The 10 Rules of Throwing a Housewarming Party

Follow these 10 simple rules to organize and host the perfect housewarming party for your friends and family.

Give yourself enough time to unpack and set your new home up before sending out invitations.

Depending on how formal or casual you want your housewarming to be, send out invitations (paper or digital are both great options) a week to two before the party.

You will obviously invite your friends and family, but consider inviting your neighbors to stop by as well. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors and break the ice.

Keep your decorations simple. After all, your guests will be there to “ooh” and “ahh” at your new home, and decorations are just a plus.

Get creative here. Turn your party into a barbeque or dessert bar—or go with a classic snack sampler. Tailor your party’s food to fit your budget and taste buds.

Be considerate of your guests’ drinking needs. If you have guests who don’t drink alcohol, be sure to have non-alcoholic options available besides water.

Don’t, under any circumstances, ask friends to bring gifts to your housewarming party. Graciously accept gifts, but never expect them.

A housewarming is the time to show off your new home, so be prepared to take friends on tours throughout the evening. Your friends don’t expect everything to be perfect, but prepping your home for a tour is recommended.

Remind your guests of where they can park a day or two before the party. Also include directions to your new home over text message for easy GPS input.

You can hand out party favors to thank your friends for attending, but if any of your guests bring a housewarming gift, then go the extra mile and send out a thoughtful thank you note after the party.