Introverts and parents rejoice: date night is back on!

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3 Keys to a Great At-Home Date Night:

  • Mix it up from the norm
  • Unplug and be present
  • Take turns asking each other out

Follow these quick tips to keep your relationship strong and sizzling. You can learn more about the brain science behind them here. And look over these ideas to overcome the most common date night excuses.

As humans we love novelty. But after a long day it’s sooo easy to turn on the TV… just like every other night. It kind of gets monotonous. But there’s good news! With a tiny bit of planning your date nights can be exciting again.

So try out these creative stay-at-home date ideas to have an intentional and memorable connection.

Your relationship is worth it!

Date Night Categories:

Artistic Date Ideas

Glass Decorating

Try your hand at glass painting or etching with glass etching cream. Design a customized glass for each other to sip their favorite drink in. Consider going green by upcycling some glass vases and bottles from a thrift store or even clean some glass bottles with a cool shape from your fridge. I personally can’t wait to try the latest trend of transforming glass into terracotta with this DIY terracotta paint method.

Potato Stamping

Make a potato stamp project for a creative stay-at-home date. From gorgeous large scale statement art to tea towels there are so many cool things you can do with potatoes! After you’re done, check out the water balloon launcher idea below to see how to use your leftover potatoes.

Wood Burning or Carving

Engrave the handles on wooden spoons with a wood burner or whittle a design of your own making. Use some conversation starters like these ones at Lemon Thistle for fun conversation as you carve.

Film a Claymation/Stop Motion

Try your hand at claymation or stop motion film and make a short film. Lego characters would be awesome to use! Come up with the story, gather props/build a background, then start filming. When you’re done, you will have a truly unique video memento.

Make a Flip Book

The precursor to stop motion films, this is a fun activity to make to tell a super short story. Grab a pad of sticky notes and a pencil and have at it! Learn how to make a flip book here with a cool feature to transfer your flip book into a video online to show your friends. It’s another great stay-at-home date with a fun keepsake for your collection.

Design a Graphic Tee

Design a ridiculous or crazy awesome graphic t-shirt togther on a free site like Canva. Thrift or purchase some plain t-shirts and print the design on transfer paper to iron onto the shirts. Or have a company print them for you instead.

Backyard + Active Date Ideas

Rooftop Picnic

Mix up your dinner routine with a dramatic change in scenery. Pack a picnic, borrow a ladder, and enjoy a gorgeous sunset together. Or do dessert on the roof/balcony and get in some stargazing. Just please remember to wear good shoes, especially if you’re on a slanted roof. 🙂

Kool-Aid Fight

Head to your backyard for a fun twist on the classic waterfight. Load your favorite watergun (we LOVE these ones) with double strength Kool-Aid. Both wear white t-shirts and dark shorts and see who gets more colored! This date is ideal for a hot summer night while the kids have a movie going or even during the baby’s nap on a warm Saturday.

Water Balloon Launching

Pick up one of these water balloon launchers and fling water balloons, potatoes, or whatever small object you don’t mind cleaning up afterwards. Since there are only two of you, you’ll need to build a sturdy base. Then enjoy launching your balloons at a sturdy target. If you have a REALLY huge backyard you could also look into potato guns. If you go the potato route, try some potato stamping and afterwards launch your spuds. Your hubby is going to love this date.

Play in the Snow

Sneak out to the backyard after the kids are asleep and build a snowman. Then start a snowball fight! Afterwards, warm up inside with some hot cocoa and snuggle up under a cozy blanket.

Two Person Hammock

Set up a two person hammock (we love this one). Ask each other about your goals and dreams. Then put on an audio book or podcast you’re both interested in and snuggle away.

AcroYoga

Put on some exercise clothes and strengthen your trust in each other through acrobatic yoga. While normal couples yoga is fun, AcroYoga takes you into the air! Afterwards, make a healthy snack like a smoothie or some homemade hummus.

Romantic Date Ideas

Love Story Picnic

Set up a sweet little picnic in your living room or on your bed. Then write out, type, or better yet, film how you met and fell in love. Your kids and future posterity will be so grateful, and it will be fun to read or watch down the road. It might surprise you how much you will forget!

Start a Couples Journal

Have you ever looked back at an old journal and said, “Oh man, I totally forgot about that!” Well, do something so you don’t forget about all the great times in your relationship. Make a physical journal/scapbook or even an electronic one so you can always remember your love for each other. Make it a tradition to pull it out on a special day like New Years or your anniversary to update it.

