Your plans of welcoming friends and family over to show off your new home may have been squashed due to Covid-19 but huzzah, Government guidelines now allow two households to meet and socialise in a property.
Now that lockdown has been lifted in much of England, plans are in place to entertain, so if you’re eager to finally see your pals and show off your pad, then this article is for you.
We’ve included everything you need to know about how to host a housewarming during Covid-19, including how many people you can have over, ideas for entertainment and tips on food and drink to make your housewarming one to remember.
I’ve just bought a property, am I allowed people round?
The latest Government advice can be found here but yes, the good news is that you are able to meet indoors in groups of up to two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household).
This includes inviting people from one household into your home or visiting the home of someone else with members of your own household.
You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble when doing so.
Are there limits on how many people I can have round my house?
Socialising indoors in groups of more than two households isn’t possible right now so unfortunately, you’re going to need to narrow down your guest-list, (see-ya later Auntie Sarah) or alternatively, ask different households to come at different times with time in between for a wipe down.
How many people can I have in my garden?
Socialising outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households is also on pause until further notice from the UK government, which means gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is exclusively from two households or support bubbles.
Additionally, if you decide to invite another household into a private home or garden, the number of people in that household and your own cannot exceed 30.
What measures should I take when I have houseguests?
Antibacterial gel at the door
Keeping a bottle of antibacterial gel at the entrance of your new home is handy for your household anyway, (you’d be surprised at how many times you put your keys in your mouth and then in your door!) but your guests will also appreciate being able to quickly clean their hands.
Keep your doors open
Rather than giving a grand tour to all of your visitors at once, keep your doors open and allow them to wander and view your new home as they arrive and throughout the evening.
This helps to minimise the touching of door handles and staggers out the number of people in a room at once.
Clean down surfaces before guest arrive
In preparation for your visitor’s arrival, give any surfaces and frequently touched areas including handles, toilets and pull cords a wipe down with an antibacterial cleaning solution.
Safety first of course but your home will also be sparkling clean, after all, nobody likes a suspiciously murky toilet.
Stress-free planning
Prep food (that won’t ruin your new interiors!)
Nibbles and things that won’t stain your new carpets or flooring are going to be your best bet and that goes for drinks too. Hello white wine, goodbye sangria.
If you’re planning on hosting predominantly in the garden then you can be less cautious with your menu and drinks options, though your daisies might not thank you for crisp crumbs and salsa spills.
Plan your menu and prep your dishes in good time before your friends or family arrive to avoid a flustered finish. You don’t want to end up trying to entertain visitors while trying to grind a garlic guacamole.
Finger food might not be a great idea right now so if you’re serving food, supply utensils and anti-bac gel. You could also take the option of serving your guests a meal, as opposed to a BBQ style / buffet. Just remember to include enough seating for all your guests as some foods can be impossible to eat politely when standing!
Spruce up your drinks with colourful cubes
If you’re looking for an extra layer of fancy to wow your guests, consider including an ice display in the kitchen or a shaded table in the garden.
Pretentious though it may sound, this little hack is brilliant for decorating a food or drinks table and if you add edible ingredients such as fresh herbs or fruit, they can double up as ice cubes.
You don’t necessarily need an ice cube tray for this either as slabs of ice can be broken up or even crushed and added to a glass bowl or vase for an eccentric centre piece.
Create your playlist
Spotify and other streaming services have some great housewarming playlists but you can always create your own with a mix of your favourite songs and a few house related classics like:
- “Our House” Madness
- “Just hold on we’re going home” Drake
- “Homecoming” Kanye West
- “My House” Flo-rida
- “Legohouse” Ed Sheeran
- “Sweet Home Alabama” Lynyrd Skynrd
If you’ve got a mix of family and friends from different age groups coming over, include a range of music from different eras or ask your guests to send you a song request ahead of coming over.
Set up the Garden
If you’re fortunate enough to have a garden, you could always host a socially distanced mini disco for you and your family. Fairy lights or even garden solar lights are great for marking out space and creating makeshift illuminated dance floors.
Check with your new neighbours ahead of blasting up your bluetooth speakers and consider using headphones for a throwback silent disco. You could even ask your guests to come in 90s attire, sit on blow up furniture and wear glittery jelly shoes.
Extra considerations for your guests at a housewarming
- Have extra bins in sight, placed strategically throughout your home, perhaps in the garden, kitchen or hall.
- Create a space for guests’ coats or hang a chalk sign to visibility display where they can put their shoes, jackets or bags.
- If you have a downstairs loo, you might prefer your guests to use that rather than having to go up and down the stairs, so again, a little sign can help to point your guests in the right direction and avoid them having to ask.
- A display of fresh flowers at the entrance is uplifting and creates an inviting atmosphere for your guests. Keep in mind that some may be hay fever prone and won’t appreciate the extra pollen to battle with, so if you’re unsure, ask ahead or use faux flowers.