You don’t always have to treat your partner to a flash dinner at an expensive restaurant for date night. Staying at home and enjoying each other’s company can be just as romantic and fun. As many couples have found over the past two years, the pandemic has changed the way we date. Organizing something exciting to take part in at home is a fantastic way to hang out together without having to worry about capacity limits or strangers coughing all over you.
That doesn’t mean you should just Netflix and chill. There are so many more enjoyable date options you can take part in at home, with this article listing our favorites. Whether you want to challenge each other to a cook-off or have your own dance party, read on and discover the 40 best home date ideas.
1. Cook Dinner Together
Spend some time together in the kitchen and whip up a gourmet meal for dinner. If gourmet isn’t your style, choose some of your favorite dishes to cook and share with a bottle of wine. You’ll both be able to put your cooking skills to the test and see who is the better chef.
2. Finalize Your Bucket List
Most people have a bucket list, so this date idea involves you both writing out your bucket list and setting a date to complete the activities. Whether you want to jump out of a plane, visit the Seven Wonders of the World, or buy your first house, writing down these goals is a great way to help manifest them into becoming reality.
3. Go Stargazing
If it’s a clear night head out into your backyard and spend the evening gazing up into the stars. Spread out a blanket and cuddle up together and see what star systems you can name. If you’re lucky you might witness a shooting star and be able to make a wish, just don’t tell anyone otherwise it won’t come true.
4. Play Hallway Bowling
Don’t worry about heading to your local bowling alley when you can set up your own lane at home. Clear out the hallway and use plastic bottles as your pins and a soft ball as your bowling ball. See who can get the most strikes in the evening, but try not to make too much noise and upset the neighbors.
5. Tackle a DIY Project
Been meaning to build that shelf in the lounge? Or maybe it’s time to start on that pergola outback? Starting (and finishing) a DIY project is great for working on your communication and team-building skills. Whether you tackle something easy or a large project that might take a few weeks, doing it together is much more fun than trying to do it all on your own. Just make sure your partner doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty.
6. Start a New Hobby
Hobbies are a great way for you and your partner to connect by doing something you both enjoy. Find a hobby that appeals to you both and give it a crack. Begin a wine collection, redecorate the house, start a book club, take cooking lessons; the choices are endless. Just make sure whatever you choose to do is something you both have an interest in, otherwise, it might not be a long date night
7. Take on a Puzzle
We don’t mean one of those small jigsaw 500 piece puzzles. Get yourself a massive 5,000 piece puzzle and attempt to complete it with your partner. Not only is this fun but it’s a great way to build on your teamwork skills. It will probably take you a few nights too, giving you more time to spend together.
8. Wine Tasting
You don’t need to head to a winery to enjoy some of the good stuff. Grab several bottles from your local supermarket and taste test at home. Make a platter of cheeses and cold meats to enjoy while sipping on your favorite bottle of pinot grigio.
9. Have a Board Game Night
Board games are back as a favored pastime since the pandemic forced us to find interesting ways to entertain ourselves at home. You’ve probably got some classic games at home, but if not, head online and order a couple before date night. There are thousands of fun games available and you’re sure to find one you and your partner can play together.
10. Write Each Other Love Letters
Show your romantic side with a love letter to your beau. Both of you can put your feelings into words on the page and then either share them that night with a glass of red or set a particular date to open them, like Valentine’s day. This is a fantastic home date idea for the man who finds it hard to say what he feels.
11. Talk
Yep. Talk. Grab a bottle of wine, put your phones down, get comfy in the lounge, and just talk. Whether it’s about your day, the holiday you want to plan, or something you need to get off your chest about your relationship, sitting around and chatting will bring you closer as a couple.
12. Have a Picnic
While not as scenic as a picnic outdoors, you can still have fun with it at home. Pack a hamper with your favorite food and drink, push the sofa out the way, lay down a rug, and you’re good to go. If the weather is nice you can even take things outside. Don’t forget a little music to set the mood.
13. Play Home Mixologist
Live out your mixologist dreams and conjure some tasty cocktails at home. All this requires is a few bottles of spirits, some fruits and bitters, a cocktail shaker, and a couple of cold glasses. You can fire up YouTube for some tutorials and spend the evening learning how to make your favorite cocktails.
14. DIY Wine and Paint Night
Wine and paint nights aren’t cheap, so host your own at home. All you need is some blank canvases and paint you can pick up cheaply from an art store and a bottle (or two) of wine. If you’re stuck on what to paint there are plenty of tutorials online, or just paint each other.
15. Watch a Sports Game Together
Even if your lady isn’t a big fan of sports, you can still have fun watching your team strut their stuff. Fire up the oven and cook some nachos or make some hotdogs and have a beer cooler filled with your favorite beverages ready to go. Make sure you are both dressed in your colors. Then settle down on the couch and watch your team (hopefully) get the win.
16. Have a Spa Night
This date idea will make your partner happy. Pamper each other with face masks and mani pedicures. Spend the evening in your dressing gowns and give each other a soothing massage. End it all with a relaxing soak in your bath. Bliss.
17. Bake a Cake
Cake is the great leveler in life. There aren’t too many people that don’t enjoy a fresh slice of cake. Head into the kitchen and whip up a classic chocolate cake or something a little more adventurous with your partner. Not only can you hone your baking skills, but you’ll have a tasty treat at the end–as long as you don’t burn the cake!
18. Have a Candlelight Evening
Take your romance game to the next level by turning off all the lights and doing everything by candlelight. Cook a romantic dinner, cuddle on the couch with a bottle of red or take a bath together. Bask in each other’s glow for an evening.
19. Sing Karaoke
There’s nothing better than singing karaoke to a packed room of strangers. It’s a wild experience that gets the blood going. While not as exciting, singing karaoke at home with your partner is still a lot of fun. Take turns belting out your favorite tunes and judge each other’s vocal talents.