Indoor Camping

Set up a blanket fort in your living room and move your mattress out to spend the night “camping” in comfort! Cook up some chicken sausages (or hot dogs if you prefer) and then roast gourmet indoor s’mores like these tasty key lime pie s’mores in your oven or by the flame of a gas stove top. To make it extra romantic hang up string lights, bring out the acoustic guitar, and have plenty of soft pillows and cozy blankets for cuddling.

Find more romantic date ideas here: Unexpected Valentine’s Date Ideas *Perfect for anniversaries too *

Conversation Promoting Date Ideas

Read a Novella Outloud

Pick a short story, novella or even some favorite children’s books and read out loud to each other. Books provide a lot of fresh conversation topics! One evening we totally curled up and took turns reading the classic children’s book, Frindle. And we’ve had some great discussions with Brandon Sanderson’s novellas Emperor’s Soul, Snapshot, and Defending Elysium. Can’t make it to the library? Checkout Overdrive to get ebooks and audio books for free with your library card.

Take a Personality Test

Take a test and compare your results! Some good ones to try: Jung, The 5 Love Languages, and The Color Code. If you’re married, The Emotional Needs Questionaire is quite insightful. Any of these will strengthen your relationship and help you better understand each other.

Two Player Game Night

For the same price as a couple trips to the movies you can often purchase a two player game! And with plenty of chat time and replay value for future date nights they are a wonderful investment. Our current favorite is Cover Your Kingdom, but Jaipur, Quixx, Patchwork, Skull King, Onitama, The Fox in the Forest Duet, Sushi Go Party, and Splendor are all ones you should check out! Oh and Onitama even has an app that’s free.

36 Question Challenge + Homemade Ice Cream

Whip up some homemade ice cream in an ice cream maker (sometimes found at thrift stores) or even by hand with ziplock bags. Set up an ice cream topping bar and go crazy. Then while your ice cream is being made pull up the 36 questions to fall in love experiement and see if you can do the final eye contact challenge.

Hilarious Date Ideas

Become Fake Tour Guides

Tour a muesum virtually or even your own house and take turns coming up with funny backstories and outrageous “facts”. Splurge on some fancy cheeses, salami, crackers, and crisp grapes, and throw in your favorite drink for good measure. Then sip, snack and giggle as you become more cultured.

Lip Sync Date

Surprise your partner with a hilarious evening of lip syncing. Start by each looking up the funniest lip sync video you can find, then share with each other. For the second part bring out a box of random costume items to dress up. Then pick a song or two and film yourselves lip syncing with crazy dance moves. Try solos or duets for variety. After filming, sit back and enjoy your hilarious date night mementos.

Voice Over Date

Pull up a funny YouTube video or a highlight reel of a TV series, turn it on mute, and then narrate it yourselves! Soap opera clips would be another hilarious option. After you have busted out your mad improv skills, transition to a two player game (this one is our current favorite).

Popeye Mad Libs

My husband came up with this quirky and fun date–we had a blast! First, watch a few episodes of the old-school show Popeye. Some episodes are definitely better than others, ha! And then play sexy mad libs which are HILARIOUS. Come up with a nautical word bank ahead of time. For the first round use your preselected nautical words, then feel free to switch back to regular mad lib rules.

Slow Motion Videos

Most phones have an underutilized slow motion feature. Now’s your chance to put it to work! Make slow motion videos together on topics ranging from smashing or crushing objects and doing stunts to silly faces and dance moves. You should also try to capture a sneeze and take turns squirting each other with water. Multiple replays recommended.

Build + Explore Date Ideas

Lego Night

Become lego engineers for the evening! Find a cool lego set you’d both like to construct, put out some snacks, turn on the tunes, and get building. Go the extra mile and add an additional themed activity based on the lego type. For example, if you build a lego pirateship, play The Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack as you build, and have your favorite seafood dinner. Super customizable date!

DIY Science Experiments

Find a few science experiments to try on YouTube. Go shopping ahead of time to collect the supplies and then see how the experiments turn out! Whether they work or not, it’ll be entertaining to try and definitely memorable. Pro tip: Be safe and have the right protective gear available.

Appetizer Dinner

Mix up your dinner routine and make only your favorite finger foods or some you’ve never tried before. This is the perfect time to bust out the deep fryer or air fryer and to try some fun new dipping sauces.

Virtual Day Trip

Just like spontaneously buying one-way airline tickets, except without the cost! Check out Thrillist to virtually travel to somewhere you’ve never been before. Bonus points for making a meal inspired by the location. Plan ahead if you need any specialty ingredients.

Launch a Rocket or Mini Hot Air Balloon

Build and launch your own rocket or mini hot air balloon (aka sky lantern). Launching something like this with your date will be SO cool. If building one sounds too complicated pick up these colorful eco friendly sky lanterns.

