether you want the party to be mainly indoors or outdoors.

2. Choose a theme and party style

It's smart to begin planning by deciding what type of party you want to have and what the theme will be. The theme can help guide many of your decisions for the menu, decor and more.

"Choose a theme that reflects your personality and the vibe you want for your home,” said Ashley Boykin, the owner and lead wedding planner at Social Conceptions, a North Carolina-based event planning company.

Also, consider the home's layout when selecting a theme. Here are some popular housewarming party themes to consider:

• Outdoor barbecue: Perfect for homes with spacious backyards, this casual theme works well in warmer months. Set up grilling stations and lawn games for a relaxed, social atmosphere.
• Cocktail party: Ideal for open floor plans where guests can easily mingle. This sophisticated theme features batched cocktails and small bites, and it allows guests to flow naturally between spaces.
• Casual brunch: Great for smaller homes or apartments, a morning or early afternoon gathering feels relaxed and intimate. Serve coffee, pastries and light fare while showing off your new space.
• Garden party: If you have outdoor space with landscaping or a patio, showcase it with a garden-themed celebration featuring fresh flowers, outdoor seating and refreshing beverages.

3. Set a date and time

Once you've decided on the theme, you can nail down a date and time for the party. Keep in mind that a housewarming party could be floating, which means guests can arrive anytime between a set start and end time. However, if you're serving a full meal, you may want to make guests aware of when food will be served on the invite.

4. Create a budget

Before buying anything, create a realistic budget for the party. This budget should include a set limit for all expenses (how much total you want to spend) and cost estimates for each expense category.

Some examples of party expense categories could be food, drinks, decor and entertainment (e.g., hiring a DJ or purchasing backyard games). A budget is helpful in avoiding overspending on a single event, especially after incurring moving expenses.

Depending on the type of party you want to have, you could plan on spending between $500 and $1,000, according to Cassie LeMere, the owner of Cassie LaMere Events. This should “cover casual food, drinks and flowers from a local market,” she said.

5. Create your guest list

The invite list is really up to you. You can keep the party small and intimate by inviting family and close friends. Or you can make it a big social event by including your neighbors and coworkers as well. Inviting others into your home can be a great way to get to know them.

Keep in mind that you'll want to invite the number of people who can comfortably move about in your space. Plan on guests bringing their spouses or another guest to the party, too. You may need to clearly state on the invitation whether children are invited as well. When you send out invites, do so at least three weeks in advance and include directions.

Most importantly, consider your budget and how many guests you can reasonably afford to feed and serve drinks. If you plan to have the event catered, your catering company may give you a cost per person in the quote, so it's best to have a rough estimate of the guest count before researching food costs.

6. Understand housewarming gifts and etiquette

While housewarming gifts are traditional, they're not mandatory. Common housewarming gift ideas include candles, plants, kitchen items or wine.

If you prefer no gifts, politely indicate this on your invitation with phrases like, “Your presence is the only present we need.” Some hosts suggest charitable donations instead, or asking guests to contribute to a stock-the-bar party where everyone brings their favorite beverage.

Regarding arrival times, if you're hosting a floating party, clearly state the time frame on your invitation (e.g., “drop by anytime between 2 and 5 p.m.”). For seated dinners, provide a specific arrival time. Most housewarming parties last 2 to 4 hours.

Housewarming parties offer an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors. Consider hand-delivering invitations to nearby neighbors as a personal touch.

If you're inviting families with children, specify on the invitation whether the party is kid-friendly and what activities you'll have available so parents can plan accordingly.

7. Plan your menu

Unless you want to go all out, it may be a good idea to keep food and decor relatively simple. As far as the menu goes, Boykin of Social Conceptions suggests "a mix of appetizers, finger foods, and drinks to accommodate different tastes." Think charcuterie boards, vegetable trays and sandwiches. Smaller portions tend to be easier to eat while standing and socializing.

"Plan a welcome beverage that will be easy to quickly get into guests' hands when they arrive. This can be as simple as an ice bucket with champagne or sparkling wine … or as elaborate as a fun batched cocktail,” said Emily Coyne, founder of Emily Coyne Events.

If you plan on offering mixed cocktails, Coyne suggests premixing the beverages, "and have ice and garnishes ready to go nearby."

You may consider hiring someone to work the event. They can assist you with serving food and drinks and helping clean up afterward. Even having a bartender could be helpful if you plan on providing a variety of drink options — expect to pay rates of $30 to $60 an hour for their services.

8. Set up decorations and food stations

You don't have to spend a lot of time and money on decorations. Boykin added, "Keep it simple yet stylish. Use fresh flowers, candles and tableware that complement your theme and the ambiance you want to create. Maximize space by setting up different food and drink stations throughout your home or yard to encourage mingling and exploration."

Ask a friend or family member to help monitor and refill the drink and food stations. As the host, you'll want to use that time to give home tours and chat with your guests.

9. Prepare to show off your home

Be prepared to show off your new place to guests. In rooms that you've recently updated, you could consider setting out a table with pre- and postrenovation pictures for guests to view.

If you haven't done a renovation but are considering one, consider asking your guests for their input. You can ask guests for their ideas before you make changes to a room. They may be able to visualize something that will be useful to you.

They can also offer advice based on their experiences. For example, for potential kitchen renovations, you could distribute slips of paper to guests to fill out with a favorite feature in their own kitchens (e.g., pull-out spice racks, coffee bar area).

10. Plan games and activities

Games allow your guests to interact with each other in a fun and engaging way. Whether your party is indoors or outdoors, there are plenty of game options from which to choose.

Also, you don't have to spend a lot of money purchasing premade activities. Research DIY games that you can easily facilitate with games you already have. We've got some more ideas below.

Outdoor games:

• Cornhole
• Wooden ladder ball
• Limbo
• Croquet
• Ring toss
• Badminton

Indoor games:

• Scavenger hunt to find clues hidden throughout the house
• Memory games to see how many objects guests recall from each room
• Pictionary
• Charades
• Trivia
• Board games

Make sure you have something planned for kids, too, like a movie in the basement or a game outside. You could also set up a painting party outside with small canvases — just be sure parents know the plan ahead of time so they can dress their child in proper attire.

11. Consider budget-friendly alternatives

If you're working with a tight budget, you can get creative and think outside the box when it comes to a housewarming party. For example, you could host a game night with close friends or a potluck party with neighbors.

LeMere of Cassie LaMere Events offered these alternatives to a typical housewarming party.

Stock-the-bar party

Ask guests to bring their favorite beverage to help you build your collection. "This is a great housewarming idea if your place has a smaller footprint," LaMere says, "as it puts all the focus on the central gathering hub of the bar, which can be a bar cart, an island, or a vintage cabinet outfitted for entertaining."

Charitable donation drive

A budget-friendly idea may be to have a donation drive. Select a charity that aligns with your values and ask guests to drop off donations at your new place. LaMere suggests serving coffee and pastries to guests, then "make one generous delivery at the end of the day to your local charity."

Blessing ceremony

Your new place may not be move-in ready yet, but that doesn't mean you can't welcome others into the space. LaMere suggested having a blessing ceremony for new construction or a home remodel. LaMere added, "Provide colorful markers that invite friends and family to write a note of well-wishes or a blessing on the framing of your house, then toast with some bubbly to christen the location!"