Last Updated on January 31, 2023
Moving into a new home is an exciting, but stressful experience. And at the end of moving day, you deserve to put up your feet with these 10 fun ways to celebrate the first night in a new house. Ensure that first night is full of positive energy and fond memories!
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But First…..
So admittedly, before you throw that party hat on, you first have to unpack your 40+ first night essentials. But I’ve made that easy for you with this printable checklist.
This checklist will ensure that you don’t spend your first in in a new house digging through boxes wondering where you packed the toilet paper….
How to Celebrate the First Night in a New House
Now that you’ve unpacked your essentials, it’s time to relax and celebrate this major life event! Here’s 10 ways to kick off this new adventure on the right foot.
1. Eat Out
Today is a HUGE day. So much going on. Don’t stress yourself out any more by expecting to make dinner at the end of the day. You (and your family) need time to recharge for the major unpacking coming your way.
What I’m trying to say is that ironically, the first night in your house is the perfect time to leave it….
Take the opportunity to check out restaurants in your area to celebrate the first night in a new house. Sit and relax, digesting the day’s events while the someone else makes your dinner (and does the dishes…). Review tomorrow’s game plan of cleaning and unpacking, assign family members their tasks.
2. Set Up a Picnic
Wearing your old, stained work clothes and sweaty after a day of moving? Then maybe you aren’t feeling like sitting down in public in a restaurant. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of someone else making your dinner to celebrate the first night in a new house.
Grab some take-out or delivery, throw a blanket on the living room floor, use boxes as tables and enjoy a simple picnic. Or go upscale a invest in customized cutting board or a new picnic basket.
It’s a great way to slow down from the chaos of the day and unwind. If you moved with your family, now is a perfect time check in to see how everyone is feeling at the end of the day. How did the move go? Any surprises? Any questions? This is the perfect time for conversation to ensure that the move process is as enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. And to go over the plan of attack for unpacking all those boxes tomorrow.
3. Meet Neighbors
Usually when folks move into the neighborhood, the existing neighbors commonly come to greet you first. You know you moved to the right neighborhood when they come bearing yummy dessert!
But you don’t necessarily have to wait for them to come to you! Ring the doorbell, say a quick and lay the groundwork for making neighborhood friends.
4. Go for a Stroll
Nice day out? Take advantage of some fresh air, strap on some sneakers, and walk around your neighborhood. Not only is walking a great way to unwind and re-center your mind to all that future unpacking, it also gives you a chance to check out the neighborhood homes and gather inspiration for your own home.
If you live close to the downtown area, combine walking with food and check out the local restaurant scene.
5. Read a Book
Unwind from the stressful moving day by curling up with a good book. You might not have wi-fi set up yet, or your television not unboxed. But a book is easy to have stored in your essentials bag on moving day.
Not sure what to read? If you moved into an older house, you might be interested in diving into this list of books for old house enthusiasts.
6. Pop the Bubbly
Moving into a new home is a huge accomplishment! Pop some bubbly (or celebratory drink of choice) to celebrate the first night in a new house. Just don’t forget to pack a corkscrew and gorgeous glasses in your first night essentials bag to celebrate this next adventure!
7. Build a Fort
Moving with young kids? If so, then you probably haven’t followed a normal routine today. So you might as well throw routines out the window at night as well. Make tonight special, full of positive energy, and it will help set the tone for all the work that needs to be done over the next couple of days (or weeks) to make this new house into a home.
Give the kids empty moving and blankets lying around from the move to keep them happily occupied building a fort or obstacle course.
And the best part? If you don’t have your beds set up yet, the fort can serve as the perfect place to set up blow-up beds, sleeping bags, pillows, stuffies etc… for a cozy first night in a new home sleepover.
8. Play a Board Game
On moving day, you might not be connected to the internet yet, or have your television already unpacked and mounted. Sure, you might have a movie or two downloaded on your tablet or laptop.
But instead of the same old, same old, why don’t you take this opportunity to dust off a board game and connect with your family? For kids, a fun game night is a great opportunity to give your time and energy and help them ease into their new home by making good memories.
9. Make Room Signs
Moving into a new home can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty for young kids. Where will mommy and daddy sleep? Which bedroom is mine?
A little arts and crafts can help ease the transition from old to new bedrooms. Grab some paper, crayons and tape for your kids to design a temporary room sign for their bedroom doors like this one from Holly at Simplify Create and Inspire. Not only will this craft create excitement over a new bedroom but will also get kids invested in unpacking and taking care of their new bedroom.
10. Kick Out the Old
Have a superstitious nature? If so, you might want to practice one of these new home traditions to get off on the right foot with your new house:
Light a Candle
Many cultures believe the simple act of lighting a candle to celebrate the first night in a new house will cast out any darkness or ward off evil spirits. Kick it up a notch and light this fun candle that celebrates your first night in you new home.
Burn Sage
Commonly a Native American tradition, burning a bundle of sage (it can be mixed with other herbs) cleanses the house of negativity. Walk around your house with the incense starting at the front door and to every corner of the house (don’t forget the closets!).
Illuminate Every Corner
According to Chinese tradition, new homeowners should shine a torch light into every corner (again, including closets) to show spirits where to hide.
Bread & Salt
This Russian Jewish tradition involves the simple act of bringing bread and salt first into your new home. It bequeaths wealth and prosperity. The bread represents the homeowners never experiencing hunger, and the salt ensures a life filled with flavor.
Salt
Another new house superstition is to sprinkle a pinch of salt at the front door and in every room. After 24 hours, vacuum up the salt to one, clean, and two remove any evil spirits.
The first night in your new house is something very special and should be celebrated! Good luck and happy first night!
Our Moving Day
Here’s a photo of our moving day many years ago with no furniture, just sitting on the floor taking a break for a much needed bottle….
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