If life has gotten busy for you and your significant other, there’s no better way to reconnect than by planning a special night just for the two of you. There’s no rule that you have to go out and break the bank to enjoy a date night, and in fact, there’s something really sweet about planning an evening at home, whether you’re having a romantic movie marathon, indulging in a relaxing spa experience, or whipping up a delicious date night dinner. (A nice steak dinner is Ree and Ladd’s go-to, and it seems to be working for them! “It sounds so cliché, but bacon-wrapped filets are hard to beat,” Ree shares.)
If you’re looking for more creative ideas, check out our list of the best at-home date night ideas that are guaranteed to reignite your romance. You can also draw inspiration from our list of the best date night subscription boxes!
Have a karaoke night. Buy or borrow a karaoke microphone and spend the night serenading each other with your favorite songs. Hey, at least you’ll only be embarrassed in front of each other! 😂
Plan your next getaway. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to! Put your heads together and plan your next vacation or perhaps a romantic weekend getaway.
Have a candlelit night. There’s something so romantic about a candlelit dinner. Bring that vibe to your whole home by lighting candles all around and dimming the lights for the night.
Have breakfast for dinner. Let’s be real, pancakes taste good at any time of day. Mix things up by having your favorite breakfast foods for dinner, or try making Ree’s delicious breakfast-for-dinner sandwiches!
Plan an unplugged evening. Say goodbye to your screens for the night and spend some quality time together instead! Who knows what kind of fun will unfold without any phones, TVs, or computers to dictate your plans.
Spend the night looking at the stars. There are few things more romantic (or affordable!) than stargazing. Snuggle up together under a blanket and look for shooting stars, try to spot constellations, or just enjoy the night sky.
Play a good old-fashioned game. Shake up your routine by playing a classic board game like Jenga, chess, or Scrabble. Or, try a game designed specifically for couples to help you reconnect and get know each other better.
Prepare a special dinner. Whip up one of your favorite meals and turn your dining room into a romantic “restaurant” by setting the table with your fanciest dishes, and some candles and flowers.
Reminisce. Stuck in a relationship rut? One of the best ways to reconnect is by looking through old albums (or phone albums!) and reminiscing about some of your most exciting times together.
Have a spa night. Take turns giving each other massages to add a little relaxation and romance to your evening. You’ll save a fortune by being your own masseuses!
Build a fort. Get in touch with your inner child by building a fort out of pillows and blankets in your living room. Add some string lights and you’ll have the perfect comfy spot for watching a movie or just relaxing and chatting.
Play video games. Are you or your partner a gamer? Pick up the controllers and try a game where you have to team up and work together to achieve a common goal—it can be a great way to improve communication with your significant other.
Take a bubble bath. Draw a warm bath and fill it with your favorite bubble bath, essential oils, or bath bombs. Make it even more romantic by surrounding your bathtub with candles and rose petals.
Make sushi together. If you love sushi, learn how to make your favorite rolls right in your own kitchen. Start by brushing up on the difference between sushi and sashimi.
Make a time capsule. Fill a box with mementos from your relationship and bury it in your backyard. You’ll have so much fun digging it up on another date night in the future!
Have a fast food night. Swing by the drive-through of your favorite fast food restaurant and indulge in hamburgers and fries, pizza and wings, or whatever your hearts desire! Set up a spread at home and enjoy your fast food feast.
Make it a double feature. You and your honey are each allowed a no-holds-barred movie pick. No whining, complaining, or kvetching about the other person’s pick! You both have to sit through the other’s choice whether it’s your favorite genre or not. Die Hard and Pride and Prejudice back to back? Sign us up.
Have a pajama party. Throw on your favorite flannels as soon as you get home from work. When’s the last time you cooked dinner in footie pajamas?
Have a DIY date. A little DIY project can be really fun. Repaint that dresser you’ve been wanting to refinish or hang those shelves that have been languishing on the floor forever. Your future selves will thank you.
Make fancy cocktails. Who needs to go to a crowded bar? Save time and money by learning how to mix your favorite cocktails at home. You can still get all dressed up to make the evening feel extra special.
