Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: Housewarming party

  • Ask a Pro: An Outdoor Housewarming Party in Autumn

    A new home is a cause for celebration, but what if you move in during cooler weather months? Interior design expert and Dream Team member Jennifer Adams has the answers to stay warm during an autumn outdoor housewarming party in the latest edition of Ask a Pro!

    Ask a Pro: An Outdoor HouseWarming Party in Autumn - bhgrelife.com

    Q. Hello, Jennifer! I’m about to host a housewarming party in November to celebrate my new home. Can you help me with a theme? I plan to have it in my backyard under white tents. Thanks!

    —Samantha T.

    A. Congratulations on your new home! I love the idea of having your party outdoors. Add festive outdoor lighting and portable heaters if you live some place that will be chilly.

    One of my favorite non-holiday-based November party ideas, depending on the timing of your party and if you like red wine, is to do a “Release of the Beaujolais Nouveau” theme! The French celebrate this on the third Thursday of November when the newest red table wines come out, but you don’t have to wait that long. Find some inexpensive Beaujolais Nouveau, which is on the light, fruity, sweet side. Pair with fruit, cheeses, sliced roast beef, beet salad, or figs with goat cheese, all perfect for party foods!

    If your party is earlier in November, consider a Mexican theme for the Day of the Dead. It’s a little more than just Halloween, and you can go all-out with a Mexican menu, which is always a crowd pleaser.

    Other ideas include an apple or pumpkin theme for your menu. Have a tasting of hard ciders or pumpkin beers! Pair with fruit, cheeses, crackers or bread and other savory snacks. Let me know how it goes! I’d love to see your photos on social.

    —Jennifer A.

  • 5 Amazing Tips for a Successful Housewarming Party

    Do you have a new place, and are you ready to share it with those you love? There’s nothing better than involving friends and family in the joy of your new home and set-up, so when you’re ready, you should consider throwing a housewarming party.

    In need of inspiration to make it truly successful? Here are some housewarming party tips that will take your hosting to a whole new level and will help you set roots in your new community.

    Bhgrelife.com - 5 Amazing Tips for a Successful Housewarming Party1. Decide on the Type of Housewarming Party

    The first step is to decide on the type of housewarming party you want to host. There are many different kinds, and determining which one is best for your needs will help set the mood, theme, and the to-do-list before your grand unveiling. It’s a good idea to take into consideration the following housewarming party ideas, but remember, this is your party, so you can combine a few ideas together to create the event to your liking. Here a few options to consider:

    The Open House, where guests can mingle and come and go as they please. This is best when:

    • Your guest list exceeds the number of available seats
    • You don’t want to plan housewarming party games or activities
    • You’d like small groups of visitors coming in so you can provide personal tours

    Party Before Unpacking, where guests can visit before your new home is fully decorated. This is best when:

    • Your guests want to see the house now instead of weeks down the road when you’ve finally unpacked everything
    • You want a more casual party
    • You want to mingle with close friends to relax in your new home after a big move

    Decorating Housewarming, where guests can visit before you’re done furnishing your space, and can make a game of contributing to the final look and feel. This is best when:

    • Your home isn’t completely set up yet, but you’ve unpacked and are ready to have people over
    • You want your friends’ suggestions for decorating and need inspiration
    • You want to design party activities around the set-up of the actual ambiance of your new home

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: How to Host a Housewarming Pool Party

    The real estate market has been hot this season, and now the weather is catching up! To celebrate moving into her new home, one reader is throwing a housewarming pool party. Find out what advice Dream Team member and lifestyle expert Carolina Buia has for hosting a safe and fun housewarming pool party that adults and kids can both enjoy.

    We just moved into our dream home and we’re having a housewarming party to celebrate! We will be hosting it in our backyard since we now have a pool. There are kids on the guest list and I want to make sure they play safe and are entertained while my adult guests can enjoy themselves too. Any advice? Thanks!

    -Vanessa C. 

    There is nothing more fun—for kids—than a pool party. That said, it’s not always fun for the host—because water makes grown-ups nervous, and rightly so, safety should always come first. It is so important that you keep those kids safe, as accidents can happen so easily! I would suggest “splurging” for a local life guard; they typically can be hired for about $15-$20 an hour. It’s a small price to make sure everyone is safe and free to have fun. You can also monitor the pool with a friend and take turns working the pool area.

    Now for the fun part! I would suggest getting some of the older kids (yours or your neighbors’) to arrange games in the pool, like water balloons! Don’t forget the pool floats and noodles!

    An ideal pool party allows parents to enjoy their kids but also have time to socialize with their like-aged peers. Set up tiers of appetizers (spanakopita, cucumber tea sandwiches, cheeses) and drinks inside primarily for the adults, while easy finger food can stay outside for the kids to devour. I love snacks that all ages can enjoy, like crudités, Nutella mini-sandwiches, juice slushies, etc.) Be sure to have plenty of water, so no one gets dehydrated.

    Make sure you have extra towels and a bucket of complimentary sunscreen for your guests: they will thank you for it (especially the forgetful ones)! You can even plan to have an umbrella set up outside, for those with more sensitive skin. Music is always a great way to set the mood, but better that it’s inside so you can hear all the kids splashing about.

    And don’t forget, the pool wears everyone out, so keep the party short and sweet! One of my favorite party philosophies is to always leave your guests wanting more. But most of all, enjoy yourselves, and don’t be afraid to get wet with the kids, whether you’re 18 or 80! Marco?

    -Carolina B.