Before #quarantinelife, we would make it a priority to go on a date night each week. Living downtown Indianapolis means many impromptu walks to grab dinner, a drink, play arcade games, or attend a sporting event. One thing this is teaching me is that there is so much to do within the comfort of our own home. That is something to be thankful for! Staying home has also been good for the budget. Here is a list of 12 stay at home date night ideas to try with your significant other:
1. Cook a new recipe– Cooking together is my favorite. We have several cookbooks and like picking new recipes to try each week. This hasn’t changed much for us, but now that we don’t have the option to go out, it’s much more special. CJ prefers to cook and I prefer to bake, but when we work together, it’s so much fun!
2. Build a fort & movie night– We actually did this in January and it was the best. Our floor is a little uncomfortable, so we had to get creative. There is something nostalgic about building a fort. It makes for a completely new experience when watching a movie at home. Anything that switches up the daily or nightly routine is helpful these days!
3. Have a game night– Believe it or not, you CAN play Catan with two people. 😉 We recently bought the game Duel which is a two person strategy board game that we’re going to learn. Skip-Bo is another Cazee family favorite. If we had video games, I’m sure we would play those as well. Whatever you choose to play, turn on some music, light candles, pour a glass of wine, and keep it competitive.
4. Picnic indoors or outdoors– Fortunately we’re still privileged enough to take walks and go outdoors. However, if you have to stay inside due to the weather or coronavirus, a picnic will work either way. Pack a picnic basket, lay out a blanket, and pretend you’re in Central Park or in the south of France. Here is the picnic basket we use.
5. Plan for the future together– Although we aren’t in control of the future, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun scheming! Plan a trip for late Fall/Winter, goals for your relationship, or a DIY project. Dreaming about the future is good for the soul sometimes.
6. Candle lit take-out dinner– Support local, but make it date night. Pick your favorite local restaurant (maybe even splurge a bit), light a candle, and enjoy food that you didn’t have to cook. Here is a website where you can buy a gift card from some Indy restaurants in need.
7. Put on a record and clean or organize– All of our serious conversations happen over folding laundry. It’s our “Situation Room.” This is something we do about once a week, and it makes cleaning much more fun. If you don’t have a record player, just stream your favorite playlist, sing, dance, and make cleaning a date night. We like to open our balcony doors & light candles to really freshen things up. There is nothing better than going to bed with a clean home!
8. Spa night– Grab some face masks, bath bombs, give yourselves a mani/pedi, or exchange massages. We love doing face masks, personally. This is a great idea if you’ve been feeling stressed or anxious & it promotes a good night of sleep.
9. Do yoga together– We’ve been doing Yoga with Adrienne at night, so often that CJ is considering ordering his own yoga mat. If you’ve been sitting more than normal and feel restless, yoga is amazing for your body and also helps with sleep. We typically turn off the lights, light a candle, and choose an option to wind down.
10. Go for a long walk– Taking a walk is also great for long conversations. It’s crucial to get out of the house & get some exercise, and doing it together is always more fun. With the warmer temps in Indiana, this is a great date night idea. It usually improves our moods too, which is always a plus. 🙂
11. Breakfast in bed– Ok so maybe this isn’t a date NIGHT idea, but who says dates only have to be at night? There is nothing better than a slow Saturday morning. Either you or your boo can cook breakfast, make some coffee, and hop back into bed to enjoy the meal. After eating, spend the morning reading in bed. Here are the breakfast trays we use, and you can find a similar coffee carafe here.
12. Read a book aloud together– Pick out a good fiction book, and take turns reading a chapter out loud each night. We started doing this with The Chronicles of Narnia, and it was a fun way to end the night and make our way through an intriguing book.
I hope you can use some of these ideas for a romantic date night during this time. If there is anything I’ve learned during this time, it’s that we have so much to be thankful for, and it’s the simple things that matter most.
Thanks for reading my 12 stay at home date night ideas! Do you have another fun date night I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments. Also be sure to check out the books I’ll be reading this year and tips for working from home.
