Party Planning: Housewarming Party Tips

If you've recently moved into a new home and are eager to show it off, a housewarming party can be lots of fun. It's also a good way to meet neighbors if you're new to the area. The point of a housewarming party is to welcome friends, family and neighbors to your new space, so you can host the event as soon as you're comfortable. You don't have to have every last box unpacked and all the decorating done yet.

Housewarming Party Tips

1. Send Invitations: Housewarming parties aren't usually very formal affairs, so you might want to do it open house style, sending out invitations that suggest a loose timeframe for guests to stop by and visit.
2. Make Sure Your New Home is Easy to Find: Offer directions and a description of your new home so that friends and family can find you easily. You might also want to decorate the yard or mailbox so your home can easily be picked out as guests make their way down your street. Yard pinwheels and balloons are a great way to draw attention to your new home.
3. Offer a Tour: Your house is the main event, so don't be afraid to show it off. You can take guests on an informal guided tour of your home or you can welcome them to explore on their own so that you can welcome new guests as they arrive. 
4. Take Before & After Pictures: If you've done major remodeling or redecorating, place before and after photos in each room so that your guests can see the transformation.
5. Keep Food & Decorations to a Minimum: There's no need to get too extravagant at a housewarming party. A few decorations are fine, but it really is all about showing off the home. So don't feel like you need to go overboard. For food, we suggest simple appetizers and cookies or brownies that guests can snack on easily. (Hint: If you bake them yourself, your house will smell amazing for the housewarming party!)

How do you make your guests feel welcome at a housewarming party? Share your tips with us in the comments.