For obvious reasons, date nights haven’t been as popular lately. Well, what if we told you that you could have a date night from the comfort of your home?
When people think of at-home date night ideas, the first thing that comes to mind tends to be Netflix. Well, we’re here to tell you that you have plenty of other options! Regardless of what you feel like doing, there’s a date activity perfect for you and your partner.
You do not have to go overboard with regard to your redesigning project. Go for simple touches like getting some flowers, some light furniture, shifting the existing ones and adding in some paintings. If you buy flowers online, you can get them delivered immediately and plan a fun weekend which you spend on redesigning a room in your house.
Not sure where to start with planning your date? Here are nine fun and budget-friendly date ideas at home!
- Hold a Cook-Off
Adding some competition to your date ideas can be a great relationship booster. For example, if you like cooking, why not challenge each other to a cook-off? This can be a great way to spice things up (sorry) and boost your bond.
The most common way of doing this would be to choose a specific meal that you’ll each need to create. Alternatively, pick an ingredient that you’ll have to incorporate into your meal. You can go for a single dish or a more challenging multi-course menu.
- Plan a Dream Trip
The fact that we’re stuck at home doesn’t have to stop you from planning your dream trip! If you have any travel books, use them for scouting the perfect locations. If not, you can always turn to Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for ideas.
For a spin on this formula, give yourselves a budget and plan around it. This will force you to get a bit creative, which is always fun. You can turn this into a competition as well—plan your trips separately and see how each of you goes about it.
- Have a Board Game Night
When it comes to fun at home date ideas, nothing beats a good board game. Studies show that couples who enjoy board games tend to have a better love life. As it turns out, playing board games together releases more oxytocin or the “love hormone.”
If you’re not already a board game fan, start with the hits. For instance, Codenames: Duet is a fantastic cooperative deduction game. If you’re in the mood for a social experience, Love Language: The Card Game is a great way to get to know your partner!
- Visit an Online Museum
Contrary to popular opinion, museums aren’t strictly a real-world experience. Many museums—such as the Louvre—also offer online tours. If you miss getting your artsy fix from museum visits, this can be a worthwhile alternative.
If you feel like spicing up your museum tour, consider playing a drinking game on top of it. For example, any time one of you sees flowers, they get to take a sip of wine. Keep in mind that some museums offer a 360-degree look at certain exhibits as well.
- Redesign a Room Together
Do you enjoy playing interior designer? If so, pick any room in your home and redesign it together! For an added challenge, only use items you already have lying around the house. If you’re short on inspiration, look up home design on Pinterest.
For best results, consider redesigning your bedroom to be more romantic. This is one of those little things that you can change to make your relationship stronger. For more information on these changes, click on that link.
- Play Some Trivia
Trivia nights are a classic example of romantic date ideas at home. The point of trivia games is to talk about things you don’t normally think about or take for granted. Even if you think you know everything about each other, every trivia night will provide new insights.
You can find fun questions online, but we recommend making up your own. One way to play is for each of you to write down an answer and then guess what the other person wrote down. That way no one can cheat since the answer is already there!
- Pretend the Power Is Out
The power going out was a lot of fun when we were kids, right? Every time it happened, we had to find a way to entertain ourselves. We lit candles, played games, told ghost stories, and so on. Well, this is an experience you can recreate for your date night.
The idea is that you turn off your electronics and make-believe that the power is out. If you have a fireplace, light it, and make some s’mores. You can also snuggle up in a fort, play a guessing game, or create meals out of ingredients that may “go bad.”
- Have a Video Game Marathon
Every list of stay-at-home date ideas for couples should include some video game competition. Learning new skills together is a time-proven way to boost your bond and connection. If only one of you is a gamer, they can teach the other person.
As for what games to play, go for something that has a cooperative (co-op) mode. For new gamers who want a chill experience, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Human Fall Flat are a great fit. If you want to test your relationship, look no further than Overcooked 2!
- Create a Bucket List
This one sounds a bit ominous, doesn’t it? Don’t worry—all you need to do is come up with the ultimate list of experiences you want to have with your partner. This can include places you want to travel, new dates you want to try, and so on.
Once you have your list, you can go one step further and start scheduling activities from it. For instance, you can do one activity a month for the rest of the year. You’d never be able to guess how many interesting conversations this idea can produce.
Other Date Ideas at Home
The above list is a good start, but there are many great date ideas at home we haven’t mentioned. You can write each other love letters, have a karaoke night, set up a picnic, and more. Settle on an activity both of you find interesting and have fun with it.
Looking for more cute at-home date ideas? Interested in other ways to make your relationship stronger? Keep reading our Love & Relationships section!
