Fun, social, and inviting are all equal parts to a housewarming party. When you want to gather your close friends and new neighbors together while showing off your new home, you can throw a big housewarming party and invite the entire block over for some finger foods, games, and fun. This welcoming act is an act of a good neighbor.
Full Answer
How to throw a memorable housewarming party?
Tips for Throwing a Memorable Housewarming Party
- Set up the Home. Before even thinking of hosting a housewarming party, the happy new homeowners need to settle in. ...
- Send Invitations. This is another step that may seem obvious, but it can set the tone for the whole shindig. ...
- Pick a Theme and Stick to It. ...
- Build a Menu. ...
- Arrange the Furniture Well. ...
- Plan a Few Games. ...
- Thank Everyone. ...
What to bring to a housewarming?
What To Bring to a Housewarming Party
- Wine and a Corkscrew. Wine is one of the most common housewarming gifts. ...
- A Houseplant. Houseplant gifts aren’t just pretty. ...
- Tools. It’s hard to beat a gift that your housewarming party host can actually use. ...
- Scented Candles. Who doesn’t love a scented candle? ...
- A Personalized Present. ...
- Board Games. ...
- It’s Time To Warm That New House. ...
What are some good house warming gifts?
Traditional Gifts For New Homeowners
- Bread. Bread is a common traditional housewarming gift. ...
- Olive Oil. Olive oil blesses the new home and family with the meaning of “May you be blessed with health and well-being.”
- Honey. ...
- Houseplant. ...
- Knife. ...
- Rice. ...
- Housewarming Wine. ...
- Wood. ...
- Traditional Salt Housewarming. ...
- Coin. ...
What is appropriate housewarming party etiquette?
Tours
- Remember you're the host of your party. ...
- You can allow guests to give self-guided tours. ...
- If you've made extensive renovations to your home, post a "before" picture outside each room. ...
- This is one occasion where, if cleaning is one of your priorities, you should clean all of your rooms. ...
What do you do during a housewarming party?
Discover 11 tips for hosting a memorable housewarming party.Plan for the Party. ... Provide Enough Seating. ... Light Some Scented Candles. ... Send Out Unique Invitations. ... Serve a Variety of Finger Foods and Drinks. ... Play Soothing Background Music. ... Move Items to Create Open Space in Rooms. ... Put Your Dogs Outside During the Party.More items...•
What is proper etiquette for a housewarming party?
Bring a gift. It doesn't have to be something expensive, but it is always good housewarming party etiquette to make sure that you don't show up empty handed. ... Don't show up early. ... Always greet the host. ... Compliment the home. ... Ask before bringing kids or pets. ... Don't get too wild. ... Don't give yourself your own tour.
How long should a housewarming party be?
Ideally, the published length of your party should be no more than three hours. Here's why: The best part of the party is always when you achieve critical mass — that point where 90% of the people you invited are actually there at the same time, the room is buzzing and people are having fun.
How do you throw a housewarming?
How to Throw a Housewarming PartyGet settled in your new home. ... Send your invites early. ... Keep decorations simple. ... Create a casual menu. ... Give tours of your home. ... Consider a few games. ... Don't expect gifts.
What kind of food do you serve at a housewarming party?
These finger foods are ideal for a housewarming party, and they'll work as well for a morning brunch party as they would for an evening get-together....Finger foods for a housewarming partySpinach balls. ... Deviled eggs. ... Spring rolls and egg rolls. ... Fruit skewers. ... Shrimp canape. ... Italian skewers.
Do you throw your own house warming party?
Not necessarily. For instance, you can and should host your own housewarming party for friends and family. The purpose should be to welcome friends and family to your new home, with the idea being that you plan to extend hospitality to friends and family not just at your housewarming party, but in the years to come.
What time should housewarming party start?
Make it an open house with a clear start and end time, like 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Calling it an “open house” signals to people that they can arrive at any point within that time frame, but it also ensures you don't have guests staying later than you want.
Do people give gifts at housewarming party?
The traditional timeframe for giving a housewarming gift is within the first three to six months of move-in, says Meier. "If you go to a housewarming party, always bring a gift," she says.
