Housewarming parties are a great way to celebrate your big move and give your friends and family a chance to help you settle in, and there are various different ways to make your housewarming party pop!
In this article, we’ll look at housewarming party ideas to help you get your new life in your new home off to the perfect start.
Whether you would rather throw your housewarming party as soon as possible, or wait until you’ve had chance to settle in a bit first, we’ll guide you through the process of getting the place ready and making sure everyone has a great time.
The just-moved-in housewarming party
So you’ve got the keys to your new house and you’ve sorted out some of the furniture and boxes. The place still needs a bit of work, but you don’t want to have to go through all that before toasting the fantastic feeling of having pulled off a successful house move! If this is the case, there’s no reason not to get the party started!
In fact, house parties can work better before you’ve had the chance to clean and arrange everything to perfection. There might be less clutter and more space for your guests to move around, and you perhaps won’t be so worried about spills if you haven’t had chance to decorate yet.
If your main living spaces have yet to be properly furnished, you can place a few sturdy stools, crates or boxes around the room for people to sit on, and you’ll be amazed how far a bit of bunting goes in creating a party vibe – you can buy it cheaply and write your own ‘happy housewarming’ message on it to set the mood!
It’s easy to succumb to the thought that people will be judging your new house and everything in it, but by throwing your housewarming party before you’ve started putting everything in its place you can bypass those worries. And you might be surprised by how happy people are if you give them a drink, a slice of pizza, and an empty beer crate to sit on while you crank up some celebratory tunes!
The carefully planned housewarming party
If the idea of letting people into your new home before you’ve had chance to organise it fills you with dread, then you might want to spend a bit more time planning your housewarming party.
You can start by setting a date that gives you ample time to prepare, and by sending out housewarming party invitations that give people plenty of notice. Make sure you include your new address, along with directions if you think they’d be useful!
The next step might be to plan the food and drink you’re going to serve, and whether there are guests who you might ask for help on that front. For example, if you’re inviting that one friend who makes a spectacular chocolate parfait, see if they’ll bring one along to add to your dessert selection!
Take some time to think about the spaces in your new home that you are happy for party guests to spend time in. People will be curious to have a tour of your new house, but if you’ve just decorated then you might want to protect certain areas and surfaces!
A housewarming party might be a great way to get to know your new neighbours too. So why not pop around to invite them to the celebrations, or at least let them know that the party is taking place!
Housewarming party ideas
Next, we’ve pulled together a list of housewarming party ideas, featuring options ideal for various homes, preferences, and budgets!
A cosy, simple dinner
Send out a housewarming party invitation telling your nearest and dearest to arrive at 7pm on the dot for an evening of yummy food, delicious drinks, and great vibes all round.
For this option, you’ll need to pop to the shops to stock up on all the dinner party essentials. We’re thinking starters, a tasty main, your favourite dessert, and a few bottles of bubbly.
Then once you’re home, set the table and light some taper candles ahead of what’s going to be a truly cosy evening. Once your guests arrive, give them the obligatory house tour, then sit down for a night of food, stories, and laughter.
BBQ celebration
Next up, we have the idea of throwing a classic BBQ celebration in your lovely new garden. Just imagine cooking up some yummy food and basking in the sun with your nearest and dearest, what’s not to love?
This idea is a simple one, but it’ll allow you to say a huge cheers to your new and exciting chapter! We’ve got a guide filled with top tips on how to throw the best summer BBQ, including advice on music, drinks, and, of course, all the BBQ essentials.
Fancy dress party
When it comes to housewarming party ideas, there’s nothing quite like a fancy dress party with your mates. You could settle on a theme such as the 80s or a beach party, or perhaps just tell your guests to come in whatever fancy dress they wish! (We’re sure there’ll be some interesting choices…).
Then stock up on plenty of food and drinks, press play on your go-to playlist, and dance the night away in your new home. After all, there’s no better way to fill a house with warmth than with laughter, so dress to the nines for a truly iconic night.
Cocktail making
Our fourth and final idea is to host a cocktail making evening! You’ll need to head out and stock up on cocktail shakers, mixing spoons, ice cubes, fruit juice, and, of course, your alcohol of choice. Then whip out your fanciest glasses and set up your cocktail station.
We’ve got a guide filled with botanical cocktail ideas for you to try, plus we have easy mocktail recipes too.
After drinking a couple of your wonderful creations, you might find yourself in the mood for some housewarming party games! If so, here are a few suggestions:
- A scavenger hunt: perfect for showing off your new home, simply create a list of items with corresponding clues for your guests to find.
- New home bingo: create your very own housewarming bingo game. The first person to shout bingo wins a prize of your choosing!
- Classic party games: if you’re feeling nostalgic, why not whip out some classic party games like twister? Or maybe a housewarming themed game of charades?
Housewarming cards and gifts
Your friends and family will be keen to bring you housewarming gifts that will be useful to you as you start life in a new place, and you can set up a gift list on various different websites that your party guests can visit.
If you’re heading to a housewarming party rather than throwing one, you can peruse thortful’s collection of new home cards to find a range of designs to suit every taste. Here’s just a quick glimpse at what you can find:
We’ve even got some guidance on what to write in a new home card, with suggestions for funny, caring, witty, and sweet messages that will hit the right note with the recipient. And for more party ideas and creative DIYs, head to the thortful blog.
