So, you’ve just moved into your new home and you want to throw your first soiree? A humble housewarming is the perfect way to show off your new pad to your friends and family.
Follow these tips to ensure your house looks its best and your guests remember the event for all the right reasons.
Make a Plan
Give yourself plenty of time to plan your party. Consider what kind of party you’d like to throw, including factors such as:
- Time of day
- Type of food and beverages served
- Activities/games
- Theme
- Budget.
Perhaps you’d like to have casual drinks and nibbles in the afternoon, or maybe you’re dreaming of throwing an elaborate 3-course dinner party. Whatever you’re into, the plan for your party should indicate how much notice your guests will need.
Write a Guest List and Send Invitations
Consider what friends, family and co-workers you’d like to come along. Be sure to factor in the size of your home when writing your guest list, as a couple of smaller parties may be more suitable than one large one.
Depending on the type of party you’re throwing, your invitations should be sent at least 2 weeks prior to the date. If you’re having a dress-up party, you should give your guests more time to organise costumes.
Your invitation should include:
- Date
- Start time
- End time (unless you’re keen to kick on)
- Theme
- Whether it’s BYO.
Don’t forget to request an RSVP so you can organise the right amount of food and drinks. And if your guests are a noisy bunch or are going to need to park their cars nearby, let your neighbours know ahead of time – especially if they’re the type who like making complaints.
Organise the Food and Beverages
Use all the prep time you can to organise the food and drinks for your party. If you’re planning to serve dinner, consider preparing as much as you can during the day, or even the day before. Ensure you have all the ingredients, plates, utensils, serving bowls, and other kitchenware you need to cater for your guests.
If you’d rather spend less time in the kitchen and more time mingling, consider choosing finger food like sausage rolls and pies. Everyone loves classic party food! And if you really don’t feel like cooking? Throw a good old-fashioned pizza party or opt for catering.
If you’re planning on serving alcohol, be sure to provide a few options. You can’t go wrong with a red wine, white wine, and a few types of beer/cider.
Prepare Your House
All these people are coming to judge see your new house, right? So you’ll want to have it looking its best.
Clean Your House
Get stuck into the cleaning a day or two before your housewarming. Wipe down the surfaces, vacuum and mop the floors, and get those mirrors and windows shining. Pay extra special attention to the shared spaces that will be most seen by your guests, like the dining and living rooms, and the bathroom.
Arrange Your Furniture
Take a look at your furniture placement. Does it encourage an open and welcoming atmosphere? Does everyone have a seat? Consider placing chairs in a circle or semi-circle to encourage inclusion. If you have too much furniture, hindering the use of your space, consider putting excess belongings into a self storage unit to make more space for your guests. They’ll need a dancefloor, after all.
Stock Up on Amenities
Make sure you have enough toilet paper, air freshener, hand soap and hand towels for your guests. These small steps will make your guests feel comfortable in your home.
Add the Final Touches
Flowers, scented candles, a killer playlist… these are all must-haves for a memorable housewarming, setting the party mood from the minute your guests enter your home.
Prepare for the Clean-Up
The morning after your party, the last thing you’re going to want to do is clean up the aftermath. Make sure you have enough bin bags and cleaning supplies beforehand – your future self will thank you.
Enjoy the Party
Sure, you’re the host. But you’re not the bartender or the waiter. You can make sure your guests are fed and happy without stressing and running around all night. Ask a couple of friends or family members to help serve food and drinks if you need to lighten the load and mingle with your guests.
Now get your home shipshape for your guests with our guide to spring cleaning. If you’re needing an extra hand storing your excess goods, consider a self-storage unit.
