Throwing a Great Housewarming Party

Moving into a new home is certainly an exciting time! A fresh start, a new layout, an opportunity for finally getting organized once and for all. Once you’ve moved and have finished (or at least made a significant dent in) unpacking the boxes…and boxes…and more boxes… you might feel like you’re presentable for some guests. In fact, your friends and family are probably as anxious to see your new digs as you are to show the house off.

Welcome door mat
Welcome door mat

To help you out with some great housewarming party hosting ideas, we’ve created a guide to help you throw the ultimate housewarming party. These are applicable for your own housewarming party, or you could modify them a bit if you’re looking to throw a housewarming party for someone else. So get ready to throw open those doors, celebrate, and enjoy that new home!

Welcome door mat
Welcome door mat

Open House Format.

Welcome door mat

You’ll first want to determine whether your party will be a sit-down affair or open house. An open house format housewarming party is best for when the guest list is larger than the available number of seats. Encourage people to come and stay for as long, or as short, as they’d like and enjoy great company at your new home.

Paint Chip Housewarming Party Invitations.

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This is a cute and new-home-appropriate way to spread the word about your housewarming party. Paint chip invitations are a fast and easy DIY as well, the perfect thing for the busy new move-in.{found on handmakemyday}.

Give Your Home a Thorough Cleaning.

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You know that you love your house, but you’ll want to give your guests a chance to fall in love at first sight as well. Get busy during the days approaching your housewarming party by sprucing up your space.

Open-Door Policy.

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Assuming your guest list includes close friends and family (translation: people you generally like), prop the front door open to foster an aura of casual mingling. This helps people to come on in and truly make themselves at home.

House Tours.

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Let’s face it: as much as your guests enjoy seeing you, probably the primary reason they’re at your housewarming party is to see what you’ve done with the place! Be generous in offering and providing house tours to any interested guest as the party continues.

Sunshine-Dyed Napkins.

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These one-of-a-kind napkins have the free-flowing beauty of tie-dye with gorgeous natural silhouettes. Use ink-o-dye on linen napkins for this surprisingly fast and easy DIY project. They’ll make your housewarming party feel as uniquely special as your home itself.{found on campmakery}.

Showcase the Menu.

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If your food is in cute containers or if it might be otherwise less obvious to identify, creating a menu card is a good idea to help your guests snack deliciously.

DIY Paint Chip Utensil Holders.

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With a new house inevitably comes new paint. Give the painting process a nod – or a seat of honor – by using paint chips as part of your housewarming party décor. Quickly sew up some swatches to hold napkins and utensils for your guests. Cute and easy.

Paint Chip Garland.

Welcome door mat

Speaking of paint chips (last one, we promise)… Throw some up on the railing, fireplace, or even a wall by the food for instant festivity. Again, the paint chip theme is a great one for housewarming parties – inexpensive, custom colored, and appropriately thematic.{found on thesquirrelnextdoor}.

Outdoor Fence Garland.

Welcome door mat

The truth is, garlands (no matter what they’re made of) provide instant festivity to any space. They’re fast and easy to make, and they can be put up and taken down and reused over and over and over. The perfect housewarming party décor, inside or out.

Post-It Note Guest Wall.

Welcome door mat

Rather than going the formal guestbook route, throw some post-it notes on a wall with a note to guests to sign one. This is a great modern interpretation and a fun way to gather guests’ well-wishes.{found on cocokelley}.

Creative Guest Thumbprints.

Welcome door mat

Sketch or attach a photo of your new house on a large piece of thick white paper. Have ink pads available for guests to add a thumbprint “balloon” to the house. This will be a keepsake to treasure for years to come.

Finger Foods Reign Supreme.

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Unless your housewarming party is of the sit-down dinner variety, finger foods are the ultimate party food. Fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and bread/crackers, and some cold cuts or sushi wraps are fantastic ideas.{found on designimprovised}.

Create a Space for Housewarming Gifts.

Welcome door mat

Although they may not be required or expected, housewarming gifts are a traditional part of coming to a housewarming party, and some of your guests will probably show up with something. Have a place ready to receive these, whether it be a special space on the kitchen counter, a side table in the living room, a corner on the patio, or the console in the entryway.

Stock the Bathroom.

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Although it’s a new home, you want to make sure the bathroom is sufficiently prepped and stocked – the last thing your guests need is an encounter with an empty toilet paper roll. Fresh towels, TP, soap, and a clean mirror will go a long way in meeting your guests’ needs.

Arrange Furniture for Easy Flow.

Welcome door mat

It may not be the ideal layout for your space, or the one you prefer, but for the duration of your housewarming party, it’s a good idea to keep the furniture layout fairly open. Make sure walkways are sufficiently wide for comfortable passing through or even brief gathering. Your guests will appreciate, even if just subconsciously, the extra breathing room.

Mason Jar Flower Vases.

Welcome door mat

Before you tote your mason jars down to the storage room, put them to use as décor for your housewarming party. Tied securely to sticks and filled with fresh flowers, they make a welcoming and colorful walkway. Or simply filled with flowers and placed throughout the house, they are just as cheery.

Simple Drinking Cups.

Welcome door mat

While disposable cups are certainly acceptable (encouraged?) party-ware, some people may feel the need to treat their guests to something a little more substantial. Mason jars are a simple and casual idea for drinking cups at your housewarming party, and striped straws create a charming look.

Hot & Cold Foods.

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If you provide a mix of hot and cold foods, you’re more likely to have something available for everyone, and a colorful spread to boot! Speaking of color…we’d recommend keeping liquids to the clear variety. Nothing worse than “christening” a new home with some red punch stains.

DIY Flamingo Straws.

Welcome door mat

For something simple and a little out of the ordinary, these easy to make flamingo straws will delight guests of all ages…and brighten up beverages of all types. A great way to add color and fun. (Full tutorial available.)

Hang Paper Lanterns Outside.

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Weather permitting, you may want to encourage guests to continue the festivities outside after the house tours have ended. Do this by decorating the outdoors, which will invite guests to wander outside and, hopefully, stay awhile!

Give out Party Favors as Guests Leave.

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These simple twine-wrapped brown bags look a bit like moving boxes and are a thoughtful, fun party bag for guests of any age. Filled with candy, they’re a sweet way to say “thank you” for your guests’ support.

Welcome door mat

Above all, enjoy this time with your loved ones. A new home is an exciting thing, but true joy comes from the people in your life.