Housewarmings party is another first apartment rite of passage. It’s a celebration that symbolizes your new life in your new place. You get to hang out with the people closest to you, start making new memories, and maybe get some gifts in the process. So, of course, you’ll want to have one. As soon as you’re settled into your apartment you invite your guests, they RSVP, and you’re ready to go. So what’s the first step?
First , make sure your apartment is clean! A clean living space makes a great first impression. No amount of decorations can disguise a sink full of dishes and a dirty bathroom.
Speaking of decorations, themed housewarmings are popular. If you want to have a themed housewarming, going to a Party City type store is an easy and cheap way to give your apartment the look you’re going for. If your housewarming is beach-themed, a few blow up palm trees, sea shells, and beach colored balloons & paper goods to match are a good starting point. You can even request your guests to dress in their best beach attire to really bring the theme full circle. The same would apply to any theme you may be thinking of. If themed parties aren’t your thing, no worries! You can always let your apartment speak for itself and allow your guests to focus on the amazing job you did decorating your place.
When your guests arrive, the first thing they’re going to be looking for (after your all-important tour of the apartment, of course) is some food to grub on. A housewarming is never complete without great food and drinks. If you plan on having a gathering that will last more than a couple of hours, I would suggest you have hors d’oeuvres and a small main meal planned. The main meal can consist of things such as sliders with fries and chicken wings. Or if you’re an avid cook like myself, you can prepare a pan or two of easy to eat (but not too messy) foods that’ll be sure to keep your guests full and happy. A meal of baked or fried chicken, mac and cheese, and a side salad would do the trick. Or you could go even simpler and make something in the lasagna and casserole realm so you only have one component to worry about. The main rule is that everything can be done before the guests arrive, so you can enjoy your company.
When it comes to the hors d’oeuvres, you can easily find some delectable goodies in the frozen section of your local supermarket, or if you’re lucky and you live near a wholesale market such as a Costco, Sam’s Club, or a BJ’s, you can get a huge pack of these finger foods for a steal. Mini puff pastries and pigs in a blanket are proven favorites for any celebration. The puff pastries are made with meat and vegetable fillings so it’s a good way to create variety with your hors d’oeuvres. And who doesn’t love a pig in a blanket? And you can never go wrong with a vegetables and dip or chips and salsa spread.
If you’re feeling really fancy, you can prepare signature drinks and tasty desserts to compliment the food. Refreshing lemonade, fruity sangria, or a custom thirst quenching beverage will definitely be appreciated and can be a creative money saver. For dessert, I’m going to give you my go-to cheap delicacy, the one thing that tastes amazing if done right and always puts a bit of nostalgia into the hearts of who eat it… Rice Krispy Treats!! There are so many recipes out there for this treat and the variations are endless. You can easily make this dessert for less than $10 and it’ll feed about 15-20 depending on how big you cut the squares. Another sure thing that does not break your bank is brownies.
Obviously these foods are being used as examples to get the wheels turning for your own housewarming plans. If you or any of your guests are vegetarians, vegans, or have any food allergies, you would definitely need to have something available to accommodate them. You don’t want anyone feeling like they’re left out!
So now that you have the décor together and the food is all set, all that’s left to do is to enjoy the festivities. Making a playlist or creating a mix tape with a bunch of great music on it is the perfect way to set the mood you want for your housewarming. Just make sure the music isn’t too loud. You wouldn’t want to have any problems with your neighbors this early in the game. While you’re at it, if you have a good relationship with your neighbors you should invite them to the housewarming. If anything, the invitation could certainly smooth things over if that music of yours gets a few decibels too loud.
Last but not least, setting up some activities for your guests to participate in wouldn’t hurt. If you want your housewarming to have more of a party/dancing vibe, then this is not necessary. If you picture your housewarming a bit more calm and relaxed, there are a few games that can keep your guests entertained. Twister, Charades (or Taboo), and card games are my personal favorites for gatherings. You can even have more than one game going at the same time so everyone is getting in on the fun
Now that you know all the elements of a great housewarming party, its time to start planning your party. As long as you have a clean home, eye pleasing decor, refreshments, and entertainment, your housewarming party will be a hit.