20. Go Camping
Just because you are at home doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the fun of camping. Set up a tent outside, start a small fire, and roast some smores. The best thing is you still have all the creature comforts of home, and if it gets too cold, you can always head inside and sleep in your bed.
21. Play Truth or Dare
If you want to have a bit of fun while also learning more about each other, play a game of truth or dare. Ask some hard-hitting questions to find out more about each other, and if things aren’t to your liking, then you might find yourself having to take part in a wacky dare. If you need some inspiration, check out our list of the 101 best truth or dare questions.
22. Adult Coloring Books
This list has already mentioned drinking wine and painting, so here is something that builds on that; coloring in. Adult coloring books (they don’t have nudes) are all the rage these days. Many have incredibly intricate pictures to color in that will no doubt get harder the more vinos you consume.
23. Take a Personality Test
Find out a little bit more about yourself and each other by taking a bunch of personality tests. Found easily online, see what your love language is, or take the Myers-Briggs test. There are dozens of great tests that can teach both of your more about each other.
24. Have a Pillow Fight
Have some fun in the bedroom without taking your clothes off. A pillow fight allows you to mess about and be a bit silly. Release some of your tension but socking each other with pillows. If you want to make things a little sexy, get your partner to wear her underwear and you go topless. It won’t be long until the pillow fight is abandoned for something more enjoyable but no less strenuous.
25. Recreate Your Favorite Date Night
You might need to rely on your partner for this one if your memory isn’t great. Recreate your favorite date night at home, complete with the same outfits (if possible). Cook the same food (or get takeaway from the restaurant), play the same music, and enjoy each other’s company as you reminisce about the early days of your relationship.
26. Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
I know what you’re thinking, how can you visit a museum at home? During the pandemic, many of the world’s most recognized museums and art galleries opened their doors online. Check out some of France’s most famous paintings at the Musée d’Orsay or brush up on your Mexican history by visiting the National Museum of Anthropology. Whatever your taste, there is sure to be a museum or gallery showcasing something you both enjoy and can learn more about.
27. Watch a Concert
If your favorite band is touring and you can’t get tickets, fire up your computer and watch a previous concert online. Many bands are offering live streams of performances, so grab a few drinks and get serenaded in the privacy of your own home.
28. Plant a Garden
Get your green thumb on and start your first veggie patch in the back garden. You might have to wait a while before you see the fruit (or veggies) of your labor, but growing and eating your own vegetables is a sustainable way to live and good for the environment.
29. Learn a Language
We understand you won’t be able to become fluent in French in one night, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try and learn a few key phrases. Of course, you don’t have to learn French, there are hundreds of languages to pick from, but French is more likely to get your partner woozy at the knees. This is something you can continue to practice after the date and is a great learning tool.
30. Workout Together
Here’s something for the fitness-obsessed couple. Try working out together, but choose a workout that you haven’t done before. If clanging and banging is your usual style, try a cardio workout. If your lady loves taking jazzercise classes online, join her for one and see what it’s like.
31. Breakfast in Bed
Who said you have to organize a date for the evening? The best thing about dating from home is you can do it any time of the day, which is why breakfast in bed is a fantastic way to treat your partner. Prepare her favorite morning dishes and whip up a hot pot of Joe and spend the morning lazing in bed. Read the paper or a book after breakfast and then get under the covers for a morning wake-up.
32. Play Mini Golf
Set up a few courses around your lounge room using cups as holes. Put a few cushions down as obstacles and use cardboard to create a few ramps. This one will be as much fun setting up as it is actually playing.
33. Go Through Your Old Photos
Take stock of your partnership and look through some old photos of your relationship. Remember what it was like when you first hooked up and take a trip down memory lane. Whether you have actual polaroids or a collection of digital pictures, pick your favorites and make an album about your time together.
34. Dance the Night Away
You might not be Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, but you can still pull off a few moves in your living. Move the furniture around and create your own dancefloor. If you’ve got two left feet, there are plenty of dance tutorials on YouTube you can follow. Or just let loose and get your twerk on and bust some shapes with your partner.
35. Read Together
You don’t always have to be doing something together to enjoy each other’s company. Grab the book you are currently reading (or a magazine if books aren’t your thing) and sit together on the couch and read in silence. It might not sound that exciting, but there’s a peacefulness and fulfilling feeling that comes with reading together.
36. Take a Yoga Class
Yoga is a great way to center your mind and body. If your girlfriend is a fan already, join her for an online course. You’ll stretch muscles you never knew existed and have a clear mind once the course is done.
37. Play Video Games
It doesn’t matter whether you are an avid gamer or someone who only plays Mario Kart, a night playing games is tons of fun. Play as a team or unleash your competitive side and battle it out to see who is the better player.
38. Clean Out Your Closet
If it’s good enough for Eminem, it’s good enough for you and your partner. Go through your wardrobe and get rid of all the clothes you never wear or don’t need. But don’t just throw them in the bin. Take them to your local second-hand store the next day so someone else can enjoy them. That way you are not only making space at home but doing a good deed also.
39. Plan Your Dream Trip
Covid put an end to most people’s travel plans, but 2022 is looking like travel will be back on the agenda. So there’s no better time to sit down and talk about your travel plans than date night. Organize that trip to Italy you’ve both been dreaming about. Find out the best accommodation for a weekend away in New York. Wherever you want to go, now is the time to book your next adventure.
40. Enjoy a Bath Together
Light some candles, put on some mood music, pop a bottle of champagne, and enjoy a warm bath together. This is a great relaxing date from home where you can show your sensual side. Wash your partner’s back and make her feel comfortable while sipping on some bubbly and gazing into each other’s eyes.
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