You know how important your weekly date nights are for your marriage, but getting out and doing something isn't always possible. Sometimes the weather is bad, you can't afford to get a sitter or pay for a night out every week, or sometimes you or your spouse doesn't feel like going out. Whatever the reason you have for staying in, you can still have a fun, relationship-building date night right at home. Try one of these ideas for your next night in.
1. Enjoy a fancy dinner in your own 5-star dining room
Break out your nicest dishes, pull out the tablecloths and fancy glasses and have a nice dinner at home. You can make something together or order takeout. Even if it's simple food, eating it on nice dishes, and maybe even by candlelight, will make it special. You can also dress up in your formal wear to make it more exciting.
2. Play video games
Most husbands will probably love this idea! Spend time challenging each other to whatever video games you have around the house. Or if you don't own any, borrow from a friend. Just make sure to keep it fun.
3. Spice up your movie night
You've probably spent plenty of nights sitting on the couch watching a movie, but you can get creative with your movie nights at home. For example, you could watch an entire trilogy, or turn the movie's sound off and make up your own dialogue. You could even create a theme for the night that goes with the movie you're going to watch by eating food that goes with it and dressing up as characters. Just don't forget the popcorn!
4. Get a couples' massage
Need to work out some kinks? Have your partner give you a massage, and then return the favor. If you don't know how to give a full-body massage, you can look up techniques online. Or if you do have some money to spend, find a massage therapist (or two) who can come to your home.
5. Have a game night
The possibilities with game nights are almost endless. You can can look up hundreds of 2-player games to play with only a deck of cards. Or bust out the board games, play a physical game like Twister, or even do a crossword puzzle together. To mix things up, you could even play a game you're familiar with, but change the rules.
6. Turn your home into a dance hall
Who needs a club when you already have your favorite dance partner with you? Put on some of your favorite tunes and get moving! Part of your date could include creating a playlist of the songs you want to use. Or make it more interesting by by wearing fun outfits, decorating or having a theme.
7. Have a picnic
You don't need to go to a park to have a picnic together. You can go out in your yard or even have one in your living room. All you need is a blanket and picnic food.
8. Go on a virtual vacation
Spend the evening talking about a place you've always wanted to visit. Then look up pictures online and go on a virtual tour. You could even plan your trip for visiting one day.
9. Watch a sports game
Find a game that will be on during your date or record one to watch later. Then bring out the nachos, hot dogs and foam fingers and root for your favored team. Make it more interesting by betting on who you think will score the next point or any other aspect of the game with the loser doing the dishes or some other chore.
10. Bring out your creative side
Go to your local thrift store and buy some inexpensive white mugs or plates. Then use permanent markers to decorate them and bake them in the oven. You'll always remember the fun you had every time you use them.
11. Play 20 Questions
This is a great way to get to know your spouse better. Each of you comes up with 10 open-ended questions and then you take turns answering them. Don't be surprised when you end up doing way more than 20 with all the follow-up questions that come up. You might even learn something you never knew!
12. Read a book together
Spend a date night (or a few) reading a book out loud together. Make it more fun by doing voices for the characters in the book. Or alternately, pick a book you will both read over a certain period of time and then spend your date night having your own two-person book club. Don't forget the treats!
13. Participate in warfare
Relive your childhood days by having a massive pillow fight. Or bust out your kids' Nerf guns and play hide and seek. You can also take this one up a notch by buying pvc pipe and creating your own marshmallow launchers to use for your battle.
14. Have a YouTube karaoke night
Search YouTube to find some of your favorite songs that have the lyrics displayed and then take turns serenading each other or singing duets. Even if you can't sing well, this is sure to make you both smile.
15. Camp in your living room
Turn off all the lights and electronics and pretend you're out in the woods. Set up a tent (or make a blanket fort) and bust out the sleeping bags and camp out in your living room. You could even make s'mores and tell ghost stories.
16. Take personality quizzes and compare your results
You might know what your color code or your love language is, but do you know what your letter code is or what character on your favorite TV show you're most like? Search online for personality quizzes you can both take, and then talk about your results. There may be some interesting (and funny) things you learn about each other.
17. Make something yummy together
Find a recipe you want to try (either online, from a cooking show, or from that cookbook you've never opened) and then make it together. It could be for dinner, an appetizer, a snack or dessert. Then sit down together and enjoy your spoils. You could easily combine this with many of the other ideas as well (movie night, games, 20 Questions).
The important thing is not whether you go out for a date, but whether you're spending time together. At-home dates are just as good for that purpose. Just remember to turn off your electronic devices and other distractions so you can focus on your spouse. Your relationship will thank you.