Learn a New Skill

Look up skills or talents you can learn in one day on YouTube and make it happen. Or at least have fun trying! From saying hello in 50 languages to solving a rubix cube to becoming a better dancer, there’s a skill for everyone.

Last Minute Date Ideas

Plan a Dream Vacation

Find the coolest Airbnb in your dream location. Then look up fun things to do in the area and add this to your bucket list. Or start saving to make this dream a reality! This activity is best done side by side so you can see each other’s screens and be together. Because, you know, you’re on a date. 😉

Design a Band Poster

Try your hand at a little graphic design and come up with a poster for a made up band–the crazier, the better! We made a poster with an elephant in space and called our band/album “Cosma-Phants: Delve into the Silence.” 😂 We used Canva, a free site great for beginners. After you’ve created your glorious masterpiece, save it as a unique memento or share with friends for extra laughs. Then each pick a song or two with meaningful lyrics to share with each other.

Power Outage Date Night

Turn off all the lights, put away technology, and play hide and seek in the dark! Then pull out the candles or flashlights and play your favorite two player game. Then cuddle up and tell favorite stories from your childhood.

Scavenger Hunt

All you need are your phones and these internet scavenger hunt instructions. There are four different themes to choose from which range from exploring your bucket list to interactive things to do together. If you’d prefer an actual scavenger hunt around your house, Let’s Roam has some cool one hour scavenger hunt packages for couples to purchase.

Dessert Delivery

Host a sweet and easy dessert night. Instead of your usual Chinese take out, order your favorite dessert from a few different places and split them with your date. Candles and some conversation starters or a personality quiz would be great additions.

Themed Date Ideas

Harry Potter Night

Pull up some famous quotes and quiz each other to match the right character to quote. Then let the sorting hat place you in your house on Wizarding World/Pottermore. Top off your magical night by trying different flavors of Berttie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and sipping homemade butterbeer over your favorite Harry Potter movie.

Tropical Island Date

Have an at-home luau with huli huli chicken, fresh pineapple, and shave ice/smoothies for dessert. Build sand castles with DIY play sand and soak your feet in the “ocean” (a tub or kiddie pool) as you watch Moana or Lilo & Stitch.

Paper Airplane Target Practice

Draw a target on a cardboard box and write an activity in each level, saving the best for the bullseye.

Some activity ideas include:

  • Make a dessert
  • Pillow fight
  • Give three compliments
  • Sock war (start on your hands and knees and try to remove the other person’s sock first)
  • Swap phones and find a funny photo
  • Three minute back rub
  • Attempt the yoga wheel pose
  • Give each other a 60 second hug

Fold a few paper airplanes trying different designs. After your planes are complete, take turns hitting the target. Do each activity after you’ve hit a spot three times as a team.

Food Fear Factor

Pick up some snacks from a local international market for this date. Randomly split the snacks into two separate bags. Then put a blind fold on your partner, pick a bag, and feed them the exotic foods. Then swap roles. Afterwards, pick the winner of the best and the worst snacks.

Automobile Date

Make a ramp out of cardboard and race hot wheels. Look up cool or wacky cars and share your dream car with your partner. Then put on a film like Cars or old school Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. If you’re feeling extra creative, you could even watch it on the hood or inside of your car!

Nerd Out

Find out your order on the Knights Radiant Order Quiz, play a video game your spouse loves, take a Pokemon Go stroll, or watch an episode of Pokemon/Yugio/Anime/insert nerdy show of choice.

Classy Home Theater

Prepare a mini concession stand with popcorn, candies and drinks ahead of time. Set up a projector on a white sheet or wall and make your seating extra comfy. Then both dress up for a hot date and enjoy a classy film like The Scarlet Pimpernel 1982 (my fave!) or whatever movie you both love. Don’t have a projector? Ask around and find a friend who does!

Indoor Snowball Fight

Surprise your spouse with an indoor snowball fight. Get some faux snowballs or a pile of rolled up white socks and let the snowball fight begin! Then stack some plastic cups and take turns knocking them down with your snowballs. Top the night off with some frozen hot chocolate (freeze some chocolate milk in an ice cube tray then blend with vanilla or chocolate mint ice cream).

Childhood Throwback

Each pick an episode from a series or a movie you liked as a kid. A few recommendations: Cyberchase, Phineas and Ferb, and the first episode of Kim Possible (such a gem). Make sure to munch on your favorite childhood snacks during this wonderful flashback to the past.

Now you have a go-to resource for months of creative stay-at-home dates! Want more? Check out my Boredom Busters post for even more ideas to turn into dates.

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