Isolation and social distancing have made life…well, pretty chaotic. Working from your couch sounded like a great idea in the beginning. But let’s face it, being cooked up in the house 24/7 can get pretty boring, and your date nights can suffer.
Luckily, there are still a ton of creative and fun at-home date night ideas that don’t require leaving the house and are also budget friendly. So here are 7 unique date night ideas that’ll keep the flame alive, and no, they don’t include playing board games or Netflix and chilling. I promise!
1. Go on a Virtual Date to Mars
They say red is the color of love. So why not go on a date to the red planet? Take a trip to Mars without even leaving the couch and explore the mysterious planet using 360-degree high-resolution digital views recorded by the Curiosity Rover. Click on “points of interests” or navigate from one mission site to the next with your mouse. But don’t forget to grab a bottle of champagne, some strawberries, or your favorite snacks before heading to this unique and out-of-this-world date night plan.
2. Create a Romantic Scavenger Hunt
A customized scavenger hunt is just what you need in a time like this. No one knows your S.O. better than you do, so create some personalized clues and riddles that keep them searching for items scattered around the house.
Just make sure that the clues aren’t too difficult because it’s supposed to be fun, not college algebra. Well, unless you love algebra! Sit down and decide whether your partner would prefer solving riddles, word games, or guessing clues. Then, write them down.
Here are 3 clue examples:
- “Stop and breathe, and let’s take a trip to the past. Head down to the place where you were just sitting last.”
Your significant other would now have to head to the place where they were just sitting down, which will most likely be the couch or a chair. This is where they’d find another clue. - “Roses are pink, and irises are blue. In our favorite room around the house you will find the next clue.”
- “Inside of me I keep your favorite treats. Open me up and you will see!”
So obviously, this one alludes to the refrigerator. You can leave a mini prize inside the fridge next to another clue or you can use this one as the final clue where your S.O. would find the grand prize.
3. Surprise Them With Their Favorite Childhood Meal
The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, right? So get ready to make your partner very nostalgic by cooking their favorite childhood meal. I’m talking about the kind of meal that mom, dad, or a grandparent used to make for your significant other when they were young.
Oh, and if you don’t know what their favorite childhood meal is, just give their mom a call and find out. Build up some momentum by asking your partner to stay out of the kitchen until that perfect meal or dessert is done. If you want to keep mom or dad in the loop, record their reaction when they first see it and share the video later on.
Is there anything more romantic than sharing a favorite dish with those you love?
4. Play a Newlywed Game
What’s more fun than seeing how well you know each other? Grab a white board and a dry erase marker or a chalkboard and chalk to write down the questions. Of course, paper and pencil will work as well.
Make up a few rules for the game, like having five questions for each round. Add a points system like on “Jeopardy.” The easy questions can be worth 100 points while the harder questions range anywhere from 200 to 500 points. Being married or engaged isn’t a requirement for this game either. Anyone in a committed relationship can play.
Here are some questions to ask each other:
- What would your partner say is one of your most annoying habits?
- What’s your partner’s favorite color?
- What’s your partner’s favorite meal?
- What’s your partner’s most hated movie?
- What’s your partner’s dream job?
- Which coworker would your partner fire if they could?
General questions are okay too, like:
- Who said “I Love You” first?
- How many kids do you want to have, if any?
- Which TV show did your partner regret watching?
- What was the first job they ever had?
5. Watch a Movie Outside (In Your Own Drive-In Theater)
Watching a movie under the moonlight has got to be one of the most romantic, (and Instagrammable?) things couples can do together. Set up a sheet and a projector out in the backyard, and bring two chairs or a blanket to throw on the grass. Or of course, you can use a laptop or a TV if you don’t have a projector, too.
Don’t forget to have your favorite drinks and snacks. Have fun gathering all the guilty-pleasure foods you want to snack on first. Then, head on out to enjoy a movie date night under the stars.
We like to do this with lots of pillows and blankets, but another idea would be to do it in the bed of your truck if you have one!
If you have a car that’s currently sitting in the garage, you can tweak this date night idea and have a drive-in theater experience. Grab some sodas, some popcorn and your laptop or tablet and just hit “play”.
Sometimes when you’re cooped up at home, all you want to do is get outside just to change the scenery. So outdoor dates are always a great idea.
6. DIY Paint & Sip Date Night At Home
One of the most fun and creative date nights you can do at home is a DIY Paint & Sip Date. This is where you both get to paint your own masterpieces with an instructor, all from the comfort of your own home!
We had an awesome step-by-step painting instructor create a couples painting just for us and our readers so you can do your own Couples Paint & Sip at home.
Then you’ll have your very own artwork to hang in your house of a piece you made together! Plus, it’s a fun and flirty date with wine or choice of beverage and a little playfulness with the painting!
7. Host Your Own Food Cookoff
Another unique date is to recreate your favorite cooking competition show. We love doing “Nailed It!” nights, where you try to copy a Pinterest recipe and see how close (or not close) you can come to making it look as awesome as the original.
You could also do your own version of Top Chef, Chopped, or Cupcake Wars too!
Whatever your favorite show, grab the ingredients you’ll need and enjoy a fun evening in the kitchen together.
Best part is, you get to enjoy the food together after!
Whether you’re looking for stay at home date ideas because you are stuck at home, on a budget, or just trying to lay low, there are so many different things you can do to have some quality time together.
If you’re looking for even more ideas, check out our ultimate list of stay at home date night ideas.
Sara, a seasoned expert in wedding planning and date ideas, brings a wealth of experience to our couples blog. With a background in the television industry and hands-on involvement in a dozen weddings, including working as a wedding assistant on "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera," Sara has an innate understanding of the magic that makes weddings truly special. Growing up with four sisters has given her unique insights into the dating world, making her a go-to source for practical and heartfelt dating advice. Her knowledge and enthusiasm make her the perfect guide for couples seeking to infuse their relationships with creativity and love.