Date nights at home: 15 ideas for sweet moments for two

Classics reinvented

1. Restaurant night at home 

If you can't go to a restaurant, why not let the fine-dining experience come to you? 

How to do it:

• Set out a tablecloth and candles, and finally bring out your good dishes
• Prepare a 3-course menu together
• Put on some ambient music 
  

Tip: If you're short on time or energy to make the meal, take advantage of the delivery or takeout services of the restaurant of your choice!

2. Movie night 

No, we're not talking about simply settling in front of a movie rented on Netflix. 

Go for a full experience instead:

• Close the curtains and dim the lights
• Make homemade popcorn and a few treats
• Set your cell phones aside
  
• Set up cozy blankets and cushions for maximum comfort

3. Wine and cheese tasting night

Create your own tasting experience without leaving home!

What you'll need:

• 3 to 4 different cheeses (ideally ones you've never tried!)
• Crackers, fruit and nuts
• 2 bottles of wine (one red and one white)
  

Take the time to taste and talk about what you like, and by all means don't hesitate to laugh a little at your attempts at elaborate descriptions! 

Creative and playful ideas

4. Board game night for grown-ups

Rediscover the joy of playing, but this time without having to referee kids' squabbles!

Here are some types of games to explore:

• Cooperative games (where you play together against the game)
• Strategy games you never have time to play
• Classic card games
• Make up your own “quiz”-style questions

Variation: If you prefer, bring out the kids' video game console and have fun! 

5. Cooking or baking class 

Why not learn something new together? 

Here are a few ideas:

• Follow a YouTube tutorial for international cuisine
• Tackle a complicated recipe you've never dared to try
• Hold a baking challenge (who will make the prettiest cake?)
  

This activity will also let you enjoy a good meal or a tasty dessert afterwards!

6. Home karaoke

Obviously, this idea assumes the kids are sleeping elsewhere; if that's the case, it's time to unleash your singing talents!

Plan for:

• A free karaoke app or videos available on YouTube
• A microphone (the classic hairbrush works perfectly!)
• A list of your favourite songs

For the eternal romantics

7. Spa night for two

Create a totally relaxing atmosphere, and unwind!

On the program:

• Candlelit bubble bath
• Massages
• Face masks
• Relaxing music
• Cozy bathrobes

8. Nostalgia night

Why not dive back into your early days and relive wonderful memories?

Activity suggestions for the nostalgic:

• Look at your couple photos from the early years
• Reread your old text messages and emails
• Listen to the music from your dating days
• Each tell your own version of how you first met
• Recreate your first date at home

A simple and effective way to remind yourselves why you're together and how far you've come as a couple!

9. Shared reading night

For avid readers, use this evening to fully share your favourite pastime.

You could:

• Choose a book to read aloud, taking turns
• Read side by side in silence, but together! 
• Talk about what you're each reading
• Share your favourite passages from the last books you read

Dynamic and original ideas

10. Living room dance party

You may no longer be the age to go out dancing until the wee hours of the morning, but you can certainly still do it right in your living room! Dim the lights, put on your favourite playlist, and shake it!

11. Creative project for two

If you have an artistic streak or would like to develop one, use this evening to create a work of your choice.

Here are a few ideas:

• Paint a canvas together
• Assemble a puzzle of at least 500 pieces
• Create a digital photo album of your past year
• Do a DIY project for the house (obviously, we're not talking about a big renovation project here!)

12. Indoor camping night

For camping lovers, don't wait for summer; set up your tent in the living room instead! 

For an authentic experience, make sure you don't forget:

• Sleeping bags and flashlights
• S'mores made in the oven or on the stove
• And why not stars projected on the ceiling with an app!

Making time to chat

13. Question-and-answer night

Think you know everything about your partner? Surprise yourselves with a variety of questions that go beyond the everyday and the routine!

A few ideas:

• If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
• What's your best memory of the two of us?
• What would you like to accomplish in the next five years?
  

You can easily find more questions online, or simply make up your own.

14. Dreaming

What if you simply took the time to dream together?

You could:

• Create your couple's vision board, in digital or paper form
• Plan your dream trip
• Plan your future projects
• Create your couple's “bucket list”

As a bonus, this activity will let you set shared goals and remind yourselves that you have a future together, and not just a busy present!

15. Total disconnect night

Simple but effective, this evening will truly let you reconnect!

The rules to follow:

• Turn the phones completely off
• No TV, no screens
  
• Take the time to talk, simply!

A few conversation topics:

• How are you really feeling these days?
• What's stressing you out?
• What makes you happy?
• How could we help each other?

Strategies to make it really happen 

1. Add the evening to your calendar right now: treat your date night like an important appointment!

2. Plan a realistic frequency: if you'd like to make these dates a new habit, there's absolutely no need to do it every week. Once every 2 weeks, or even once a month, is already much better than never!

3. Organize the kids: if you don't have a babysitter, you can always put the kids to bed before your evening starts, or swap childcare nights with the parents of your kids' friends (they take your kids one week and you take theirs the next). 

4. Plan ahead: if you wait until 7 p.m. the same evening to decide what to do, you'll probably end up in front of a TV series! Make sure to choose and plan the activity a few days ahead. 

5. Alternate who's in charge of the planning: to keep the mental load from resting on just one person, take turns being the one responsible.  

This Valentine's Day, give yourselves the greatest gift: quality time together, without distractions and without stress! 💕