When we’re stuck at home we often turn to watching TV and sitting on our phones. I’ve compiled the best at-home date ideas you can do this winter that you and your partner will actually want to plan.
These ideas are also budget-friendly as they can all be done for free or less than $50. Plus, I guarantee all of these ideas will help you create memories that last a lifetime. I stand behind this because these are all dates I have personally done or plan to do this year!
Here are 15 ideas to turn your average night at home into a memorable and romantic date night.
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1. Home Theater
If you have a projector, this is a great way to elevate your movie night. I did this by hanging sheets (you might have to get creative) all around a couch. This creates an enclosed “room” that you can decorate with lights.
My boyfriend and I loved our makeshift theater (pictured above) so much that we kept it up all winter. It really felt like a romantic escape!
If you don’t have a projector, I highly recommend this one. It’s affordable, works with my macbook, and has already lasted me 4 years with no issues.
2. Karaoke
Get in the holiday spirit by singing your favorite Christmas songs like “All I Want for Christmas is You” and laugh at each other trying to hit the high notes.
You can find karaoke songs on YouTube and use a hairbrush as a mic, or, if you know this is going to be a repeat date, you can get this karaoke microphone and this disco light and really put on a performance.
3. Have a Prom
One of the top 3 dates my boyfriend and I have ever had was right at home. It did take a little advanced planning and it’s definitely corny, but if you’re into that sort of thing you HAVE to try this. It’s especially cute if you didn’t know each other in high school and want to pretend you got to be prom dates.
I made cute tickets in Canva (as keepsakes) and my boyfriend went the extra mile by surprising me with a promposal. We picked a theme, made a playlist, and cleared out a space for me to decorate with lights, balloons, etc.
On the day of, we got all dolled up like we would have for high school Prom (my boyfriend even shaved his beard) and took lots of pictures together. We danced for hours and ordered pizza and desserts.
One of the best parts of this date is you get to experience the anticipation leading up to the night of the dance! 10/10 super romantic unforgettable experience.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can get these prom king and queen sashes! I also recommend setting up a vibey light like this one. I promise it makes it so much cooler!
4. Follow a Bob Ross Tutorial
If you’ve ever wanted to paint with phthalo blue and titanium white, this is your chance. Use the paint and brushes you already have at home (or make a date out of going to the store and buying supplies) and try to follow Bob Ross’s instructions.
If you’re lacking in art supplies, check out this set from the man himself! It comes with all the paints and brushes you need to follow along. When you’re done, you’ll have brand new meaningful art to display!
5. Create a Vision Board for Next Year
As the end of the year rolls around, a vision board is a great way to talk about your goals for the next year and make sure you’re both on the same page. If you’re crafty, you can make a big poster board to hang somewhere you’ll both see every day. You can also make a vision board in Notion and track your progress throughout the year.
Even if you just make a list in your notes app, it’s always a good idea to talk to your partner about your goals for the future.
6. Make Bucket Lists
You can make bucket lists for a variety of occasions. Bucket list for the winter, for the next year, before you turn a certain age, before you get married, before you have kids, before you die, etc. Make individual lists first and add what overlaps to a joint bucket list! If there’s somewhere you both want to visit, start planning your trip together. If you need ideas, check out this blog!
7. Put Together a Puzzle
8. Make a Reading Nook and Read
We all have books that we bought with the best intentions but never got around to reading. Make a date out of it by designating a reading nook with pillows and blankets and spend a few hours in comfortable silence. Definitely take breaks to talk to each other about what you’ve read and what you think about it!
9. Bake Cookies
Teach your partner your family recipe or find a good one online and end up getting flour all over each other and all that corny Hallmark movie stuff. If you’re in need of a good chocolate chip cookie recipe, my family literally begs me to make these. We also love this recipe for soft sugar cookies with buttercream frosting.
10. Play We’re Not Really Strangers
11. Learn a Dance Together
There are so many ways this could go! You could learn TikTok dances and post your version for all your friends (and the world) to see, or you can watch YouTube tutorials on ballroom dancing, swing dancing, bachata, etc. Learning some choreography for your favorite songs is a great party trick to show off next time you go out or have company over!
12. Decorate for the Holidays
13. Make Gingerbread Houses
14. Make Homemade Pizza
Homemade can be interpreted however you want. You can get pre-made pizza crusts and sauce from the grocery store or you can make everything from scratch. Get your favorite cheeses and toppings (I’m a huge fan of ricotta and green peppers) and get creative!
15. Play Beer Pong
If you’re looking for something a little more competitive, throw a party for two and play a few games of beer pong. You can spice it up by deciding on a prize for the winner… or a punishment for the loser. Grab some solo cups, ping pong balls, and your drink of choice (make it eggnog if you want to be festive!) and blast some music. You can even decorate with some waterproof Christmas lights.
