So you’ve just completed a kitchen renovation – congratulations! Now it’s time to show off your gorgeous new space by hosting an open house. An open house is a great way to reveal your renovated kitchen to friends, family, neighbors and more.
Planning an open house takes effort but it’s worth it to debut your stunning new kitchen. Follow this guide to plan the perfect open house after your kitchen renovation.
Set a Date and Time
First, set a date and time for your open house. Some tips:
- Weekends (Saturday or Sunday) tend to work best. More people are free and open houses feel more relaxed on weekends.
- Mid-afternoon (2 pm to 5 pm) is ideal. It’s after lunch but early enough that people can still make evening plans.
- Avoid holidays or other busy events. You want people to be able to focus on your open house.
- 3 hours is generally a good open house length. Long enough for people to drop in conveniently but not so long you’ll be exhausted.
Send out invites at least 2-3 weeks in advance with your selected open house date and time.
Plan the Food and Drinks
An open house isn’t complete without tasty treats and refreshing drinks. Take care of food and beverage planning:
- Keep the menu simple. Finger foods, appetizers and easy-to-eat snacks are best for an open house. Things like chips and dip, veggies and dip, fruit skewers, cookies, brownies, etc.
- Provide a variety of beverage options. Have bottled water, sodas, juices, coffee, tea and a refreshing adult beverage like sangria or beer.
- Make some items ahead of time. The day before, prepare things like dips, cookies or a sangria pitcher. You’ll be busy the day of.
- Order simple sandwiches or cheeses trays if you want heartier fare without much effort. Pick up the day before.
- Keep desserts small and simple. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes and fruit skewers make easy, mess-free desserts for guests.
You want a nice variety of food and drinks without going overboard on labor-intensive items. Keeping it simple allows you to focus on hosting.
Decorations and Music
A bit of decor and music completes the open house ambiance.
- Add some fresh flowers around your home and especially the kitchen. Florals instantly liven up any space.
- Play upbeat background music to set a fun, festive tone. Create a playlist with your favorite songs.
- Show before and after photos of your kitchen renovation so guests can see the transformation.
- Clean and declutter so everything looks tidy and spacious for guests.
- Use scented candles or essential oils to make your home smell fresh and welcoming.
- Provide a welcome sign guests can see as they arrive with your name and “Open House.”
With decor, music, clever displays and a clean space, you’re ready to host an amazing open house!
Plan Parking and Guest Flow
Logistics are key to a smooth open house. Consider parking and how guests will navigate your home:
- Parking: If driveway space is limited, talk to neighbors about using some spots in front of their home for the open house. Or guide parking down one side of the street by placing cones and signs.
- Entryway: Greet guests immediately at the entry to welcome them in. Have a sign-in sheet so you can follow up with thank you notes.
- Guest flow: Create a path through your home to guide guests straight back to the kitchen reveal. Rope off rooms you don’t need guests to see.
- Kitchen: This is the main event! Have snacks and drinks available and be free to answer kitchen questions.
- Backyard: If weather permits, guide guests through the kitchen and out to the backyard. It keeps the flow moving.
- Exit: Thank guests as they leave and send them off with a small favor like cookies or a flower.
With parking, entry, guest flow and exit planned, you’re set for smooth open house traffic.
Send Out Invitations
Now it’s time to invite your guests!
- Make a guest list Include neighbors, close friends and family, co-workers, etc. Cast a wide net so you’ll have plenty of visitors.
- Create print invitations Send invites by mail or hand deliver for a personal touch. Include the open house occasion, date/time, your address and an RSVP date.
- Invite online Post the details on your Facebook event page, Nextdoor or other community sites.
- Send email invites For long-distance guests and far-flung family, email invitation with all the key details will keep them informed.
- Follow up closer to the date Send email or text reminders to those who RSVPed the week before your open house. Give them parking tips and other key information.
With a robust guest list and round of invites, you’ll have a buzzing open house in no time!
Prepare for Open House Day
The day before and day of your open house will be busy. Here are some tips to prepare:
- Clean thoroughly – Give your kitchen an intensive clean so it sparkles. Clean entryways, bathrooms and other key areas too.
