party by numbers: housewarming party

Like this design? Create an Evite invitation with this image.

Have a new house, condo, apartment, rented room, doghouse or dollhouse? Here are three quick steps to help you invite people over to warm it up with you.

1. Invitations: Check out our housewarming invitations. The one above is one of our most popular. On your invitation, just write something short and sweet like "I've/we've moved! Come by and see my/our new place." If you're throwing an open house and don't expect guests to stay for the whole time, you can specify that people should "drop in" or "stop by." If you're only serving beverages and snacks rather than a full meal, make that clear in your message to guests by stating "snacks will be served" or "come have a drink with us."

2. Food and Drink: Keep food simple with large platters of small, room-temperature, sweet and savory foods you don't have to spend the party restocking: chips and dip, cheese and crackers, crudité, cookies and brownies. At a daytime party, serve an assortment of beverages, such as coffee, tea, juices, soda and sparkling water. If you want to add a party theme and guests are asking what they can bring, make it a "stock the bar" party, where guests bring a bottle for your collection (cover the basics by buying mixers and some liquor, wine and beer). If you don't want alcohol at your party but still want a theme, make it a "spice up my home" party and ask guests to bring a spice for your pantry.

3. Activities: Here are some of our favorite ideas for housewarming parties.

• Have a painting party. If your friends are handy and willing, enlist their help in sprucing up your new place. Order in takeout and crank up the music to keep your workers happy.
• Tired of your bare new walls? At your party, take a photo of each guest in one part of your new place (a specific chair, nook or doorway) and use those photos to decorate that area.
• Host before and after parties. No need to stress before the "before" party; just set up the folding chairs and laugh at the wallpaper. Then have an "after" party once you get the place set up nicely.

Get more tips in our housewarming party guide.