Have you been looking for some fun date night ideas to spice up your life with your partner but are not thrilled about spending all your money on restaurants and other special occasions? You don’t have to break your budget to have fun if you spend the night at home.
It’s not just about having fun, it’s about getting to know each other better. Here are 20 date night ideas for every couple at home, for free, or at only a fraction of the cost of going out.
At Home Date Night Ideas:
#1 Have a Homemade Pizza Night
Cooking dinner with your partner has become the new form of therapy during the pandemic. If your relationship can get through quarantine, it can get through anything. So why not have a homemade pizza night. You can go to the store, and get all of the necessary toppings. Get creative and make a few different pizzas to try. You will not regret it!
#2 Online Games
Fun at-home date night ideas usually involve board games. Let’s take that up a notch and include some that you can play online. It’s perfect for people who want to relax on the couch from a long day at work and don’t feel like doing anything too strenuous.
A few of my favorite online games:
How Well Do You Know Me?
#3 Scavenger Hunt
Send each other on scavenger hunts around the home or apartment. Answer questions about each other, and correct answers get you ahead. It’s a great way to discover things you never knew and learn more about your partner.
#4 Make Lists
Make a list of 10 things you love about each other. Silly or serious. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you can always come back to them when you feel like the spark between you is fading for any reason.
#5 Surprise Movie Night
Honestly, movie nights can become repetitive. Keep it exciting and change it up by watching movies outside of your preferred genre. Maybe choose the first option you see on Netflix or ask friends to write down suggestions and pick one from a bowl.
#6 Tell All
Make a pact to share feelings. Sure, it can be challenging, but making an effort and trying will always result in a good outcome. It’s worth it, in the end, to try not to hold back anything out of fear of rejection. If speaking about it is hard initially, try writing letters and reading them to each other.
#7 Discover a New Hobby
Make it part of your date night plan to take up a new hobby together – try painting watercolor landscapes, building plant terrariums, or complete an adult Lego set.
#8 Check Off Items From Your To-Do List
Sometimes an at-home date night idea could be tackling something from your to-do list. Who says date nights only have to be romantic. Doing chores and home improvement projects is all the excuses you need to spend time with each other.
#9 Plan Ahead
Plan the itinerary for your next holiday. Think about it this way, having at-home date nights mean you will be saving more, and the process of planning your next trip will keep you motivated to have more date nights at home, thus more savings.
#10 Travel Back in Time
Go through old photo albums or digital photos and love letters from the past. Everyone loves reminiscing about their love story. As much as you think you remember every detail, a blast from the past can jog your memory and remind you of those precious moments.
#11 Create a Recipe Book
It’s tough deciding what meal to cook every day. Use this time to make a recipe book that contains all the recipes that you like. Include all your favorites handed down from family, friends, and the ones you come across.
#12 Learn Something New
There’s no better way to learn something new than with an accountability partner. Whether it’s learning to speak a new language, play an instrument, or how to dance, you’ll have more fun doing it together than alone.
#13 Make a Coffee Table Book
There are so many programs out there for you to create a personalized photo-book. It could be of your family, wedding, or of all the trips you took together. A coffee table photo book is meaningful, a great conversation starter, and nostalgic to anyone who sees it. Chatbooks is my favorite for creating the best coffee table book. It is super affordable and makes it easy to upload photos from either your social media accounts or from your phone directly.
#14 Have a Spa Night
A spa is the ultimate luxury date night experience. With minimal cost, you can create a spa ambiance at home. Light some scented candles, play soft music, and give a couples massage. Need I say more.
#15 Do a Photoshoot
There’s no better way to capture the moment than a photoshoot. Dress up or not, and take professional-type or casual photos of each other. Look at magazines or movies for inspiration. You never know, someday they might come in handy.
#16 Build a Fort or Camp Out
If it’s safe, pitch a tent in your yard under the stars. If not, there’s always the romantic setting in front of the fireplace.
#17 Read to Each Other
Take turns reading your favorite books to each other. Or, after reading the same book, share your thoughts. Relationship and couples books are great starters.
#18 Time Capsule
Make a time capsule together. Find things around the house with meaning and that are time stamped. Such as photos, love letters, bucket lists, anniversary cards, etc. Then, decide when to open the time capsule – 1, 2, 5, or 10 years? You will most likely forget you ever made one, and it will be so fun to discover later on.
#19 Cocktail Night
Buy a cocktail-making kit or use what you have in your house and learn how to make cocktails by watching YouTube videos. Get creative and try something outside of your comfort zone.
#20 Create Challenges for One Another
Keep them light, crazy and fun. Examples: fitness challenge, finish the lyrics challenge, and how well do you know me challenge.
Benefits Of At-Home Date Nights
The above is by no means an exhaustive list but rather a good starting point for people who want an at-home date night. And sometimes, staying in is just what the relationship doctor, aka therapist, ordered. Date nights don’t need to be flashy and over-the-top. They can be quiet, minimalist, and toned-down. Here’s why:
#1 Saving
The cost of restaurants, movies, and entertainment quickly adds up. Yet the time spent together at home is priceless.
#2 Options are unlimited
There are only so many things you can do when going out for date night. Eat a meal at different restaurants, watch movies in a theatre. Eventually, the novelty wears off. At home, you can cater to preferences and keep it exciting and engaging.
#3 Connection and Commitment
In the stress of a busy lifestyle, it’s easy to forget what is most important.
Final Thoughts:
Date nights at home are a chance to connect with your partner and relax without trying to impress each other. At-home date nights should be intentional – an opportunity for connection over creating an impression.
Read next: How To Maintain A Healthy Relationship