How much money do you give for house warming?
According to Shadow Breeze, almost 50% of all housewarming gifts purchased in 2020 have been in the $25 to $49 range. 22% of people spent between $50 and $99, 20% spent less than $25 and 12% spend more than $100. While great housewarming gifts come in all price ranges, you should plan to spend between $20 and $50.
What do you give for a housewarming party gift?
You can make your new house gifts to your host memorable with these gifts that show your effort to give something unique and useful.Family name and address placard.A cutlery set.An elegant dinner set.A personalised mug and a coaster set.A set of scented candles.Table linen set.
Are you supposed to bring a gift to a housewarming party?
Do I Need to Give a Housewarming Gift? If you have been invited to a housewarming party, it is customary to bring a housewarming gift. Even if the new homeowner tells you in person or on the invitation that you don't need to bring a gift, you should still not arrive empty handed.
How much is appropriate for a housewarming gift?
Though the cost of the gift should depend on your budget, the average is usually $25 to $50, says Meier.
What is the traditional housewarming gift?
Bread is a common traditional housewarming gift. The gift of a loaf of bread is traditionally given with the blessing of “May your house never know hunger.” Personalize this gift idea even further by wrapping it in a custom tea towel.
What do you give for a housewarming party gift?
You can make your new house gifts to your host memorable with these gifts that show your effort to give something unique and useful.Family name and address placard.A cutlery set.An elegant dinner set.A personalised mug and a coaster set.A set of scented candles.Table linen set.
What is a housewarming party?
A housewarming is a perfect opportunity to show off your new, or newly renovated, home to the most important people in your lives.
What to do when you move into a new home?
Tours. Tours of your new home are the main attraction, make sure you have your space ready for showing. Remember you're the host of your party. Don't forget to answer the door, welcoming your guests, and making them comfortable in your new home. You can allow guests to give self-guided tours.
What to post when renovating a house?
If you've made extensive renovations to your home, post a "before" picture outside each room. You could also post pictures taken of the rooms while under construction. People love to see the magical transformation.
Do you need special decorations for a party?
Special party decorations are unnecessary. You don't want to detract from the features of your new home. A few cheery floral arrangements will be more than enough to gild the lily.
Who is Donna Pilato?
Donna Pilato is an experienced entertaining expert and freelance writer who has covered entertaining for nearly 20 years. Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting and sometimes overwhelming life events we encounter. After completing your big move you know it's time to break out the bubbly and celebrate.
Can you give a self guided tour of your home?
You can allow guests to give self-guided tours. In that case, you might want to give your guests a floor plan of your home. Label each room with its name, purpose and any interesting details you'd like to show off. If you've made extensive renovations to your home, post a "before" picture outside each room.
Do you have to wait until your house is unpacked to host a party?
In the case that you're hosting your party, no need to wait until your home is in perfect shape or until everything is unpacked. Your friends and family will understand that it takes time to get settled, they just want to help you transition into this next important part of your life.
Should You Choose a Theme?
First things first, you might want to come up with a theme for your housewarming party. A theme is not a requirement for a good party (obviously), but we have found that lots of new homeowners like to spice up their housewarming parties with a theme. Oftentimes a theme can provide conversation fodder, music ideas, and food ideas that will make the rest of your planning easier. Your call.
How many people should be on a housewarming party list?
In regards to who you should include on your guest list, we recommend sticking to your street. Sometimes you can live in a neighborhood with 100+ neighbors, which is obviously way too many guests. Keep your guest list under 25— you can always throw housewarming party round two.
How long should you give a housewarming invite?
The next piece of housewarming etiquette we wanted to cover was the invitation and the guest list. We recommend always giving your invites a 2-3 week heads up so they can plan in advance.
What to do if you throw a housewarming party where the food isn't dictated by the?
If you decide to throw a housewarming party where the food isn’t dictated by the theme, you’ll have to come up with a menu.
Why do you throw a housewarming party?
Throwing a housewarming party can be a sign of respect to your neighbors. It shows them that you are taking time out of your life to get to know them. Relax and remember to have fun.
Why do ghosts move into houses?
