The home is a source of warmth, a gathering place for loved ones, a sanctuary. Housewarming, the act of honoring the new home and fellowshipping with its inhabitants, is a practice that dates back centuries to when new neighbors would gather and provide gifts of firewood to help warm the home. In medieval France, this tradition evolved into an event— as a thank-you to those who helped build their house, the homeowners would cook dinner for their new neighbors. Though the variety of gifts and the manner of festivities have changed over the years, this concept of fellowship and warmth is still central to the housewarming party.

Are you a homeowner looking to unveil your new dwelling with a housewarming party? Or are you a guest preparing to celebrate a friend’s new dwelling? Read on for the best etiquette practices and tips for both parties when it comes to housewarming, and be on the lookout for our housewarming gift round-up link at the bottom!

Housewarming Etiquette for the Homeowner

Give Your Home Time to Adjust

Although you may feel like a party is in order right after completing a big move, experts advise not to plan your housewarming party too soon. While guests will understand if your home isn’t yet picture-perfect, it’s a good idea to give yourself time to fully unpack, begin your decorating phase, and rest easy in the fact that your home will be relatively complete when your friends and neighbors arrive. Six months to a year after the move is the generally preferred timeframe for scheduling a housewarming party. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have small celebratory get-togethers before then, of course— but save the big home reveal until everything is ready.

Types of Housewarming Parties

Your housewarming party will look and feel different depending on your personal preference. Though the tone should always be the same— a casual get-together full of warmth and socializing— other aspects of the party, such as time of day, are completely up to you: if you prefer Sunday brunch-time gatherings, opt for a catered array of canapés and mimosas and invite guests to dine on your home’s new patio or garden; if you prefer an evening party, make sure to serve what constitutes a full meal during dinner hours, although later in the evening you are welcome to limit the refreshments to casual drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Always clarify the food offerings to your guests beforehand and consult with your caterer on ways to keep the service natural.

The Housewarming Party Timeline

Housewarming parties are generally arranged as “drop-in” parties, spanning around 2-4 hours to allow guests to filter in at their leisure and be shown around the house in casual showing groups rather than one “official” tour. This also allows for a more relaxed atmosphere in which new neighbors can get to know each other, friends can mingle, and the house can be freely enjoyed by all. The degree to which your housewarming party abides by a set schedule, and what other activities you and your guests participate in other than showing the house, is completely up to you.

Housewarming Etiquette for Guests

Arrive At The Right Time

It may go without saying, but the rule of being “fashionably late” to a gathering is, for the most part, correct. For the new homeowner, getting all the pieces of the perfect housewarming party together by the time guests arrive can be daunting. If guests show up too early, this can put the homeowner in an especially awkward situation. Although you may find it strange to show up later than invited, showing up 10-15 minutes after the agreed-upon time is appreciated by party hosts who need a little more time to prepare. For more casual parties, it is also perfectly fine to “drop in” at any time during the party proceedings, because this gives the host room to direct smaller, staggered tours around the home.

Tour Etiquette

Being shown around a friend or neighbor’s new home is an exciting experience for all, especially those who take a special interest in interior decorating or architecture. Though housewarming tours are meant to be largely informal, a few etiquette rules still apply. Chief among them is privacy: refrain from peeking in a room that the owner isn’t prepared to show, and leave closed doors closed. Often the home is only partially finished at the time of housewarming, and the homeowner should not be made uncomfortable by having to show unfinished rooms. Avoid giving yourself a tour without the owner’s permission and always ask to be shown to any particular room. 

Bringing Guests

An invite to a housewarming party is an invitation into the host’s sanctuary, and should be respected as such. Taking into consideration their concerns regarding food, seating, and other amenities, it is not recommended to bring any extra guests without consulting the homeowner first in order for them to have more time to prepare extra. Pets also apply to this rule— before bringing your furry friend, check to make sure the owners are prepared for this, that their indoor pets will get along with yours, or that doing so will not disrupt a clean home. 

Being Neighborly

For new friends or neighbors who are just getting to know the hosts, it can be difficult to know what gifts to bring. If you are comfortable asking beforehand, your neighbor will probably be able to provide you a list of their preferred food options or if they are lacking any particular home staple, but often the homeowners do not expect gifts from their new neighbors. Instead, your gift can simply be the act of welcoming them into the neighborhood and fellowshipping them as they celebrate their home. As has always been tradition with the housewarming party, all a guest is required to bring is a warm and welcoming spirit.

Need recommendations for the perfect local gift to a friend who just bought a new home in Chicagoland? Check out our Chicago Housewarming Gift Guide below!