6 Fun Date Nights When You’re Stuck at Home

Just because you need to stay in the house, doesn’t mean romance has to fly out the window.

Whether you’re stuck at home because of a stay-at-home order or your babysitter canceled last minute, that doesn’t mean date night is a no-go. From the classic dinner-and-a-movie to unique spins on modern favorites, here are 6 creative date nights for you and your partner to enjoy when you need to stay home.

Let’s Go To the Movies (or revisit childhood) — It’s an oldie but a goodie! Pop some popcorn (sample some fun gourmet flavors), grab some snacks, order a pizza, and choose your favorite flick. Make sure to switch off your phones and get ready to stay put; then, make your surroundings as dark as possible so you can really feel like you’re at the theater. And hey, sneak in a kiss or two. You might not even make it through the movie. 😉
Not into movies? How about awakening your inner child and playing board games, doing a massive LEGO build, or working together on a jigsaw puzzle? Revisiting things you did in childhood can help you laugh together and share stories from your past, helping you learn more about each other and grow closer together.

Escape Artists — If you love solving puzzles, deciphering riddles, or if you and your spouse enjoy escape rooms, channel your inner escapist from your own home. My husband and I love doing the Exit the Game series of escape rooms in a box, which are ranked from easy to very challenging. You can start with a level one or two like The House of Riddles or The Mysterious Museum and work your way up to some of the super-puzzlers like The Catacombs of Horror and Dead Man on The Orient Express, where you also must solve a murder before time runs out. Note: Depending on the challenge level, you might get a couple of date nights out of one game. 🙂

Cooking by Candlelight– Find a recipe that both you and your partner are dying to try, grab some wine and cheese for your very own wine tasting experience, and get cooking! Don’t feel like going to the grocery? Have your goods delivered with a service like Shipt; I’ve been using them for almost a year now and absolutely love the convenience of it when I’m out of time or just feeling under the weather. Use this link and you’ll save $10 off of your subscription!
If you want to take all the thought out of cooking but keep all of the fun, try a meal-prep box – we’ve tried several and love HelloFresh. You’ll get everything you need in just the right portions to whip up several different delicious meals and you can skip weeks whenever you want; use this link to save $40 off of your first box!

Pub Trivia Challenge — If you’re a fan of going to pub trivia nights, why not recreate the event at home with your favorite game and some special signature cocktails? Download the My Bar app and search for some fun cocktails that you can whip up together, or get creative and bring out the mixologist in you! We grabbed a shaker and some other classic mixing tools, like the Hiware stirrer and the Barfly stainless steel strainer, to create our very own at-home bar. Through a little trial-and-error, we found a few favorites that we added to our personalized cocktail list. Then, go ahead and test your wits in a few rounds of trivia; add in some rewards too! After all, when you play pub trivia, there are always some prizes for the winners! For example, the winner of the best two out of three rounds can get a massage, or the loser has to mix up the next round of drinks.

Video Game Marathon — Circling back to revisiting childhood; whether you were once a video game junkie, or you still are, or you just like to play now and then, kicking back for a night of snacks as you Pac-Man it up can make you smile. For a real blast from the past, go for some old-school vintage games, and don’t think twice about placing a wager or two while you play. My husband and I will place bets on Mario Kart games, somehow I always win when the prize involves snacks…but not so much when it’s doing the dishes. 😜 My awesome hubby does it anyway though; have I mentioned how much I love him? 😍

Surprise Adventure — Looking for something a little more spontaneous? Try The Adventure Challenge for Couples. The book features 50 creative and unique date ideas, hidden from view until you decide to jump in and do it. Each adventure has a key that lets you know a few minor details to help you with your choice (for example, ones that you can do at home), but you won’t know what the exact date will be until you scratch it off, and then you have to do it! When the adventure is done, make sure to snap a pic and add a few lines about your experience in the book. We’ve tried several of the at-home ones already and had a great time; I won’t give away what they were, because it’ll ruin the surprise!
Hopefully, this gives you a few ideas for some fun date nights the next time you’re stuck at home. Of course, there’s always take-out and Netflix, too. It all depends on what mood you find yourself in when date night rolls around. Enjoy!
What are some of your favorite ways to spend date nights at home?

If you’re looking for some fun family-friendly things to do when you need to stay close to home, check this out!

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