In this part of the world, housewarming parties are not as common, some people have the notion that it is only for the rich. However, throwing a house party does not have to be a big deal. You can actually have a simple and relaxing housewarming party with close friends and family.
For simplicity sake, a housewarming party is a celebration usually held after one moves into a new house. It is like a tradition whereby friends, neighbours and well wishers come to see the place and wish the host luck and happiness while bearing gifts.
History has it that the term housewarming was gotten from the act of warming the house literally. In the past, guests were said to have come to the new house with firewood which they used to build fires to warm the house and repel evil spirits.
When Should You Have A Housewarming Party?
Throwing a housewarming party should come after you have settled into your new house. Once you’ve gotten your furniture and placed them at their right places and unpacked most of the boxes then you know it’s time to wind down and celebrate your new home. This is the fun part of moving.
This article brings to you ideas you can use to plan and host a fantastic housewarming party after moving into a new home.
Figure out your guest list
The first step to planning a housewarming party is to figure out how many people you want to invite and if your new house can comfortably take all of them. You do not want to have more guests than your house can fit so plan accordingly. If your house isn’t so big stick with only close friends but if you have more space then you can add more people.
Plan the food menu
Of course food is a must, so plan what you can conveniently offer your guests. You can either decide to make local dishes like amala, porridge, moi moi and the likes or light refreshments like fries, finger food, snacks, chicken and drinks. It all depends on your guest list and your pocket. Do not stress yourself too thin and try not to go overboard, stick to your budget. Remember you just moved in and have spent a lot already.
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Good Music
What is a party without good music? You can either hire a DJ or have someone in charge of switching the music, whichever way, music is compulsory. This would help put your guests in the party mood and leave them feeling hearty.
Stock up on Supplies
You would need supplies like plastic cups, plates, cutlery, trash bags, paper towels and toilet paper for your party. Make sure you have them stocked up. Having these things in place would help maintain order at your party.
Plan activities
While it is okay to have music and conversations in parties where guests mingle with each other and catch up. You also need to have an activity planned so that guests do not get bored. You can decide to give your guests a home tour letting them know different parts of your new home. Or you can also get indoor games that they can play. Classic board games like Ludo, Monopoly, Ayo, Scrabble or even video games can give guests maximum entertainment.
However, the whole point of a party is to have a good time, so just go with the flow, you don’t have to force your guests to play a game if they are just casually enjoying each other’s company and the music. Having an activity in mind can just be a backup plan. What matters the most is that you enjoy yourself and create some good memories.
