Housewarming 101: 10 Tips For Planning The Perfect Party In Your New Place

October 14th, 2011 by Crystal Beran| Posted in Apartment Guide, Apartment Interiors, Apartment Life 2.0, Apartment Living, Apartment Relationships, College Housing, Facebook, Off Campus Apartments, Parties and Events, Tenants & Management Relationships, Tips & Tricks | 2 Comments »

If you’ve just moved into a new apartment, throwing a housewarming party can be a great way to celebrate your move and get to know your neighbors. It also guarantees that your friends know how to find your new place! Follow these tips and you’re sure to have a great party!

1. Set a Date

Choose a date for your party that gives you enough time to get mostly settled into your new place. You don’t need to be totally unpacked but you also don’t want to be digging the necessities out of boxes. Throwing a party about a month after your move gives you time to settle in and time to tell your friends and neighbors about the party.

2. Invite your Guests

Your housewarming party will be a great success if you invite friends, family and neighbors. You’ll want friends and family around so that you’ll ensure that you have a good time. Inviting your neighbors is a great way to introduce yourself to the people you’ll be living near for the next year or more. Keep in mind that not all people can necessarily be invited the same way – using both Facebook and Evite will help you maximize attendance!

3. Set a Time

Many parties have a start time but no end time. While this may seem like a great way to make things more exciting, it can also make your guests lazy about when to arrive. If you give your party a three hour window, you’ll ensure that more people show up at the same time, maximizing the number of people at your party. You can always extend the end time to “whenever” or “?” if the party is going well.

4. Keep the Decorations Simple

Don’t worry about going all out for a house warming party. Nobody expects you to have it all together yet. Using some boxes as side tables can even be thought of as party décor. If you really want to spruce things up without spending a ton of time or money then consider fresh flowers, candles, or those Christmas lights that you came across while unpacking.

5. Keep the Food Simple

Serve bite-sized snacks that guests can munch on rather than a full buffet at a housewarming party. You’ve got enough stress after the move; you don’t need to worry about planning an intricate meal as well. You can also have guests bring snacks over. Trader Joe’s has excellent frozen appetizers that are relatively healthy and delicious, and would be one easy option that offers minimal cleanup.

6. Give a Tour

Your guests have come to your housewarming party to see your new place; be prepared to show it off! If it’s like most of our apartments and fairly small, just leave all the doors open so it invites exploration.

7. Introduce Your Guests to One Another

If your guests don’t all know each other, some ice-breaker games can be a great way to help introduce people to one another. Make sure you interact with all your guests at the party as well; don’t just hang out with your closest friends.

8. Keep the Drinks Full

Whether your guests are having water, soda or beer you’ll want to make sure they’re never without a drink for long. Have drinks in a central location that is easy to access so that you don’t need to worry about checking on your guests’ drinks.

9. Keep the Music Going

Have a good playlist or upbeat radio station picked out to play in the background. The music should be audible but not so loud that guests need to shout to be heard. Think ambiance, not dance club.

10. Thank Your Guests

When the party’s over, make sure that you say goodbye to all your guests personally and thank them for coming.

Have something to add to our list? We’d love to hear from you – here or on our Facebook page!