With housewarming parties being one of Australia’s most common celebratory gatherings, learning the proper etiquette is the key to a good time. Whether you’re planning to host a home get-together or you’ve been invited to one, there are rules you should follow.
This article is a guide to everything you need to know about housewarming party etiquette. This includes finding the perfect present, which often starts with jumping on Google and searching for ‘the best hamper gift baskets Australia’.
Before you start planning a guest list (or coordinating an outfit if you are the guest), take some time to read our guide. Our 8 housewarming etiquette rules can help you become the perfect guest or superstar host.
What is a housewarming party?
A housewarming is a party traditionally held soon after buying or moving into a new residence. It’s a way to celebrate the move and show your new home to your friends and family.
The English term ‘housewarming’ has an interesting history, and literally comes from the act of warming a new house. Back in the days before central heating, guests would bring firewood and build fires in all the available fireplaces. They believed this practice would help create a protective atmosphere around the house that would repel evil spirits.
In modern times, housewarming parties are seen as a way to ‘christen’ a new home, bringing in good luck and a joyful future. Of course, housewarming parties are also a great excuse to gather all your mates together, grab a bottle, and have a nice dinner. Especially with the rising cost of living, celebrating with your friends and family can be a good way to alleviate any related stress and improve your mental health.
Image: Zach Reiner / Unsplash
Rules if you’re hosting
There are a few golden rules you should follow if you’re hosting the housewarming. The last thing anyone wants to do after a stressful move is to plan an even more stressful party. By following our tips, you can ensure the process is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Wait until you’re settled in
A 2023 survey from Budget Direct has found that moving homes is becoming more stressful. 90% of the respondents aged between 28 and 47 said moving house was a stressful process for them, and the number has increased compared to previous years.
Without a doubt, moving can be one of the most physically and emotionally demanding experiences a person will go through. From packing (and unpacking) all your belongings to sorting out the logistics, it can be an exhausting process.
So, before you begin sending out invitations and jump right into throwing a party, make sure you (and anyone else living with you) have settled in. While traditionally, housewarming parties are supposed to be soon after moving in, you can wait days or even weeks before hosting one. You’ll be able to enjoy the party more if you aren’t stressed about the planning and getting everything unpacked.
Send invites out early
When you’re planning a housewarming party, you should send the invites well in advance. As a general rule of thumb, you should give people at least two weeks’ notice. That way, they can request time off from work (if needed) and organise a gift.
Sending out the invitations early also gives you more time to count the RSVPs, plan catering and/or refreshments, and set up the house.
Decorate tastefully
Setting up decorations and getting your home looking nice is half the fun of planning a housewarming. Like other types of parties, like baby showers or holiday celebrations, you’ll want to dedicate some time to the decorations.
With that being said, we recommend decorating tastefully. You don’t want the decorations to overpower your new space, especially when you’re showing off your new place.
Plan refreshments in advance
A party is only ever as good as its refreshments. Offering food and beverages is the perfect way to get people to immediately feel comfortable in your new home, create a welcoming space, and a natural point for people to gather.
Being able to plan and provide enough food for everyone is also a hallmark of a good host. The last thing you want is your guests hungry. We recommend planning all your food/drink in advance, so you don’t have to stress on the day of. If you aren’t a master chef in the kitchen with the time to cook all the food, there are plenty of other options, too. You could consider looking into a catering company and ordering food in advance.
It’s important to offer a variety of food as well. You want to include options for people with dietary restrictions, such as if they’re on a vegan diet or they are gluten intolerant.
Image: Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash
Etiquette if you’re attending
If you’re planning to go to a friend or family member’s housewarming, our tips can make sure everybody has a good time. Below, we’ve outlined the 4 rules you should live by when you’re attending a housewarming party.
RSVP early
Responding to an RSVP as promptly as possible is the first step to proper housewarming party etiquette. Unless you genuinely don’t know your schedule in advance, try to respond as soon as you can after receiving the invitation.
Not only will this give you more time to coordinate your outfit and a gift, but it’ll also help the hosts. It gives them a better idea of the total headcount and how many people they will need to cater to.
Bring a gift
While it isn’t expected for a guest to bring gifts to a housewarming party, it’s what sets a good guest apart from a great one. Traditionally, guests bring a bottle of alcohol (e.g., wine) or home décor, such as a plant.
If you’re stumped and not sure what to get as a gift, hampers are always a safe option. You can also ask the host(s) if there are any items (e.g., cooking utensils) they need for their home.
Arrive on time…
Or even better, fashionably late. Unless you’ve been asked directly by the host(s) to arrive early to help with set-up, always aim to arrive at the party on time or just after it’s begun. Ideally, you want to arrive anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes after the established start time.
Trust us, the hosts will appreciate it.
If you’ve ever hosted a party before, you’ll understand how everything can end up running late. You don’t want to stress out the hosts by arriving while they’re still doing last-minute touch-ups.
Be polite
Most importantly, be a polite and gracious guest. Be considerate of the host, and if there are any unpacked boxes or furniture out of place, don’t point them out. Instead, compliment their new home and what is already set up.
Similarly, you want to follow other common courtesies to ensure everyone has a good time and the host feels appreciated. This includes:
- Avoid overstaying your welcome and be considerate of the host’s schedule.
- Respect the host’s new house and belongings.
- Be mindful of your noise level.
Following these rules will ensure you’re the perfect housewarming guests.
Similarly, for housewarming hosts, our etiquette advice will help you throw an enjoyable gathering in your home.
Hero image: Kelsey Chance / Unsplash
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Web Oracle.