Recreate your first date. What better way to keep the magic alive than by paying tribute to the way it all began? This could mean ordering takeout from the restaurant where you shared your first meal, watching the first movie you ever saw together, or any other activity that’s unique to your meet-cute. You’ll fall in love all over again.
Have breakfast in bed. Breakfast for dinner, anyone? Cook up your favorite breakfast staples, grab a couple of newspapers, and spend a couple hours relaxing in bed with your loved one.
Go “camping” in your backyard. Make a bonfire, grab some cozy camping blankets, and roast s’mores in the comfort of your own backyard. Instead of telling ghost stories, revisit your favorite memories from your relationship.
Have a homemade pasta night. Italian is one of the most romantic cuisines. Learn how to make your own pasta (it’s easier than you might think!) and cook up a delicious Italian feast with your sweetie. That’s amoré!
Hold an at-home wine tasting. Splurge on a few really nice bottles of wine and serve wine flights in your living room or kitchen. You can even order at-home wine tasting kits or do a virtual tasting online to learn more about the varieties you’re sampling.
Plan a romantic scavenger hunt. Create clues about your love story to take your partner on a fun scavenger hunt around your home. The final clue could lead to a cute couple gift to enjoy together.
Have a dance party. Make a romantic playlist of your favorite songs and dance the night away in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, or backyard. You’ll be surprised how the music can whisk you away to another time or place.
Cuddle up in front of the fire. Set the mood by lighting a cozy fire in your living room. If you don’t have a fireplace, you can create similar magic by lighting a bunch of candles around the room.
Create a bucket list. Spend the night making a list of all the things you want to do and places you want to go together as a couple. You can even get the ball rolling by booking your next romantic getaway.
Make your bedroom feel like a fancy hotel room. If you’ve been looking to upgrade your bed linens, now is the time. (Hint: Check out The Pioneer Woman bedding collection!) Go for a crisp, white set of sheets that are at least 300 thread count. Once you’ve created your perfect 5-star hotel bed situation, slip into a pair of plush bathrobes, order “room service” (aka takeout), and enjoy dinner and a movie in your bedroom. It’s the perfect staycation!
Exchange love letters. Before your date night, write each other thoughtful love letters declaring your true feelings. Try to make them as personal, detailed, and sincere as possible. You just might make your partner shed a few happy tears!
Make pottery together. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore’s famous pottery scene in Ghost is one of the most romantic movie moments of all time. Recreate it with your significant other and a DIY pottery kit.
Try a date night subscription box. Skip brainstorming and let the date night ideas come to you! A subscription box like Datebox Club will deliver everything you need for your romantic night in, such as games, activities, a love journal, and more.
Paint and Sip. Get in touch with your artistic side by having an at-home paint and sip night with your favorite wine. This is a great way to break up your routine, reconnect, and get some new décor in the process!
Hold a bakeoff. If The Great British Baking Show is your favorite show, hold your own baking competition and see who comes out on top. When you’re done, you’ll have two (hopefully) delicious desserts to devour together!
Learn your love languages. Take the official quiz and find out each other’s love languages, or the way you receive and express love in a relationship. This simple act can help ensure that you both feel loved and appreciated. Sounds like a pretty worthwhile way to spend an evening!
Take a virtual museum tour. Enjoy a night of culture and education by visiting museums from around the world from the comfort of your own living room. To really set the tone for the night, sample the country’s cuisine while you take the virtual tour. (For example, dine on fish and chips as you journey through the British Museum.)
Have a romantic movie marathon. Snuggle up on the sofa and watch a few of the greatest love stories ever told on the screen, like When Harry Met Sally, Brokeback Mountain, or The Big Sick, to name a few. Any one of them will make you feel all warm and fuzzy about your own real-life love.
Have a virtual double date. A 2014 study found that spending time with other couples “can increase passionate love between couples.” This can be achieved with a virtual double date as well, plus, it’s a great way to keep in touch with friends who don’t live nearby. Two birds with one stone!
Watch a game together. Whether one or both of you are sports fans, watching a game together can be a great bonding experience. Since it’s a special occasion, you should probably break out the best Super Bowl snacks!
Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.
This post was originally published on 3rd party site mentioned in the title of this site
