All across the Australian states, annual home sales have grown significantly in comparison to the previous year, no state or territory is an exception. Still, moving home is generally stressful and costly so everyone’s looking forward to having some fun and downtime – what better than a housewarming party?
Once you’ve made the move to your new place and unpacked the last box, it’s time to call all your impatient friends for a housewarming party! It’s a great thought – friends, drinks, food and laughter, but for some people, this might be the problem – how to throw a great housewarming party?
There are certain elements that make a fabulous party, so here are the tips to help you get organised.
Have a plan
Do think things through and have a plan – give yourself at least 3 to 4 weeks to settle into your new home and then start making a plan to invite everyone over. Don’t rush things or feel pressured it has to happen immediately. Good parties take a bit of time in making so you can take care of all preparations stress-free. Make a party to-do list and slowly check things off.
Clean your home
You’re making the party to show off your new home and you’d certainly want to feel house-proud. Unlike other types of house parties, no rooms are off-limits to your guests. The point is to let everyone take a tour of your fabulous new home, so you need to make sure that every room is presentable.
If you haven’t had the time to clean the place up, now is your chance, plus you can freshen the rooms up with flowers and some original décor such as travel mementoes, family heirlooms or artwork.
Send out invitations
There are lots of ways you can invite people over today – in person, online or simply by dropping hand-written invitations in their mailboxes. If you have kids, let them do the deliveries around the neighbourhood. To keep hassle down to a minimum, don’t bother people with RSVPs. Instead, let everyone what’s the specific hours they can drop by.
Create a welcoming setting
Housewarming parties need to have the right ambience to make the guests feel welcome. Start with creating a fun playlist to set the mood and greet the guests with good vibes. Light up some candles around for a cosy ambience, and to keep the decoration simple but classy, use fresh flower arrangements. Just one larger bouquet in the living room and several smaller ones scattered throughout the house will give you that punch with no fuss.
Whether it’s a housewarming party for 5 or 50 people it’s important to ensure there’s enough seating for everyone. Add some throw pillows, a few extra chairs, an ottoman, and some stools around the room. Or, if you prefer the outdoors, fire up the grill in your backyard and ask everyone to come in jeans and T-shirts. However, if you have a fabulous new dining room, make it a black and white posh party with a matching dress code.
Since you’ll be having lots of people coming over, and you’ll be meeting some of your neighbours for the first, give yourself enough time to get ready without stress and last-minute fixes. That’s where these tips come in handy! Just keep it simple and casual, but warm and welcoming.
Choose the food and drinks
There are practically limitless options when it comes to food and drinks for your housewarming party. With a bigger budget, consider wine and a selection of cheeses tastefully arranged on a charcuterie board with delicious meats and fruits.
Another option is to opt for a fresh seafood delivery with everything you might want in a seafood platter – from locally sourced prawns to lobsters and the Sydney rock oysters. Complete the offer with a selection of sides and seafood sauces so everyone can find something they like.
If you’re working with a limited budget, a potluck is a great option, but if you love baking, make desserts your theme, just let guests know what to expect.