New house tea: what you need to know to make yours

No matter the marital status, what more and more people are discovering is that one of the greatest pleasures of having a home to call their own is having friends over. And since there’s always a certain curiosity when someone moves in, why not break the ice with a housewarming party? That’s where the new house tea comes in.

Despite being similar to the kitchen tea in terms of counting on the strength of friends to finish equipping the house, the new house tea – or open house – aims to present the new corner to them. Therefore, the ideal is that it is done only when the house is ready to receive guests. The new house tea can also be made when you get married – or just decide to gather your toothbrushes – with your partner.

Like the idea? So check out some tips to organize this special meeting.

What to consider when organizing the new house tea

For someone who has recently had to take care of a wedding, thinking about organizing a new party can seem daunting. But, one of the coolest things about the new house tea is that it has an informal meeting air, which doesn’t mean it doesn’t require basic planning to ensure comfort, food and drinks, etc. for all.

Below are some important points:

• Size of the house: it, together with the living space of the house, will determine the number of guests, since the idea is to make everyone comfortable. In this sense, it is important to note that, depending on the type of party, it is not necessarily necessary to have a seat for everyone. After all, one gets up, another sits down… The idea is to walk around and get to know the house.
• Budget available: although nowadays it is quite common to split the price of food and drink with friends, the new house tea refers to the time when the host was in charge of this part while the guests, in a gesture of courtesy, took some gift , like a wine or a vase of flowers. Especially when there is a gift list, it’s nice to keep this tradition even to demonstrate that the tea was made to introduce the house and have a little bit of each friend there. Then the account is simple: the greater the number of people, the greater the expense. Alternatively, you can also consider cheaper options, such as ordering pizzas.
• Event time: as with a wedding, it helps to determine the mood of the meeting, as it is directly related to what will be served to eat and, consequently, to the number of guests. For example: if the party takes place at lunchtime, it may be necessary to have more places for everyone to eat in a comfortable way, if it is at night, you can serve appetizers and it is okay for most guests to stand.
• Couple’s style: there’s no point in proposing a cocktail party if the couple likes to get together with friends in an intimate way, like in a conversation circle. Therefore, in addition to the schedule, it is important to take the couple’s style into account to make the necessary adaptations to the menu and the number of people.
• Guests: having defined the type of party that suits you and the size of the house, it’s time to go to the guest list which, in the case of a new house tea party, is usually short and no problem. It is worth remembering that this is the presentation of your home, that is, something very intimate that you do not need to extend to a co-worker with whom you are not intimate.

You may have noticed that, at the time of organization, one thing is linked to the other and it is important to emphasize that there are no rules, just think about the points raised to make sure that both you and your guests will be free to have fun.

As a tip, you can also think of a playlist, play games, among other activities.

Is it necessary to have a gift list?

As mentioned before, the new house tea has a lot of that nostalgia of visiting someone’s house and taking a treat to the host, whether it’s a drink to complement the bar, a decorative item or a kitchen utensil. Leaving the list open, like in the old days, is interesting because each guest ends up taking a little bit of themselves to put in their house, but the truth is that making a list or not will depend on your needs. If the house is already complete, leave it to your friends to decide, otherwise, make a list of what is missing. The following are some examples of things we often forget to buy for our new home:

Items for the new house tea list

• Different forms of cake and baking sheets;
• Can opener;
• Macaroni holder and colander;
• Cheese grater;
• Shell;
• Wooden spoon;
• Skimmer;
• Ice cream spoon;
• Bowls and pots with lids;
• sugar bowl;
• plunger;
• Measuring cups and spoons;
• Air freshener;
• Salt and pepper;
• toothpick holder

These, of course, are just a few examples. As a tip, if this is your first time living alone, you can ask for help from more experienced people, like your mother or a friend who has gone through this recently, asking what are the main things we forget about buy, but that are needed in everyday life. The good thing is that they are relatively inexpensive items that don’t weigh on guests’ pockets.

New home tea menu

To last and keep people in a good mood, a good gathering of friends has to have food! With budget and/or space constraints, the problem is often choosing what to prepare. If you are in doubt, here are some tips, according to the time of the event:

• Brunch: a good option for teas at a new house with family members or for more daytime people, brunch has the advantage of occupying the time slot between breakfast and lunch, and can be extended until later. In other words, it’s a reinforced breakfast that ends up functioning as lunch without you actually having to think about a starter, main course and dessert. And who doesn’t love a full breakfast, worthy of a hotel? Among the suggestions of what to serve are cheese bread, pies, cakes, breads and cold cuts, scrambled eggs, among others.
• Lunch: it is a meal where people usually expect to eat something more substantial, like a barbecue or dishes of food, which makes it the ideal option for those who like and feel comfortable cooking for friends. It works best for those who have an American kitchen or with dishes that can be prepared before and after, just need to go to the oven. Thus, hosts are free to interact with guests. It is worth remembering that, depending on what is done, people will need to sit down to eat, which can reduce the guest list.
• Afternoon tea: like brunch, it does not need to be a complete meal, and can be made up of various things bought at your favorite bakery, such as cheese breads, snacks, pies and cakes. Homemade recipes can also enter the circle and are super welcome.
• Cocktail: another practical and very fun idea, the cocktail can be made in the late afternoon or at night, and is the most suitable option for those who don’t have much space, but want to invite more people, since, at the cocktail party, people stay circulating and more people can stand. The food, of course, has to be equally practical, to eat with your hands, such as breadsticks with spreads, mini-sandwiches, antipasti or something that can be served creatively, like in a cup with a spoon. And don’t forget about drinks, including alcoholic options.
• Dinner: One of the best things about dinner is that it’s an extremely versatile time slot. You can either prepare a culinary speciality for your friends or do something much more informal, such as pizzas, hamburgers or even themed dinners, such as Mexican, Arabic, Japanese, etc. It depends on your space, budget and style.

New house tea decoration: 6 ideas to inspire you

If the purpose of the new house tea is precisely to present your new corner to friends, there is no reason to fill it with decorations, move the furniture away and hide the real look of the house. Even so, as the arrangement of the food already causes a change – especially when everything does not fit on the table and it is necessary to use sideboards, coffee tables, etc. – it is charming to decorate these spaces with a nice towel, flowers and even some frills like flags and a slate with the menu.

1. Leaving the food well presented is the first step

2. Bars are practical and don’t need much decoration

3. A photo wall decorates and honors friends

4. Flower arrangements on the table make a huge difference

5. Just like small delicate flower pots

6. Don’t be afraid to bet on the flowers, they are amazing!

The nice thing about the new house tea being made at home is that there is no concern about filling the space, like in a buffet. That’s why it doesn’t have to be anything big. It’s up to you to choose what will be more functional, will be according to your budget and what best suits your personality.

New home tea party favors

Like almost everything in the new house tea, there are no rules for the souvenir, nor is it mandatory. But are you going to say that you aren’t happy when you receive such a treat either? Here are some suggestions to please your guests:

5 souvenir ideas for your new house shower

1. Have you ever thought about a succulent vase?

2. A pot of ingredients to prepare a recipe is also a charm

3. Decorated cookies are good because they can look just like you

4. Same thing with personalized mini jellies!

5. And why not turn the roll cake into the new happily married?

We hope these tips have helped you to start organizing your new house tea! And remember that if something doesn’t turn out the way you’d like, no problem, you’ll have plenty of other opportunities to welcome friends over.