There can be a lot of stress associated with a move. However, when the unpacking is finished, the best way for you to meet neighbors and make new friends is by throwing a housewarming party. Below are a few things you can do in preparation for the event.

Finish Your Improvements

It takes time to move into a home. Boxes need to be unpacked and items need to be given a place. Some rooms need a fresh coat of paint or new flooring. A housewarming party is an opportunity for people to see how you styled the home, not how the home was before you got there. To truly make your house feel like a home, be sure to finish any home improvements prior to the party. This will make the space feel more complete and easier to gather in during and after the party.

Send Out Invites

In preparation for the party, it is important to design and send out invitations. Invitations can be simple cards, evites, or given verbally. They do not need to Include extravagant envelopes and wax seals. On your invitation, be sure to include your new address, time of the event, style of party, and a phone number so they can contact you. Do not add a gift registry. Asking for gifts is impolite and rude. Because it is not a wedding or a baby shower, gifts are not to be expected. Many guests choose to bring you a gift and may ask you in advance if there is anything you need. A housewarming gift can receive a personalized thank you later on, but a gift registry is out of place in this situation.

When it comes to inviting guests, you certainly should invite family members and friends to see your new home. You should also consider reaching out to new neighbors. Even if you invite those directly next to and across the street from you, this will go a long way in showing them you want to be a part of the community and are looking forward to getting to know them better.

Decorate Your Home

Prior to hosting your party, you should finish decorating your home the way you want it. House decorations are a great way to add personality and style to your home to fill the space and reflect your personal style. The party should be about celebrating your new home, not the hundreds of balloons you purchased at the party store. If you want to add some extra party decorations, keep it simple. Well placed flowers, candles, and treat bowls can go a long way in adding depth and energy into your space for party guests.

Buy a New Outfit

A new house is an opportunity to become a new you. With that comes new outfits that can change how you feel about yourself. Choosing a new outfit for the occasion lets you embrace your new life and start it with the right foot forward. There are plenty of outfit choices you can choose from. Denim skirts fit any occasion , and they make a great choice for a stylish party. Ultimately you need to go for what fits the occasion and fits your personality. When you look good, you feel good!

Plan Food and Drink

A party isn’t a party without food. Hosting a party means planning some type of food you can serve. This doesn’t have to be an extravagant meal, although you might not want to host a party during mealtime if you are not going to serve a meal. Keeping it simple is entirely appropriate. Your food can include tiny desserts, small bites, or you can invite guests to make it a potluck. Typically, a food that people can serve themselves on their own timing is best because it lets you enjoy the party rather than be stuck in the kitchen.

Get Your Playlist Ready

Every good party needs music. With a housewarming party, you don’t necessarily want to be shaking the house with your sick beats (unless you want to). But ambient music in the background goes a long way in helping guests feel comfortable in the atmosphere you’ve created. Assembling your playlist can be as simple as finding some soft instrumental music to play in the background or playing your favorite songs. Just keep the volume low enough that guests can still talk and enjoy conversations with each other.

Be Prepared to Give Tours

One of the main reasons people come to your housewarming party is because they want to see your new home. Your house reflects who you are and what you have made of the space. Be prepared to give tours. If there are certain areas that have not been finished and will be dangerous to see, it is safe to point it out but leave it behind closed doors. However, the tour will be more impressive and let friends see part of your personality if you can show them the entire space. Don’t be shy! No one is judging how you assembled furniture, they just want to see the new space you’ll be living in.

Prepare Thank You Notes

The guests that come to your party have taken time out of their day to visit you and welcome you into your new home and neighborhood. It is a generous idea to hand out simple party favors to thank your guests for making you a priority. When it comes to guests bringing a housewarming gift, you may want to go the extra mile and send a thank you note following the party. This will help establish or maintain a friendship that will last for years.

When you move, there is a long list of to-dos to get the space livable for you and your family. It is perfectly acceptable to take your time unpacking and setting things up the way you want them to be. When you are ready, let yourself relax and enjoy your new home with a housewarming party.

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