Enjoy.
Home date ideas needn’t be boring. Spending this Valentine’s Day at home but want to show your significant other that you love them? Then you’re in the right place, as we’ve got a whole host of date ideas – all cheap as you like and doable from the comfort of your own home – for you to scroll.
Fun fact for you: date nights have actually statistically been proven to make couples happier, with one study from the University of Virginia finding that couples who spent an evening a week focusing on their other half were 3.5x more content than those that didn’t.
Divorce rates and sexual dissatisfaction was also lower for said couples, showing that carving time out for your S/O really is important for building and maintaining a happy, loving relationship.
What better time to get planning a cute date night than with Valentine’s Day just around the corner? Keep scrolling for ten simple ideas. On the hunt for a present for your other half? Our edits of the best Valentine’s Day gifts for her, Valentine’s Day gifts for him, and Valentine’s Day sex gifts, not forgetting the best flower delivery services, will help.
Home date ideas: 10 to try this Valentine’s Day
1. Outdoor cinema
As far as home date ideas go, this one requires you having a bit of outdoor space (or a big enough bedroom or lounge to make it *feel* like you’re outside). Whether you have a projector that you can rig up, a laptop you can bring outside, or a TV you can push against the window, you shouldn’t need to buy anything for this cute date night other than drinks and snacks.
As for the furnishings – deckchairs, bean bags, rugs and plenty of cushions are a must. Warm drinks and hot water bottles also encouraged.
Try this: Why not get creative in the lead up to the big evening and design your own ticket stubs inviting your other half to the outdoor cinema? You could also make Pick n Mix sweet bags or design old-fashioned popcorn boxes from cardboard, for added effect.
2. Candlelit dinner
You don’t have to go to a restaurant to have a romantic dinner. Far from it – get a little inventive, again, and you can enjoy a special meal from your own home. All you need is the kitchen or dining room to yourself, candles (essential) and dinner (even more essential).
Sure, it might sound fancy and like a lot of work, it really doesn’t need to be. If you don’t fancy cooking, opt for a candlelit takeaway or order a food delivery box.
Try this: Put one one of your favourite outfits, play some romantic music and get ready for a special evening with your loved one. Chocolate strawberries, anyone?
3. Breakfast in bed
Home date ideas don’t get much more romantic than breakfast in bed. All of the most iconic lovebirds love a breakfast in bed, (we’re looking at you, Allie and Noah from The Notebook). And while it isn’t strictly a nighttime activity, enjoying a cup of OJ and a some flaky pastries in bed on Valentine’s morning could be a fun way to show your other half you care.
So, what ingredients do you need to achieve the perfect breakfast in bed? Any of the following will make a delightful breakfast treat:
- Coffee or tea
- Fresh orange juice
- Croissants or pastries
- Eggs Benedict or Royale
- Avocado on toast
- Granola and yoghurt.
4. Cookery class
Lockdown turned us into a nation of bakers – flour sold out quicker than Glastonbury tickets. Fun idea: why not get cooking as a way of spending quality time with your other half?
You can pay to cook along with a professional live, or, if you’re on a budget, there are loads of tutorials on YouTube and Instagram – we’re a fan of Gordon Ramsay’s carbonara, Gizzi Erskine’s stuffed crust pizza and Jason Atherton’s chicken and chorizo casserole. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with this recipe for Meghan Markle’s go-to banana bread. Yum.
5. Watch the sunset
We’re all super busy, especially with heading back to the office, which often means missing simple joys, like sunrises and sunsets. So, why not use your date night as an opportunity to rediscover them?
Try this: Grab your loved one, a couple of beers or glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and remember to wrap up warm. Then, whether you head to your garden or a nearby park, go and take in every second of it. Or, if you’ve got more time, why not give one of the best UK hikes a go to soak up some nature?
6. Home spa
Like the sound of a romantic spa day from home? Us too – plus you’ll save big £££. We’re talking manicures, pedicures, a luxurious bubble bath and more. Your other half won’t know relaxation levels like this.
Try this: follow our at-home tips from a top facialist to get your glow on.
7. Have a picnic
Sure, it might not be summer yet, but that doesn’t mean that a picnic is off the cards (just remember lots of layers). Not the best weather? An indoor picnic works just as well, too.
Try this: For the full effect, you’ll need a picnic blanket to sit on and a hamper of snacks. You can head to a shop and pick out your favourite bits, or create your own Smorgasbord-style platter – we’re talking olives, pickles, salads, cheeses, crackers, and charcuterie.
8. Massage night
Not sure how to be intimate with your partner or mix up your sex life? Massage can be a great place to start, and a great home date idea, too.
It’s fun, it’s romantic, and you’ll learn a new skill. Don’t miss our guides to tantric sex and bondage for beginners, while you’re here.
French Lavender Massage Oil
9. Art class
Even if you’re not the most creative, channeling your inner Kahlo and Rivera can be a relaxing and alternative date night idea.
Try this: either find a painting you love online and paint or draw your version of it by hand, or go freestyle and draw what you fancy. You could even draw or paint your partner, and they, you.
10. Games night
And finally, why not try a games night for your home date? We’re talking a couple’s quiz, charades, Scrabble and more.
Try this: Write lots of prompt questions on small bits of paper and pop them in a jar. Then, taking it in turns, you and your partner can each answer a question about the other. Question ideas include:
- Favourite memory with each other
- Funniest memory of each other
- Favourite thing about each other
- Song that always reminds you of them
- Food that always reminds you of them.
So there you have it – ten simple, cheap, and effective home date ideas for any budget.
The post Home date ideas: 10 to make even the most budget Valentine’s Day one to remember appeared first on Marie Claire.