25 Exciting Housewarming Party Ideas and Themes

If you just moved into a new home and hope to welcome your friends and family, you might be wracking your brain on housewarming party ideas. Luckily, there are plenty of fun ways to entertain guests at your brand-new space. From special menus to exciting activities, bring together your favorite people to not only have a great time but also showcase your humble abode. You can keep it simple with a yummy meal at your house or lean in and have a themed party where everyone dresses up in a fun costume. Read ahead to see 25 ideas for housewarming parties you'll absolutely want to try. Pro tip: Need a few things for your new space? Consider registering for these housewarming presents.

1. Host a Dinner Party

Hosting a dinner party is a lovely way to gather your friends and family in your new home. You can craft a menu, set up your dining area with all your newly moved or acquired dinnerware, and bring together loved ones you want to welcome into the space.

2. Throw a Cocktail Party

Don't want to have too much on your plate? Consider just hosting your guests for a cocktail party instead. Light hors d'oeuvres, wine, cocktails and other non-alcoholic options are all you need to keep your guests satisfied as they mix and mingle around your new home.

3. Grill at a Backyard Barbecue

Have a grill in your new backyard? If the temperatures are pleasant, why not host a big backyard barbecue party? Choose classic recipes that you can easily grill and set up your outdoor space with housewarming party decorations for a fun get-together.

4. Create a Brunch Buffet

Don't want a housewarming party that goes too late into the evening? Host a brunch party instead. You can set up a buffet table full of favorites like muffins, doughnuts, bagels, mini quiches and fresh fruit. For beverages, create a coffee and tea station and even have a mimosa bar with a number of delicious juices for mixing the perfect sip.

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5. Serve Just Desserts

Serve only desserts at your housewarming, keeping the menu short and sweet. In your invitations, ask your guests to come by for a tour and a treat. Be sure to get a variety of yummy options for friends to nibble on as they catch up and explore your new home.

6. Have a Pool Party

If you're lucky enough to have a pool at your new abode, you should absolutely host a pool party to make a splash at your housewarming. Choose a date in warmer months so guests can comfortably hang by the pool and take a dip. Offer some fun, summery snacks and drinks, as well as towels so your friends can dry off before exploring inside. To keep things safe, it's best to provide plastic drink cups to avoid anyone stepping on glass with bare feet.

7. Eat Locally

Want to show off the amazing cuisine around your new home? Pick up or order bites from restaurants in the area. It's a fun way to highlight the local offerings and find new favorites as you're settling into your new neighborhood.

8. Throw a Potluck Party

Showcase the culinary talents of your friends and family by hosting a potluck housewarming party. Each person or your couple friends can bring a dish to help make up a larger menu, from appetizers to entrées to desserts. It's a good idea to create a general theme for a potluck so you can tailor the menu slightly. Create a Google Sheet where people can mark down what they are bringing so there is no overlap on dishes or too many of one course.

9. Fill the Library

Instead of having your guests bring food to the party, have them help you and your partner move in together by filling your new library with books. This is a fun way to have everyone share a favorite book, provide you with new reading material, and prompt conversation among guests about their novels of choice.

10. Plan a Game Night

Love playing games? Have a group come over for a special housewarming edition of game night. Be sure to prepare all the supplies you need for each activity and have a good amount of snacks and beverages to keep everyone sharp for each round.

11. Organize a House Scavenger Hunt

One unique way to get people to explore your new house? Host a scavenger hunt around the property. Create a list of things for everyone to find in a certain amount of time, ranging from a wedding photo to a vintage trinket. The winners can receive a special prize.

12. Plan a Mixology Class

Rather than just hosting friends for drinks, make your housewarming party a special opportunity for everyone to learn something new. One idea is to bring in a bartender who can teach your guests how to make a few specialty cocktails. A mixology class can be a fun activity for everyone and easily lead to mixing and mingling.

13. Host a Paint and Sip

One fun activity you can do with a group is a paint-and-sip. For this housewarming theme, you and your party can all work on a small painting while enjoying glasses of wine or other fun beverages. Make sure to get supplies like canvases, mini easels, paint and paintbrushes. You can either follow a teacher or an instructional video or just have everyone paint whatever they wish as you all catch up in your new home.

14. Cookie Decorating

Another great creative activity you can do—with an edible result—is cookie decorating. Prepare sugar cookies in a variety of shapes and set up a workstation for your guests to frost and sprinkle their own designs on top. This activity can be fun particularly around the holidays, but can take place any time of year.

15. Sing Karaoke

Do you and your friends love to hit up a karaoke bar? Bring the music to your own home by setting up a karaoke machine or singing along to lyrics on YouTube. You can easily purchase microphones online that amplify your star singers for each song.

16. Host a Dance Party

Get people moving and grooving at your new abode by hosting a dance party. If you want to create an environment conducive to dancing, make sure you clear an area in your home so people will have room and set the mood by dimming the lights. Be sure to preplan a playlist or even bring in a DJ or band to get the vibes turned up. A word of advice: You may want to begin the evening with cocktails first so guests can loosen up.

17. Movie Night

Have friends over to watch a brand new film or a classic at your new home. Be sure to keep guests happy by bringing out popcorn, classic movie snacks, and other yummy treats for everyone to enjoy. If it's warm and you have a backyard, consider getting a projector to screen the film. Cozy blankets and pillows can also be a great addition to your movie night setup.

18. Create Favors

One fun favor to give your guests as a gift at the end of the night? Make custom matchboxes for your home, similar to a restaurant. When they strike them in the future, they'll always remember the night they came to visit.

19. Fondue Night

Go retro with a fun night of fondue among friends. Get a few fondue pots as well as supplies to make both savory and sweet dips for everyone to enjoy.

20. DIY Home Decor

Do you and your friends love to get crafty? Create cute home decor pieces for your new place by setting up a number of DIYs for everyone to try. They also can make some to bring back to their own spaces.

21. Pot a Plant

Have your guests test out their green thumbs by planting petite pots together. First, you can decorate the vessels. Next, provide seeds and dirt or succulents to fill them. At the end of the party, everyone can take their own plant home.

22. Costume Party

Want to have fun with your dress code? Have all your guests dress up in characters according to a housewarming party theme. The costumes will absolutely add a fun element to your festivities.

23. Murder Mystery Party

Invite a group over to explore your new home, which will be the site of a murder mystery party. Before sending invites, find a game online, assign characters to your guests, and have everyone arrive in character, ready to solve the murder.

24. Pajama Party

Host a party at your new home similar to a sleepover you would have had as a kid. You can ask guests to dress up in pajamas, provide a ton of snacks, and have some fun kicking back at your new place. Rather than have everyone actually sleep over, you can ask guests to go home at the end of the night.

25. Wine Tasting

Have your friends come to your home for a wine and cheese night with a special tasting. For this housewarming party theme for adults, consider selecting wines from a certain region or vineyard that you can pair with your meal.