Therefore, it was only natural to drive out those ghosts when someone moved into a new home by throwing a housewarming party.
What does it feel like to walk into a restaurant with no music?
Have you ever walked into a restaurant where there is absolutely no music playing and everyone is talking quietly? It lacks energy. It feels dead. Maybe even a little creepy. Those are not words you want describing your housewarming party.
What is an invite to neighbors?
More immediately, an invite is a tactful way to let the neighbors know about any hubbub that day. You might phrase that like so: “Even if you can’t make it, we just want to give you a heads-up that we’ll have some traffic on the street from noon to four.”
What is a housewarming party?
A housewarming party is a bit like an open house, except you know the guests. Georgie Smigel, a real estate agent with 30 years of experience who serves Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its northern suburbs, recalled attended a clients’ housewarming, as well as a house blessing.
How long should a housewarming party last?
Housewarming parties traditionally are “drop-in parties,” Post says, so your guest list can be shorter, as can your time frame — think two to four hours on a weekend afternoon or evening for guests to pop by and wish you well.
Why do you invite people to your house?
First, an invite is a nice way to say that this is a community where you’re happy to be. It also helps short-circuit any troubles down the line. “Anytime you can reach out to neighbors, it can go a long way toward addressing any problems you might have to address in the future. If you’ve been inclusive, it makes it easier to address any other topics you might have to broach,” Lizzie Post says.
Where did housewarming parties start?
Housewarming parties have a long tradition. Some say they started in medieval France, with a custom called “ pendaison de crémaillère ,” or “hanging of the chimney hook.” A chimney hook holds pots or kettles over a fire, so as a thank-you to everyone who helped build their house, new homeowners would invite them to dinner.
What is a basic invite?
A basic invite keeps the message short but sweet, with options that work for close friends, acquaintances, and neighbors, such as:
How to cue guests to give themselves a tour?
You also can cue guests to give themselves a tour by saying, “Please feel free to explore the house,” or something like, “I’ve closed doors to rooms that aren’t set up yet.”
Is it rude to ask for housewarming gifts?
The short answer: Yes, asking for gifts for your new home is considered impolite. (Even though you just shelled out a boatload of money on the house and would love to have a little help filling it with the essentials!)
Can you throw a housewarming party in good faith?
You can throw yourself a housewarming party in good faith, but this isn’t the time to hope for—or hint at—gifts you need to finish getting the place in order, says Elaine Swann, a Los Angeles–based etiquette expert, who urges new homeowners to focus on good times with good friends—not getting the goods.
Is it okay to throw a housewarming party?
The etiquette experts I chatted up fired back with a (mostly) resounding, “Relax! It’s fine.” In fact, throwing yourself a housewarming party—that is, inviting friends, neighbors, and family over to check out your place—isn’t just acceptable; it’s expected, the experts tell me.
Can a housewarming be a toast?
If not handled carefully, she acknowledges, a self-hosted housewarming can come off as “drinking a toast to oneself” —and not in a charming way.
Who is Rachel Wagner?
Still feel a little weird about navigating the whole gift-receiving/hosting thing? Rachel Wagner, an etiquette consultant in Bixby, OK, suggests enlisting a close friend to help with logistics and greeting guests at the door.
Should you put a link to a gift registry on an invitation?
That means you definitely shouldn’t throw a link to your painstakingly curated gift registry on the invitation. And even if guests insist on some ideas of what to bring, Swann urges hosts to maintain that no-gifts-please stance to sidestep any mixed messages about the intent of the party.
Who is Heather Donahoe?
Heather Donahoe is a reporter, editor, and cookbook author in Nashville, TN.
How to Prepare to Host Your Housewarming Party
The first thing that you must do before you start to consider hosting a housewarming party is to take time to settle in your new place. Take your time to get fully moved into your new apartment or house. You can make sure that everything is set up, including how you want your furniture and decorations to be in all your rooms.
How to Host Your Housewarming Party on the Big Day
The fourteenth way to start your housewarming party is the day before or the day of to start to clean and tidy up your space for your guests. If you live in a bigger apartment or house, you will have to spend more time planning to clean to prepare for your guests. One basic way to clean is to vacuum clean the living and central areas.
