Last updated on March 3rd, 2021 at 09:15 pm

Date nights have been looking a little different lately. With lockdowns being implemented across the globe, many couples are spending their free time at home, rather than their favorite restaurant or movie theater. I can speak for many parents when I say, even pre-pandemic, finding a sitter was not always feasible, so date night was not a top priority. 

However, we know that it should be.

…date night is important – it fosters communication, increases feelings of intimacy, decreases the chances of taking each other for granted, decreases stress, and builds attachment. – thecouplescenter.org

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to share these at-home date night ideas. Connect with your partner, without the FOMO of leaving the house. Depending on what you’re able to execute (AKA how much privacy you have), you’re sure to find inspiration for an awesome at-home date night.

Pro tip: if your choice for date night permits, don’t skip out on getting ready. Just because you’re not actually leaving the house doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel your best. Prepare yourself as you would if you were going out! Obviously, this isn’t ideal for building a blanket fort, or a couples spa night, but putting in the extra effort can shift your perspective, and help you get into the right mindset.

25 At Home Date Night Ideas

1. Create your Bucket Lists

Have you ever really sat down and wrote out your wildest dreams? The sky is the limit when it come’s to bucket lists. Compare yours with your partner’s and see where they intersect! You never know, it may just lead to planning your next adventure together.

2. Have a Paper Airplane Competition

This one is definitely for your inner child. Get creative! Look up some aerodynamic designs online, decorate your plane, and set up a runway. You’ll be surprised how much fun such a simple activity can be when you make an event out of it. Also, a little competition is healthy. Maybe have some light wagers!

3. Do a Puzzle

This activity is great because it can be as easy or as hard as you want. Also, puzzles have come a long way! Check out these shaped puzzles on Amazon:

4. Do a Craft Together 

Pinterest is your best friend for this one. How fun would it be to find a home décor DIY craft that you can create together, then display in your home. You’ll have fond memories of your night together, and how much fun you had making it, every time you see it.

5. Build a Lego Dream House 

For once, Legos can be friend instead of foe. Clear off a surface and work together to build your dream house. It may just spark future reno projects you both want.

6. Paint by Number

These were SO fun to do as a kid. Now imagine the cool paintings you can create with the skills and patience of an adult. This moon phase picture or this deer would be a blast! Find 2 complimentary kits and you’ll also have yourself some new décor.

7. Make a couples vision board 

What goals do you want to accomplish together? Grab some Bristol board, magazines, glue, and get creative! If you’re like me, you may not have any magazines laying around. Good news, websites like Canva allow you to create digital vision boards (very easily). Send it to a local Staples to be printed, and voila!

8. Video Game Tournament 

Personally, the nostalgia I experience, when we bust out the old Super Mario games, is unsurmountable. Pair that with a little healthy competition between you and your partner — it’s a blast!

9. Find an interesting YouTube tutorial and try it out

Maybe it’s learning to play an instrument, speak another language, or simply completing a task around the house, that you may not know how to. YouTube has tutorials for just about anything you can imagine, so harness that knowledge to learn a new skill with your partner.

10. Mixed media portraits of each other

My partner and I have done this and we had SO much fun! Grab some dollar store canvases, glue, paint, or whatever you have on hand. Sit across from each other and let the creative juices flow. We laughed so much, especially because neither of us are particularly talented, but I will say his rendition of me was MUCH better than mine of him.

11. Indoor (or Outdoor) Camping 

Considering this post is being published in time for Valentine’s Day, and I’m sure many of you are Canadian, I’m going to recommend indoor camping. Clear out a space, and grab your sleeping bags! Want to really feel like you’re camping? Check out this Indoor Smores Maker on Amazon.

12. Stargazing 

A date night as old as time. Check out National Geographic’s list of 10 Spectacular Stargazing Events to Watch in 2021

13. Indoor Nerf Gun Fight

Get in touch with your inner child (again) and challenge your partner to an indoor Nerf gun fight! You can take this idea and run with it by setting up barricades, reloading stations, safe zones, and even super fun outfits. It’s Battle Royale, Baby.

14. Naked Twister 

I know post-baby, we can have a less than appreciative view of our bodies. STOP THAT! Look that (very unfounded) shame in the face and let yourself be free and naked. Get silly and challenge your partner to a game of naked Twister! It’s less than $20 on Amazon.

15. Strip Poker

Poker and chicken wings is one of our absolute favorite at home dates. Play the classic version if there’s a risk of the little humans waking up, or step up the fun and turn it into strip poker. Our poker set was a fantastic investment and we use it quite often. Find it on Amazon here for $32.

16. Sexy dice 

I feel like this is one of the first intimate games that anyone is introduced to. It’s a fantastic way to ease into play, in the bedroom. Games and toys can be intimidating but sexy dice are usually pretty basic and shouldn’t take you too much out of your comfort zone. The classic dice have one for action and one for location, but these ones I found on amazon, also include a die with different positions on each side! Choose which game you want to play and get ready for some sexy fun.

17. Learn a dance 

Similar to #9, you’ll likely want to turn to YouTube for this. Have you ever wanted to learn how to Salsa? Or maybe the Waltz? Date night at home is the perfect opportunity to grab your partner and teach yourself a new dance. If you’re looking for something a bit easier or lighthearted, you can always open up TikTok and see what dances all the cool kids are doing. Have fun with it!

18. Cook a new dish together  

With a little bit of prep, the sky’s the limit for this date night. Don’t want to go grocery shopping if you can avoid it? Supercook.com has your back. You can punch in all the ingredients you have on hand and it will give you a bunch of recipes you can make using only those ingredients. Pick something you guys have never tried before, and get to work.

19. Movie Bingo

Myfreebingocards.com has a bunch of themed cards you can print for free, depending on what type of movie you are in the mood for. Winner gets ____. I’ll let you fill in the blank.

20. Conversation Starter Jar/Box/Game

This can be a great way to have interesting dialogue between you and your partner, that you may not think to have otherwise. Check out a list of 200 Conversation Starters for Couples that I wrote, or you can order this box from Amazon. It has 100 cards to choose from and a 30-day return policy, in case you find that they don’t live up to the hype.

21. Virtual Paint Night

Since Covid has surfaced, these seem to be all the rage. Since we can’t gather in a room anymore for a conventional teacher-led paint night, many instructors have moved their events online. There are plenty of free past events on YouTube, or a quick Google search will show you upcoming events often hosted on Zoom or Facebook Live. The latter is beneficial for couples who may want to engage with more than just each other while painting.

22. Couples Spa Night

Save money by bringing the spa home. This is easy to DIY with items you likely have already kicking around the house. There are countless “recipes” for face masks, foot soaks, and exfoliating scrubs all over the internet. If DIY isn’t your thing, this basket from Amazon seems to have just about everything you’d need for a pampering date night.

23. Naked Portraits of Each Other  

An X-rated spin on #10! Need I say more?

24. Professional massages 

Candles, oil, sensual music.. The possibilities are endless. I’m not talking about the kind of massages you give each other after a long day. Step up your game and treat each other to professional style massages with all of the perks. I’m sure you’re getting sick of hearing this, but YouTube is your friend! Learn some fancy new techniques and blow your partner’s mind.

25. Build a blanket fort

Remember when you were a kid and you’d turn your room into a kick-ass blanket fort? Well do I have news for you. Being a grown up means you can now extend that blanket fort to the entire house now, if you’d like! Maybe being an adult isn’t so bad.