Joel and I love staying at home because we have made it a cozy oasis, but as parents, we are home now more than ever. When we plan an at-home date night, we can relax without having to be home at a certain time.
What makes the ultimate at-home date night any different than a regular night in?
It's all about your mindset and creating meaningful moments together. Instead of planning to flip through Netflix titles, which is an awesome way to spend an evening, the ultimate at-home date night is about choosing a fun experience to do together. There is no one size fits all because every couple enjoys different activities. I recommend setting the vibe with a playlist, candles, and putting your phones away. The ideas mentioned in this post are centered around being intentional, thinking about the little details, and catering it to the activities that you love doing together as a couple.
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1. Watch a Theater Movie at Home
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Joel and I bought this projector for $69, yes you are seeing that correctly! We use it all the time and prop it up on the back of the couch or pillows on the bed. We put the screen on a blank wall and grab our favorite kettle corn from Trader Joe's. You can get your favorite candy or popcorn, and cuddle up in blankets. An at-home date night is a perfect excuse to pull out your favorite movie and curl up together in front of a big screen. If you don't have a projector for a full-blown movie theater night, watch it on your tv! You can create a fun and cozy setup with the screen that you have.
2. Eat Breakfast in Bed For Dinner
I get that breakfast is not technically "at night", but hear me out. Creating the ultimate at-home experience as a couple doesn't have to start in the evening. You can have a meaningful breakfast together to have a slow start to the day. You can replace your date night with a date morning, or you can have breakfast in bed in the evening for your at-home date night. Breakfast for dinner! Some ideas for your breakfast in bed together: Delicious French Toast, Blood Orange Mimosas For Two, the Perfect Pancakes, or Gooey Cinnamon Rolls.
If you're having breakfast in bed for Valentine's Day, I recommend this Valentine's Day Breakfast in Bed post!
3. Bake a Delicious Dessert
Your at-home date night is the perfect chance to whip up a baked good from scratch in the kitchen together or surprise your significant other with their favorite treat. I love my Dark Chocolate Brownies and Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies if you're looking for inspiration. You can also create an ice cream bar with all of your favorite toppings. This is both a dessert and an activity in one.
4. Have a Romantic Dinner For Two
Cook Together - I have a delicious lasagna recipe that can be paired with french bread, a fancy salad, and your favorite red wine. If you're really into the idea of making an Italian dinner, try making homemade pasta with a pasta maker. This is a fun activity to do together in the kitchen while creating a delicious dish to eat.
Appetizer Cook-Off - Each one makes an appetizer to taste test which one you love best. There really can't be a winner without an objective judge, but it's still fun to try.
Get Takeout - This is an obvious choice and always a fabulous idea. You can have all of the goodness and benefits of going out, without going out. No cleanup and no cooking.
Make Pizza - Joel and I love making pizzas together! I am going to do an entire post on our favorite ideas for making pizzas at home. In the meantime, my best recommendation for homemade pizza is to buy your dough locally. We get large balls of dough from our local Italian restaurant for $3 each and it's better than any dough we have found anywhere else.
Need more dinner ideas? Check out this post by Epicurious with 67 Romantic Dinner For Two Ideas
5. Dress Up
Dress up for your date night or at least wear something that makes you feel good. Getting dressed will lift your spirit and make you feel as if you truly are celebrating something special. If you need inspiration, I created a post about making a casual date night outfit look romantic and feminine.
Bonus Ideas!
Video Game Night With Popcorn and Snacks- Have a video game night by playing your favorite games. I LOVE doing this and it never gets old. It gets addicting, but never old.
Play Board Games By a Fire- If you're not into video games, light a fire and put down a blanket on the floor with pillows and a glass of wine. Pull out your favorite board game that can be played with two people and have a nice quiet evening away from devices. You can also do a puzzle!
