Sometimes, we have to spend more time at home for whatever reason. We might not have the money to spend on a date night, we might want to stay closer to our kids, or we might just be homebodies.
Whatever your situation, I have the answer.
I have collected 15 at-home date night ideas so you (and your partner) can have a great night at home doing something different from Netflixing on the couch. Although that might be one of the suggestions.
No matter your situation, I’m sure you can find some at-home date night ideas in here that you can try out.
I also want to note that an at-home date night doesn’t always have to be with someone else. I have previously written an article on dating yourself, as well as these 17 ideas to take yourself on a date.
It is so important to spend time with yourself, and most of these tips work just as well if you’re by yourself.
This post may include affiliate links, which means I make a small amount of money from your purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Dinner date
You could go for a microwave meal, pizza or even take-out. But wouldn’t it be so much more fun to make your meal together? PRepare one of your favourite meals, or try something new. Maybe you want to try to recreate a dish you had at a restaurant or something that’s been on your Pinterest board for ages? Why not try it now?
Set the table, pour some wine, bubbles or your drink of choice, and use the ‘fancy’ dishes you usually only use for Christmas. Finish with a chocolate dessert for bonus points.
Related post: 17 amazing solodate ideas
Picnic
Instead of going all out with the fine china, you can also go the opposite way and make it a picnic. Depending on the floor you can eat on the living room floor or in your backyard.
Of course, you can also do this with a very simple meal like sandwiches, pizza or a snack board. You can even order some takeout for your at-home date night in.
Movie night
An oldie but goodie; movie night! If you are able to, drag some sheets, pillows and food to the backyard and watch the movie on a projector. But for those of us who are not as blessed, of course, it is perfectly possible to have an amazing movie night inside, on the couch (or bed).
An essential component of movie night is the snacks. Go all out and give yourself some options. You could buy the same things you usually have at the movies, or find a recipe and make your own snacks. Any form of popcorn is usually quite easy to make, but you can also make something like brownies, lava cake or apple crumble with ice cream.
Game night
Whether you prefer board, card or video games, this night could be so much fun. In a video game, you can even play together against the computer. There are so many options for games.
Try the 36 questions to fall in love
Apparently, there are 36 questions that can make you fall in love. Even if they don’t, it’s a good way to get to know each other on a different level and talk about some new things.
Related post: 17 amazing solodate ideas
Go camping
Take your at-home date night outside! If you have a backyard, you can definitely set up your camping gear and pretend to be on a trip. While you’ll still have to use the bathroom in your house, you can do pretty much anything else in your backyard, including cooking!
Even if you can’t set up camp in your backyard, you can pretend if you have a fireplace. Put some food in like potatoes, sausages or roast marshmallows. S’ mores anyone?
Finally, if your house is missing a fireplace, you can also make these things in the oven.
Have a pamper night
Depending on your partner, you can do this together or alone. Put on a nice face mask, give yourself (or your partner) a nice massage, and shower it off. Scrub your body, slather yourself (or the other) with moisturizer, body butter or some oil and you’ll be super soft and huggable. You can also add a hair mask, wax your legs or self-tan.
If you’re up for a bit of fun you can also try to learn a new way of massaging from youtube.
Set your bucket list/vision board/things before … lists
Create your bucket list or list of things you want to do before something happens. Your 30 before 30, or your 10 before 50? You can set your own lists and see which ones you have in common, or create your lists together. Also try to plan the first one, to get yourself started.
You can also print out some pictures and make a vision board for those things you want to do or achieve.
Related post: 17 amazing solodate ideas
Work on your own goals
Perhaps you both have some goals you want to achieve. If possible, see if you can do them together! Sit at the kitchen table and get started. Maybe you have some of the same goals you can work on, help the other with their goals, or just work on your own thing while you’re sitting together. Get some snacks, a nice drink and smash those goals! Here are some tips to set great goals.
Themed nights
A fun idea if you don’t have the means to go on a real trip, bring the trip to you! For your at-home date night, pick a country or area you want to go, and do some research. Then try to learn something about that language, make some food from that country/area and perhaps print some pictures or put them on your television screen. You can also make your way through a city with google street view, or look for a virtual tour of something online. For example, here is a list of the 10 best virtual museum tours, here are some national parks, or 30 musea, zoos and theme parks. Youtube also has plenty of virtual city tours.
Learn love languages
Gary Chapman has defined 5 love languages. Usually, a person has 1 or 2 dominant ones, and knowing them can really help your relationship. Your love language is how you feel appreciated and how you share and receive love. If you and your partner have different love languages, there might be some miscommunication and a feeling that you are not appreciated. Doing the test can help you understand each other better and improve your relationship. You can find the test here or, if you want to know more, get the book here.
Make each other something
If you’ve done the love languages test, you’ll know even better what to do for this one. As said before, you can cook together or make your partner a meal. You can also spend some time and make them a card, a painting, drawing, poem or love letter. If you’re extra, you can make something out of wood or clay. Get creative and show your love!
Related post: 17 amazing solodate ideas
Home improvement date
I think we all have those things we wanted to do 3 months ago, and keep bugging us. Especially when it comes to home improvement. But this is your chance! It may not be the most romantic date in the world, but it will be so satisfying to finally check those little tasks off your list. Replace the lightbulb, paint the wall or hang that picture frame. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy your improved house.
Plan your ideal holiday
We all need something to look forward to, whatever our situation. We can be oh so thankful for our present situation, but I believe it’s good to have something fun in the future. This will keep us motivated and it is so exciting! So take your date night to plan your perfect trip. Let go of all limits of time and money, and plan it. Daydream away with pictures of white beaches, blue oceans and green rainforests. Or cobblestone streets and ancient buildings, if that’s more your style. Whatever it is, plan out all the details.
If you want to keep it a bit more real and attainable for the near future, plan a trip you can go on as soon as you’re able to.
Go back in time.
Reenact your first date and fall in love again. Wear the same (or similar) outfit, and do your first date all over again. If you went to a movie, watch that movie in your living room. If you went out for dinner, cook that dinner together. If you did something active, see if you can do something like it at home. Be creative and inventive, but mostly, have fun.
I really hope I have given you some ideas and inspiration to have an at-home date night. Just because you’re not able to go on a date at a fancy restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time!
If you’re looking for some date suggestions that can also be out of the house, I suggest my article on 17 ideas for a self-date, which of course you can also do with someone else.
So this week, carve out some time, prepare accordingly, and go on your at-home date night!
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