The only thing better than moving into a new home is throwing a killer housewarming party. It’s the ultimate excuse to show off your new digs, and the ultimate excuse to spend time with your favorite friends and family. Do it right, and you’ll create lasting memories that will make your new apartment/loft/studio/house feel like a real home.
However, a good housewarming party requires some forethought. Here are the 7 most important things to know about planning an epic housewarming party:
Tip #1: Settle in first!
Unpacking, rearranging, decorating, and organizing your entire life into a new space takes time. Don’t skip this important step. It can be difficult to host a fun get-together when there are still boxes taking up floor space. Plus, any after-party cleanup will further delay the process of getting properly settled in. There’s no point in adding that extra stress to your life. A clean home is a happy home, so take the time to get your place in tip-top shape before the party.
Tip #2: Decide on party style.
Entertainment is a relative word. For some, a relaxed dinner party with wine-laced conversation is enough. Others might prefer beer pong, a Game of Thrones marathon night, fondu, poker, slip n’ slides, or simply a chill day of grilling out by the pool. The decision of party style will dictate all other aspects of party planning, from music and food choice to the guest list. So be sure to think about this early on and keep your new neighbors in mind.
Tip #3: Figure out how many people to invite.
How many people can your space hold? Probably more than you think. Count the number of seats around the dinner table, the living room chairs and couches, and (if you’re so lucky) the balcony space. You can add extra seating by setting a few throw pillows on the ground around the coffee table or squeezing a few small stools into the corners of the room. Try to keep the guest list smaller than the number of seats available because no one likes standing around awkwardly looking for a place to sit. Once you’ve established the number of party people, create a guest list and send out the invites! It doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple Facebook event will do but paper invitations are nice if you’re going for a more formal vibe, or would like to have something to pass out to your new neighbors.
Tip #4: Make a playlist.
Music is key to creating a party atmosphere. Whether you’re into Mozart or Metallica or Taylor Swift, the ambiance of background music leaves little room for awkward silence. Spend a few days putting together the ultimate playlist, and then show off your musical taste to all your party guests. For those with guitar skills, an acoustic jam space is a must. There’s nothing better than live music to make your party truly memorable. Or, for those less musically inclined, make part of RSVPing suggesting a song to add to a shareable playlist!
Tip #5: Party-proof your place.
You took all that care to bubblewrap that fancy vase when you moved, so let’s not break it now. Make sure all your valuable or breakable things are put away in a safe place. This will prevent any mood-killing accidents like breaking a priceless heirloom, and will eliminate the stress of worrying about important stuff going missing.
Tip #6: Prep
A little prep goes a long way. The more things you take care of beforehand, the more time you can spend being the life of the party. Marinate the meat, chop the veggies, and do a little cooking the night before. Have your serving dishes ready, the table set, the disposable cups out, and the decorations up. When you wake up in the morning, all you’ll need to do set the food and drinks out and you’ll be ready to party down.
Tip #7: Take LOTS of pictures!
Capture the moment. Share the moment. This is a new era in your life, and you’ll want to keep these memories for years to come. So take lots and lots of pictures and share them with all your friends and family. You worked hard to find this new home and show it off at the party – and it doesn’t have to stop there!
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