Here’s An Expert’s Advice On How To Throw A Housewarming Party

You’re done: the search for your new home, the time commitment, the uncertainty. You made this happen, and you’re all (or mostly) moved in. Congratulations! Now it’s time to celebrate your major accomplishment with some good company at your very own housewarming.

Before you go any further, you may be asking yourself, why should I throw a housewarming party at all? Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, said housewarmings are a time for people to show you their love and support.

“If you are hosting your own housewarming party, you are inviting your family and friends to celebrate a new journey,” Gottsman said.

There are many ways to throw a housewarming party, and putting one together may feel like a lot to ask after the emotional rollercoaster that is buying a house. But with the right preparation, you can set yourself up for a smooth and enjoyable experience, so you can relish the atmosphere you've created. Read on for Gottsman’s tips for preparing and hosting your ideal housewarming.

When is the best time for a housewarming party?

The right answer for you depends on what you want and what your personal schedule looks like. You can have your party shortly after moving in, or months down the road. You can even wait a year or longer, but at that point your home has been “warmed,” so it wouldn’t necessarily count as a housewarming.

You are putting this event together to introduce and celebrate your new space. You may feel pressure to have everything perfect and in place, but it could take awhile before your home looks the way you really want it to. If your guests are there for you, they shouldn’t mind seeing some cans of paint and half-filled moving boxes.

Maybe you’ll have some projects going on by the time your housewarming happens. That’s usually fine; just be sure there’s a functioning bathroom and your house has climate control.

You can also wait until all of your most pressing tasks are done, and host a party after you finish one project and before you start another. Or you could make one of your tasks, like painting a room, part of the fun by inviting people to wear their best overalls and help out. But make sure to ask your guests if they’d be into it first. Some people may want to sit and relax with you instead of doing housework.)

Who should I invite, and how?

“You invite those who you are close to, such as family members, friends, neighbors from your old neighborhood or condo,” Gottsman said.

If any friends or family helped you during the process of buying your new place or settling in, inviting them to bask in your new-home-glow with you is the polite thing to do. 

Want to get off on the right foot with your new neighbors? You can invite them over too, if there’s enough room. And don’t worry, your real estate agent won’t be hurt if they don’t receive an invite.

The amount of guests you have over can be heavily influenced by how large your home is. If you have an apartment or a house that’s on the smaller side, having dozens of people over might feel too cramped. You also want to be sure you’re not inviting so many people that buying food and drinks (or at least snacks) will break the bank.

Speaking of invitations, you could simply text or call each of your guests with the details. You could also make RSVPs easier to track by sending an evite, or be extra formal and send invites in the mail. Remember to include your new address and your party’s start and end time (if you want to put a cap on how long the festivities will last). 

How much food should I provide?

That depends: how many people are you inviting, and how long do you think they’ll stay over? Gottsman also said to consider how formal your party will be.

“If you want to serve food, or have a barbecue, by all means go right ahead,” she said. “If you just want to have appetizers, don’t host a party around meal time because people will assume you’re going to feed them.”

Let guests know whether there will be food and drinks, and whether it’s a potluck or BYOB. Gottsman said if you do plan on providing something to eat, you’ll want to get an idea of what you can serve.

“Ask your guests at the time of the invitation if they have any special food restrictions so you aren’t caught off guard at the last minute,” she said. 

Should I expect gifts?

You should expect gifts, but do not require them. You should wait for your guests to ask you whether they should bring something. When they do, which several probably will, give some guidance by letting them know what you might still need at home, or how they can contribute something simple to the food and drinks.

“Registries should be reserved for weddings and baby showers,” Gottsman said.

5 tips to ensure a smooth housewarming party  

Find your essentials

Gottsman’s biggest piece of advice for how to throw a housewarming party: prep beforehand, so you can enjoy the festivities. Since you may still be unpacking and deciding what goes where, some things may not be in the most convenient places just yet.

“Locate all of your essentials for the party such as platters, can opener, electric knife, etcetera, so you don’t have to tear a cabinet or drawer apart looking for it when you need it,” Gottsman said. “An organized drawer makes the party preparations run smoother.”

This organizing also goes for supplying your bathrooms. Maybe there was enough toilet paper left on the roll for you, but is there enough for others?

“Nothing is more inconvenient to a guest than searching for a hand towel or toilet paper roll,” Gottsman said. “You may think you have plenty of each, but make sure and leave a few extra of each in a cabinet below or side drawer.”

Make your pets comfortable

Moving puts stress on everybody, and the family pet is no exception. Having a bunch of people over (maybe strangers to them) could stress them out even more. If you have any furry friends in your home, there are preparations to be made there as well. Gottsman advises against tossing your pet in a dark room by themselves.

“Make sure and put their favorite toys, a blanket and their bed in a comforting environment where they feel safe,” she said. “Leave a small light on and play some soothing music. Turn on the television if your pet feels comfortable with light noise. Check on them from time to time to make sure they are OK.”

Consider seating and space

If you’re expecting more people over than you would on a regular basis, you may not have enough seating. It’s totally fine to pull out some extra camping chairs, chairs from other rooms, and even ask your guests to bring their own seating, especially if you’ll be outside.

If your home has a gorgeous backyard patio and you want to show it off, Gottsman advises you prepare the area and your invitees.

“​​If you want them to spend time outside, make sure and have plenty of shaded areas, fans, bug spray, and sunscreen available and let your guests know how to dress for the occasion,” she said.

Don’t sweat the tidiness

Yes, you want to ensure your boxes and random tools aren’t getting in anyone’s way, but you don’t need to hide the fact that you’re not totally settled in. It’s a housewarming party; people should understand that your home may still be a work in progress. 

Keep in mind that you’ll likely be giving a house tour or two, so shoving all your boxes into one room may not be the best way to clean up in this instance, or maybe it is, so you can just say “here’s the stuff we’re still unpacking,” when you get to it. 

Either way, most people won’t expect your place to be spotless if you’ve recently moved in. There are other things to focus on, anyway.

Enhance your space

You shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to dress up your home with decor, especially if you’re still dealing with unpacking and designing your space. But if you do want to add some special touches without breaking the bank, Gottsman has some suggestions.

“Lights, flowers, balloons, place cards, a guest book, table decorations that aren’t too high for guests to see over, are all good starting points,” she said, adding that a ‘welcome’ sign on or near your front door can also be a nice (and easy) add.

You may also want to set out an empty vase in case you receive any flowers from your guests — a fairly common housewarming gift — to avoid running around the house looking for a good receptacle.

“The best way to bring flowers as a hostess gift is to bring them in a vase or have them delivered in advance,” Gottsman said. “Not everyone, however, has gotten the memo so it’s important to have a vase (or two) ready for the unexpected bouquet of flowers.”

Remember to have fun!

The whole reason you’re doing this is to celebrate the fact that you’ve secured a new place to live. This shouldn’t be a stressful task (you’ve had enough of those). Sure, you’ll be playing host, but if you’ve prepped well enough, you should be set up for success and will hopefully have lots of time to‌ enjoy what you’ve put together.