Buying a new home is a huge step in life and one that should be celebrated with friends and family! After you’ve moved in and had a chance to make it your own, throw a housewarming party to share your new space. We have some ideas to make your get-together one to remember!
Housewarming party themes
Depending on your personality type and your guest list, there are a few different themes you could choose for your housewarming party. Click on any to jump to get specific housewarming party ideas for that theme.
🍷 Wine Tasting: A cozy wine tasting is a great choice for a small group of friends or family. This theme centers around intimate conversations and fine wine.
🍔 Beers and Burgers: Fire up the grill in your backyard and have the gang over for a laidback house party. This theme is also great for meeting new neighbors.
🎲 Game Night: Competitive or fun-loving homeowners may opt for a game night with their close friends. From Monopoly to scavenger hunts, this theme definitely breaks in your new living room!
🥂 Brunch and Bubbly: Who doesn’t love brunch? Gather your guests for a morning soiree complete with a tour of your sweet new abode.
🌮 Mi Casa es Su Casa: Get your fiesta on for your housewarming party! This theme is colorful and vibrant and perfect for big personalities (or those who love tacos).
Wine Tasting
Gather your closest group for a lively wine tasting! Nothing gets the conversation flowing quite like a good bottle of wine. And bonus, your guests will appreciate knowing just what to bring for your housewarming gift.
🍷 Decor: A cute printable doubles as decor and helpful directions for wine tasting. You can also offer instructions on pairings with cheese or chocolate if you’re serving those. Add other touches like jars filled with corks or candles in old wine bottles to decorate the space.
🧀 Menu: Decadent but small is the name of the game here! Treat your guests to an array of easy finger foods like filled pastry cups, mini toasts, or even a charcuterie board with high-end meats and cheeses. Feel free to ask guests to bring a bottle of wine to share with the group.
🎻 Entertainment: A classy wine tasting calls for an elegant performance! Hire a harpist or cellist to provide nice background music while your guests are sampling wines. For an artsy crowd, you could consider turning your wine-tasting soiree into a paint-and-sip party!
Beers and Burgers
If your new yard is going to be your group’s hangout spot, why not host a housewarming party out back? Start the fire pit, pick up the craft beer, and light the grill because it’s time for burgers and brews.
🍺 Decor: A backyard bash doesn’t need much in the way of decor, but a colorful banner or checkered tablecloths are cute choices! You can add some themed labels to toppings or even use tubs of craft beer that double as decor and refreshments.
🍔 Menu: Step up your menu with more than the burger basics! Offer tasty toppings found in gourmet burger joints like blue cheese crumbles, roasted red peppers, candied bacon, or pickled jalapenos. And forget the plain white buns and splurge on brioche or pretzel buns as a tasty base for your creations. French fries can also be dressed up with truffle oil, shredded parmesan, and fresh herbs.
🎧 Entertainment: Backyards and fire pits are practically made for singing guitarists to play your favorite easy-listening hits. A local DJ or fire performer is also a great choice if your bash is more upbeat or if you plan on having a pool party!
Game Night
Break in your new living room with fierce competition with all your favorite board games! From card games to Monopoly, a housewarming party filled with laughter and trash talk is sure to be memorable.
🎲 Decor: A game-themed welcome sign can set the tone for the competitive night ahead! A simple banner in the style of Scrabble tiles is a low-key choice or go all out with a guide for guests to follow when they arrive.
🍕 Menu: Getting in touch with your inner teen on game night calls for traditional party food like pizza! Rather than calling Domino’s, set up a “build your own pizza” bar with mini crusts and fun toppings to let guests get creative. Small pizzas only take a few minutes in the oven so everyone can rotate easily in and out.
🕵️ Entertainment: Encourage your friends to bring over their favorite game and let the competition begin! For those who are super dedicated to game nights, hire a murder mystery party or mobile escape room to lead your group in a themed game. A scavenger hunt company is another creative choice and not just for kids anymore!
Brunch and Bubbly
Brunch is an activity that everyone can get on board with, so expect lots of RSVPs to your housewarming party with this theme! It’s perfect for Saturday morning get-togethers in lieu of late-night soirees.
🥂 Decor: Highlight your new space with fresh flowers, colorful tableware, and pretty linens for your brunch-based housewarming party! Let the mimosa bar take the spotlight with pretty displays of fruit and glasses.
🧇 Menu: Not only is it simple to whip up a quiche and a batch of waffles, but brunch is also the most delicious meal of the day. You can also opt for serving donuts or bagels if you don’t want to cook. The mimosa bar is a must, though! Set out a variety of juices and champagne so guests can sip as you take them on a tour of your new place.
🎹 Entertainment: A classical duo or singing pianist is perfect for adding a subtle soundtrack to your brunch. To kick up the energy, try adding Bingo to the mix! Hire a drag queen to host your Brunch, Bubbly, and Bingo party and create something truly unforgettable.
Mi Casa es Su Casa
As the old saying goes, open your home to friends and family with a cheerful fiesta filled with lots of colors! This theme is great for big families, large friend groups, or just people who love tacos.
🌵 Decor: Bright and cheerful banners, tableware, and tablecloths set the stage for a fun fiesta! Don’t shy away from lime green, hot pink, and sunny orange when creating your color scheme. Add fun touches like cacti, maracas, and sombreros!
🌮 Menu: The menu here is a no-brainer – tacos! From simple street tacos to elaborate creations, no fiesta is complete without this menu item. You can easily cook large quantities of ground beef, chicken, or pork and let guests serve themselves. Black beans, yellow rice, and jalapeno corn are also easily made in bulk and make nice fillers. Finally, create a signature margarita that celebrates your new home!
🎺 Entertainment: Bring an authentic flair to your fiesta with a local mariachi band! A steel drum player can add some tropical vibes if you prefer a solo musician. At the very least, string up a pinata for your guests to take a whack at!
Spending time with your loved ones in your new home is the best housewarming gift you could ask for! Good food, lots of laughs, and sweet memories in a new place will help usher you into this new chapter in life. 🏡
Ready to book something amazing for your housewarming party? Find the best musicians, performers, and event services on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.