5 Tips for Hosting a Housewarming Party

Last Updated on September 5, 2022 by hortonteam

You just moved into your dream home in Newburgh and you can’t wait to show it off. Why not host an incredible housewarming party!? Check out these tips for hosting a housewarming party that your friends and family won’t forget!

1.   Get Your Home in Order

Before you even think about enacting any of these tips for a housewarming party, you have to make sure you’ve completed this one: get your home in order! You’ll want to leave an outstanding impression on your guests, so it’s imperative that your home is in tip-top shape. You (hopefully) won’t have to do too much cleaning since you just moved in, but some of your belongings are probably still in boxes. Once you are completely unboxed and set up, start thinking about where the party will take place. Due to the nature and wildness of a housewarming party, your guests will want to explore, meaning they may become separated. Plan for multiple gathering areas instead of focusing on one main room like a kitchen or living room. Do you have a family room? Is there a basement? Back yard or patio? These are all spots that guests may gravitate towards, so you need to make sure every location is clean and in presentable shape. Don’t forget essentials like chairs, cups, and of course, toilet paper!

2.   Plan the Party

Once you have the basics in place, it’s time to plan your party! One of our best tips for hosting a housewarming party is to create a detailed party plan—and stick to it! Having a plan will not only help you stay on top of everything that needs to happen prior to the party, but also everything that should happen during and after the party. Inviting your guests and securing RSVPs are important (we’ll talk about that in a second), but the bulk of your party planning should be focused on the party itself. As we alluded to above, don’t rush into things. It’s best to wait a week or two to completely unbox and move in. Once you’re comfortable with the home and are ready to begin planning, think about what activities you’ll need to offer for entertainment. One of the most popular requests you’ll hear is for a tour of the home. Are there certain areas or rooms you want to hide for the time being? Knowing this ahead of time will help when it’s time to map out your tour route. Don’t forget to think about what you’ll say when showcasing each room. You don’t need to plan a formal speech, but having some words prepared about each area will help keep spirits high during the tour and at your party. We would also include in our entertainment tips for hosting a housewarming party a selection of music, games, food and drinks. Let’s dive into that a little further.

3.   Set the Ambience

You’ve finally moved into your Newburgh home and are getting ready for your housewarming party. What’s the best way to have a great event? Be in control of the mood! Both your home and party will create a specific atmosphere or range of feelings which your guests will experience. You can direct this ambience in a way that will evoke positive and joyful emotions for all your attendees. This may sound too science-y, but in reality you can achieve great ambience with any number of simple solutions. Focus on the senses while you’re planning your party, especially smells, sounds, and tastes. You can make use of plug-in air fresheners, freshly baked cookies, or even aerosol cans—just don’t overdo it. Another great option on our list of tips for hosting a housewarming party is to incorporate music! Choose something that’s easy-listening (leave those Slayer CDs in the closet!) that can be played lightly in the background. Think soft rock or smooth jazz. Believe it or not, there are also several local DJ services in Newburgh in case you want to go all-out. The most important sense to touch on (no pun intended) is taste! Your guests will expect to be fed, so you’ll need to prepare food and drinks. To create a more memorable evening, serve something delicious and easy, both in terms of eating and clean-up. Finger foods are a great start, and you’ll probably be safe using disposable plates and cups. If you’re going for a more upscale housewarming party, you can elect to use glassware—just know that you’ll have a huge pile of dishes when it’s all said and done!

4.   Make Use of an RSVP System

So your party is planned, and you’re ready to get your invites out. Thinking about sending a group text? Don’t. This type of communication can get unorganized fast, and you’re almost certain to lose track of a few responses. Try using a system where you can see who all is coming and who can’t make it. Some of our top suggestions include creating a private Facebook event, sending out invitation cards and keeping track of RSVPs on an Excel sheet, or creating an event on Google Calendar and sending out Gmail invites to your friends and family. Use whatever is easiest for you, but know that keeping track of your RSVPs with a guest list is a must. Not only will this list show you how many guests you’ll need to entertain, but it will also let you know how much food you need to buy and how much space you need to make available. It’s also important to decide what kind of party you’ll be hosting. Will you go for the Open House version with set times for specific guests to arrive and explore the home, or will you vouch for the more traditional party approach? Whichever you decide, having a definite number of attendees will help you tremendously with planning. You don’t have to invite the whole town of Newburgh, but you may want to invite your friends, family, church members, coworkers, and anyone else you have a close attachment to. Inviting the next-door families is also a great way to meet your new neighbors. However many people you decide to invite, don’t forget to include directions to your home!

5.   Plan Your Post-Party Activities

If everything goes according to plan, chances are you’ll have an incredible housewarming party! You may want to reminisce about this fun event on a later date, so it’s a good idea to document the event with photos and videos. If you’d like an even better memento from the night, create some form of a guest book for your friends and family to sign. A traditional sign-in book will work, but there are lots of great ideas out there that are more unique and close to heart. Not only will this provide you with a nice keepsake, but it also offers an added bonus: knowing exactly who came to your housewarming party! Everyone loves receiving a thank you card, and your guests are no different—and luckily the attendee list will prevent you from forgetting anyone. What’s left now? Go enjoy your home! After lots of conversation at your party, you’ll most likely have all kinds of ideas of what additions to make, what spare rooms to remodel, or what decorations to add. Use this information to further enhance your new-home experience and finalize your dream home!

You’re now all set to show off your beautiful new home! What are your favorite tips for hosting a housewarming party? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook, or contact us for even more housewarming ideas!