Now, more than ever people are having date nights at home! As fellow introverts, my husband and I love staying home no matter if there’s a pandemic going on or not.
A tradition we started right before we had our daughter was making a point to have a regular Friday evening date night every week. Most times it’s just takeout and a movie but it’s fun to switch things up every once in a while.
Here’s some easy ideas you can do right from home. I’d love to hear your favorite home date nights you have too!
I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
1. Take out and a movie
Typical I know! But mix it up! Order food from a new place, try a different item from your favorite place or just order your regular pizza! But no one cooks and everyone is happy.
We always do our date nights after our daughter goes to bed so sometimes we eat a little later but we make sure to order food ahead of time so we have that food ready as soon as she goes down!
Then turn on your current show you catch up on together or watch a new movie that just came out or pick something random on Netflix. You know what you like so don’t make it complicated.
Alternative: Watch a British murder mystery like Broadchurch or Criminal and make fancy cocktails! Or watch Christmas favorites (even if it’s July!) and make hot chocolate.
2. Random snacks and board games
I used to be the odd one out now playing board games with my husband’s family but now I’ve been roped in because I’ve found ones I love! We like playing Rummikub, Set, Pass the Pigs, Lanterns, Sequence, Phase 10, and Spot It.
Gather up all the snacks in your cupboard and pair it with all the dips and dressings and fill your table with love and laughter! This is the perfect thrown together, last minute, date night.
Alternative: Play a really long board game. Find that board game you never play because it takes to long to play. Finish it throughout the week or only pick it back up on Fridays! And get the really good snacks for this date night. Like shrimp cocktail and spinach dip mmmm.
3. A puzzle and an old bingeworthy show
I love pairing a puzzle with one of your old favorite TV shows because you don’t have to follow to closely to what you’re watching. We like to binge Friends, Parks and Recreation, Seinfeld, The Office, Community, Queer Eye, or The Great British Baking Show.
A great background show mixed with whatever puzzle you have on hand is such an easy way to have a (slightly) different home date night that’s not (exactly) dinner and a movie.
Alternative: Play a trivia game or Trivial Pursuit or Trivia Crack together! I love all kinds of logic puzzle games and I know it’s not for everyone but give it a try!
4. Video game
This is another one of those ones that I’ve really come around to! If you’re not video game lovers this one is still for you because I’ll have an alternative at the end so just hold tight.
In the midst of the 2020 lockdown stage of the pandemic we got really into Overcooked (so much so I would dream about it and see the game every time I closed my eyes…). It’s a great team building video game that you really have to communicate with your partner to accomplish the goal. Look it up and buy the extension because it’s totally worth it!
Another way we “play” video games together is Nate plays really cool story games and I watch. I know it sounds really lame but they can be more interesting than movies sometimes. He played through What Remains of Edith Finch and it was so captivating and you get to choose your own adventure and do puzzles to figure things out as you go. And he’s playing through Outer Wilds right now and I’ll just sit and crochet and it’s so interesting!
Alternative: find a game app on your phones that you both love then play each other! Mini video game! We like to play Rummikub and Phase10 on our phones together or even side by side. Nate got Mini Metro and we just played that for hours the other night on his phone.
5. Breakfast food and conversation cards
The only reason I say make breakfast food is because I always forget you can have breakfast for dinner. I’m serious! Whenever someone suggests to do that I’m always shocked and in awe of the idea like it’s the first time I’ve heard it. It’s always a good idea.
And as far as conversation cards go, there are so many options out there for families and couples. We got this set for a gift this year and we even have a marriage board game. Now, we don’t use them very often but they’re always an option if you want to mix things up!
Alternative: just play 20 questions or Google random questions to get to know each other because honestly you’re never done learning about your significant other! But still make breakfast food because it’s so good. It’s always the right choice.
That’s it! 5 super easy and quick date night ideas when you feel like you’re in a slump or just want to try something a tiny bit different. I guarantee you have everything you need already at home and you just need to shake it up a little bit.
What’s your favorite way to have a home date night? Or what’s your favorite tradition you have with just your partner?
Have fun, don’t overthink it, and make new traditions!