- Plan an open house schedule – Map out a detailed timeline with when to prepare food, set up, welcome vendors (if any), guest arrival, and more.
- Review parking and traffic flow plans – Make sure you have signs, cones, ropes, etc. ready to direct traffic.
- Set up the entryway and kitchen – On open house day, set out food, decor, flowers, drinks, etc. Have any serving supplies like napkins, plates, utensils.
- Dress the part – Wear nice, casual attire you feel comfortable mingling in all day. An apron on top works for food prepping.
- Charge your phone, camera and other devices – You’ll want powered-up devices to take photos, communicate with vendors/guests, etc.
- Greet vendors (if any) – Be ready if you have any vendors arriving like a food truck, bartender or photographer.
With a detailed schedule, thorough prep and organization, you’ll be 100% ready to host an amazing open house!
During the Open House
The big day is here! Follow these tips as hosts during the open house:
- Greet guests warmly at the door – Welcome them in and direct them to sign in and the kitchen reveal.
- Introduce guests – Introduce new guests to others already mingling to spark conversations.
- Offer tours of the kitchen – Let guests open cabinets, drawers and fully see the new space. Share design details.
- Mingle and answer kitchen questions – Chat with each guest and answer any questions about the renovation or new kitchen.
- Monitor food/drinks – Keep an eye on supplies and refresh as needed. Check in with vendors/caterers too.
- Take photos – Ask a friend or family member to photograph guests interacting, food tables, etc.
- Thank guests as they leave – Express your gratitude and send them off with a small favor.
Being an active, engaged host ensures your guests have a memorable time.
Follow Up After the Open House
You hosted a fantastic open house – great work! Now finish strong with follow-up:
- Send thank you notes – Handwrite notes or create print/digital cards to thank each guest for attending.
- Email digital pics – Select, edit and email your best open house photos to guests to relive the fun.
- Send recipes by request – If you served a dish guests loved, email the recipe when asked.
- Review notes and ideas – Look over your guestbook, note feedback or suggestions from the event.
- Make fixes and tweaks – Address any issues that came up and implement new ideas if you hold open houses again in future.
- Enjoy your renovated space! – With your successful open house behind you, relax and make great use of your updated kitchen.
With proper follow-up, you check hosting your open house off your to-do list for good!
FAQs About Hosting an Open House
Planning to host an open house but still have some questions? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
How many people should I invite to my open house?
Inviting 25-50 people allows for a steady flow of guests. Greater numbers for larger homes. Invite more than you expect to actually attend.
What if too many people RSVP yes?
If responses are higher than expected, stagger arrival times. Or set up an RSVP cap and start a waitlist once you hit capacity.
How much food and drinks should I prepare?
Plan for each guest to have a light meal with drinks. Expect higher demand at start and less as the open house winds down.
Should I hire staff to help with an open house?
Having a few friends or family members help with parking, food and hosting is a big help for larger crowds.
What’s the best way to guide open house traffic?
Use signs, ropes/ribbons, floor directionals and staff helpers to route guests through your home effectively.
How long should I keep my open house going?
Aim for 2-3 hours, 4 hours max for very large showings. Guests and hosts get tired and supplies dwindle after longer stints.
Is an open house appropriate for a home still mid-renovation?
Completed spaces like a finished kitchen work for open houses. But major unfinished renovations are best debuting fully done.
Can I host an open house virtually?
Yes! Platforms like Facebook Live let you broadcast video tour of your spaces to remote audiences.
Should I hire security for high-value homes?
For luxury homes, have staff checking invites and monitoring entry/exit points during an open house.
Key Takeaways
Hosting a successful open house after your kitchen renovation requires some planning but pays off with great results:
- Set a weekend mid-afternoon date and give guests 2-3 week’s notice via print, emails and online invites.
- Provide crowd-friendly snacks, drinks and music to keep the mood lively and celebratory.
- Manage parking, entry, traffic flow and exits wisely so events move smoothly.
- Greet, mingle with and fully engage guests to give them a stellar experience.
- Follow up with thanks, photos and recipe shares to wrap the event up nicely.
With these tips, you can plan, host and follow up on an open house that wonderfully showcases your gorgeous new kitchen. Cheers to successful entertaining!