How to Make Resident Events More Engaging (The Secret to Better Apartment Community Attendance)
The Secret Sauce Your Multifamily Resident Events Are Missing
If your apartment resident events feel a little… predictable lately, you’re not alone.
Food. Drinks. Flyer. Reminder. Host the event. Done. Repeat.
There’s nothing wrong with that formula. But if you’re a property manager, leasing professional, or onsite team member trying to boost event attendance, increase resident engagement, and elevate your multifamily marketing strategy, there’s one ingredient that can take your events from “nice” to “wow.”
It’s whimsy. ✨
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This Week’s “Try It”: How To Add Whimsy To Your Apartment Resident Events
Before your next apartment community event, ask: How can I add just one layer of whimsy?
Maybe it’s a playful rename, a surprise dress-up moment, a nostalgic twist, a tiny unexpected detail.
You don’t need a full overhaul. You need a secret sauce.
In Case You’re New Here… On Multifamily Mix, we share a ‘Try It’ in each episode. It’s one practical idea based on real onsite experience. No fluff. Just helping you take small actions to build strong communities.
Why Multifamily Resident Events Need a “Wow” Factor
Think about your favorite restaurant. Maybe they serve something simple like spaghetti and meatballs. But there’s something about their version that makes it unforgettable. A presentation detail. A surprise ingredient. A little something extra.
That’s what we’re missing in so many apartment community events.
When resident events become purely functional and just check a box, they stop feeling special.
And here’s the truth: life is heavy. Residents are juggling work, finances, family, health, and everything else. If your event feels like just another obligation on the calendar, they’re less likely to attend.
But if it feels playful? Unexpected? Memorable? That’s when you create connection.
To access these design templates, join the Sprout Membership HERE
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If coming up with creative, whimsical resident event ideas feels overwhelming, that’s exactly why Spark exists.
For $7/month, you get:
12 event concepts
1 Fully planned event with custom-designed invites and Amazon shopping lists
12 other resources for things like outreach marketing, resident appreciation, resident renewals, social media marketing, and monthly planning
It’s designed specifically for property managers and leasing teams who are tired of being overwhelmed and overworked and who deserve help, even if they have a small budget.
Let us handle the creative heavy lifting, and you bring it to life in your community.
Your residents are craving something memorable, and you deserve some whimsy in your life, too!
What Is Whimsy (And Why It Works in Multifamily Events)?
Whimsy is something playfully quaint or fanciful — especially in an appealing, amusing way.
In the world of multifamily resident engagement, whimsy:
Creates emotional connection
Encourages social sharing
Sparks conversation
Makes your community memorable
Increases repeat event attendance
When residents experience something unexpected, they talk about it. They text a friend. They post it. They remember it.
And that’s powerful for apartment marketing and retention.
How to Add Whimsy to Your Apartment Community Events
You don’t need a bigger budget. You don’t need more staff hours. You just need creativity layered onto what you’re already doing.
Here are a few ways to elevate your next multifamily event:
1. Rename the Event (Instant Upgrade)
Instead of just “Saturday Brunch”, try something like “Parisian Brunch Social” or “Sunrise Café Pop-Up.”
Same muffins. Different experience.
Inside this month’s Spark kit, there’s a fully designed Parisian Brunch resident event — complete with a shopping list, invite, and creative details. But here’s where the whimsy can really shine:
Staff dresses in Parisian-inspired outfits
A French café playlist plays in the background
A themed photo backdrop
Optional resident dress-up element
Now it’s not just breakfast. It’s transportive. That’s how you elevate multifamily resident events without increasing cost.
To access these design templates, join the Sprout Membership HERE
2. Add a Playful Twist to a Classic Event
Wine night is always popular in apartment communities. But what if you turned it into:
Wigs, Wine & a Good Time
Invite residents to show up in any wig. That’s it. Instant laughter. Instant photos. Instant icebreaker.
You can add:
A small photo backdrop
Categories like “Best Transformation” or “Celebrity Look-Alike”
You’ve taken a standard resident event and layered in surprise, which increases participation and memory retention.
3. Add Nostalgia
Nostalgia is one of the most powerful tools in resident engagement marketing.
Ask yourself… what did you love as a kid? What made you laugh? What felt magical?
Could you turn:
Game night into “90s Throwback Night”?
A book club into “Creative Writers Club Open Mic”?
Ice cream night into a “Build-Your-Own Sundae Social”?
Nostalgia lowers defenses. It invites play. It makes adults feel human again. And that’s community-building gold.
Our Favorite Amazon ✨Whimsical✨ Add Ons
4. Layer the Experience
Whimsy works best in layers.
For your next multifamily resident event, think:
Visual layer (decor, backdrop, signage)
Sound layer (playlist)
Dress layer (staff or resident theme)
Naming layer (creative title)
Surprise layer (unexpected twist)
Even adding just one of these makes a difference.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“We love Sprout designs! At CitySide, we pride ourselves on creating unique weekly events for our residents to enjoy. Sprout has an extensive collection of super cool designs. These designs help ensure we get maximum attendance and look great for our social media posts. We are so grateful to work with such a fabulous team!"
Ellen R | Resident Experience Coordinator
Why This Matters for Property Managers and Onsite Teams
When you consistently host memorable events, here’s what you start seeing:
Increase resident satisfaction
Strengthen community culture
Improve renewal likelihood
Enhance your multifamily brand reputation
Make marketing easier (because residents talk and post)
In competitive markets, community experience is your differentiator. And that doesn’t require luxury-level budgets. It requires intention.