After Your Housewarming Party
The twenty-third way is to clean up after your housewarming party. Hopefully, you thought that your housewarming party went well, and you felt that you did well as a host. You can spend time cleaning up any paper plates, glasses, or anything that your guests may have accidentally left behind.
Why is it important to have a party at your apartment?
A party is a perfect way to get to know your apartment community. But it also lays a foundation for house warming success. After all, how can neighbors complain about the noise if they’re having a blast at your party?
How to make a house warming game?
Plan a house warming game without making people groan at your activity of choice. Put together a list of interesting trivia about your neighborhood. People can play for a door prize. That’ll serve as an ice-breaker. Choose unique and funny bits of information to keep your guests engaged.
What to look for in a grocery store for a house warming party?
You can also look for specialty cheeses, nuts, and mini pizzas. If cooking just isn’t your thing, ask a local deli to cater to your house warming party for you. 6.
How to make your apartment feel more energy?
Set a playlist and create soothing, ambient lighting. You can also open up all the windows during the afternoon . That’ll get the energy flowing in your small apartment.
What to do when you run out of toilet paper?
There’s nothing worse than realizing you just ran out of basics like toilet paper and paper plates at your apartment-warming party. Head to a discount retailer and stock up on paper plates, cups, and utensils. Keep a few extra emergency snacks on hand.
Can you add a margarita to a party?
You can also add one or two crowd-pleasing mixed drinks like margaritas or martinis. Consider hiring someone to play bartender and server. They can help out for a few hours.
Do you need to set an end time for an apartment warming?
That’s all the more reason you need to set an end time. You won’t want everyone to be lingering endlessly around your apartment all evening.
Should you register for housewarming gifts, like you would for a baby shower or bridal shower?
Housewarming party etiquette experts say this is ok, but many agree that it’s a bit – er – tacky . A good rule of thumb might be that you don’t ever invite people to a party and then tell them, by including registry information, for instance, that they’re expected to bring you a gift.
What is the purpose of a housewarming party?
The purpose should be to welcome friends and family to your new home, with the idea being that you plan to extend hospitality to friends and family not just at your housewarming party, but in the years to come. It says that your home is a place where friends and family are, and will be, welcome.
How to serve guests at a bar?
To serve guests, consider setting up a hospitality station with a food buffet and separate bar area for drinks. To lessen the chance for spills, consider hiring or appointing a bartender for your event to supervise pours and prevent any over-serving of alcohol.
Can you give a 2 buck chuck as a housewarming gift?
And please note that 2 buck chuck is not appropriate as a housewarming gift. A housewarming present of wine or champagne should be of a vintage good enough for a celebration.
Can you regift a gift card to a restaurant?
Gift cards or gift certificates to restaurants you’re fairly certain that your hosts will enjoy. If you don’t know whether they would enjoy a certain restaurant, don’t regift a card you already have just to avoid buying a gift. As with any gift, you should give something that the recipient will want and appreciate.
Do you have to include registry information in invitations?
So if you do decide to register for gifts prior to your housewarming party , don’t include registry information in invitations.
Is it bad to throw a baby shower?
For instance, in the case of baby and bridal showers, it’s technically considered bad manners to throw a party for oneself, or even for an immediately family member (although it is often done anyway). Baby and bridal shower etiquette says that someone outside of these parameters should host the shower.
What is the point of a housewarming party?
The whole point of a housewarming party is you’re celebrating being in a new place. If you’ve been in that new place for a year or longer, it’s no longer new. In that instance, just have a party!
Do you have to be unpacked before a housewarming party?
Have your housewarming party before you’re really ready. There’s no law that says you have to be completely unpacked and organized before hosting a party, but you will want to be settled in enough that you know where all the essentials – things like drinks glasses and snack plates – are!
Is moving house a major undertaking?
Even if you have the best moving company in New York City, moving house is still a major undertaking. It’s easy to underestimate how much time you’ll need to feel like yourself again. It’s a good idea to put some downtime into your schedule before committing to holding a party.
