Thrifty Yet Thrilling Stay-at-Home Date Ideas for Valentines Day

Oooh! February is here! Whether you are already in a relationship or waiting to be lucky to get proposed by someone, it’s the month that everyone especially the romantic souls waits for. So what if it tends to be a chilly time of year, February oozes with happiness and warmth and we all know why. And we all love this most romantic month of the year and hope a lot from it (maybe secretly!). The shortest month of the year, February has the longest list of fans! Do we need to tell why? The yet-to-be-lucky lovers worldwide eagerly wait for this month as this month gives them a ‘Love Week’ starting from the 7th day of it to slowly move towards their beloved step by step and finally an official opportunity to express their love to their crush on the 14th day. A day for chocolates, flowers, and romantic DIY cards and gifts, Valentine's Day is a time to tell your partner how much you love them and relish the most beautiful gifts, and to gain some extra pounds to boot (Pun intended! Don’t worry, you can opt for healthy V-Day).
 

No doubt, Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic days of the year, but often the pressure of such a daunting holiday can bump up all the fun. If you’re partnered up with someone, the thought of buying a gift, writing a card, and planning the perfect date can be extremely stressful – especially when you’re in a new relationship and want to impress. Your first thought may be to spend Valentine’s Day out on the town. Don’t call me stick-in-the-mud if to that I say – stay home. There's no place like home! And why put a dent on your bank account while you are still bearing up the financial losses and emotional breakdowns caused by the biggest enemy of mankind (don’t forget, the C-virus is still here at the ready to attack you and your dreams!). While the home is the safest place to be with the love of your life without splurging on the expensive date ideas, it is the place where you can be ‘you’ and do what you always wanted to do but couldn’t make time for it together! The joy of joys is that you can go to work the next day with new energy. Remember, this year it’s falling on Sunday! And Sunday night is already the worst night of the week. You won't want to stay out late and drink too much because you're hungover from the weekend and won't want to spend too much cause you're broke. Sundays are no fun for dates anyway like any other weekday: better to stay in and bounce back, rather than try to squeeze too much out of the weekend.
 

Even before quarantining was de rigueur, most budget-savvy couples preferred to celebrate Valentine's Day indoors to avoid splurging on expensive date-night options and steer away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday. Now, although we may be limited as to where we can go out, there have never been more fun date options for staying in. The trick is to really commit to it, whether planning a date or being in a relationship. Go all out with the outfits, food, decor, and gifts. Whatever your date's theme may be, express your love with gifts, chocolate, roses, etc. Send them romantic messages, images, and wishes. Scour Pinterest to find day date or date night ideas and plan a romantic date at home with your darling. Easier said than done? Well, we are here to make you realize how romantic and fun can an at-home Valentine date be, day or night. Bank on us - you would love these epic at-home date day and date night ideas running the gamut from saving on sitters (for your dogs or kids) to long trips.
 

Have a romantic candle-lit dinner: We know like many your idea of a romantic Valentine's Day also involves a night on the town (preferably with a posh dinner at a candlelit restaurant), but this year has changed your cards a bit (for your good maybe). Pandemic or not, restaurant reservations for Valentine’s Day start pouring in as early as December. By the time February 1st dawns, most of your favorite restaurants are completely booked. Not only are restaurants usually packed on Valentine’s Day, which takes away from the atmosphere and intimacy of your evening, but also they often will have set menus to deal with the high volume of customers; these set menus can cause problems if you or your significant other has dietary restrictions making the meal feel less special. No wonder why couples in a great deal are drifting away from restaurants eating to home-delivery or home-made food options. But before you get too bummed out, keep in mind that a sweet date-night topped up with a swanky candle-light dinner at home can be a slew of romance - even if you have your kids at home with you and no sitter at sight. Spend this whole day with your sweetheart to make them feel special. After all, spending time together is the ultimate Valentine's Day gift!
 

Plan an indoor picnic: Yay, it’s Sunday- perfect for a sunny picnic! But just because it's February and it might snow on the grounds doesn't mean you can't have a picnic! This Valentine’s Day, pull off a perfect picnic indoors. It’s fun! Synonymous with the outdoors and sometimes a necessity due to inclement weather or other factors, picnics at home is something that you can have any time but Valentine’s day (falling in the winter season) is a great excuse to enjoy a romantic one in the cozy ambiance. Stay indoors and cozy up next to a roaring fire. Picnic inside is more fun than a formal dinner, and just as suitable for feeding a restless family as it is ideal for a romantic date night option (as long as you’ve already been quarantining together, of course). And kids love it just as much as adults. And the cherry on the cake is - no bugs or sunburns to worry about! All you need to execute a home picnic is- a few pillows, throw overs, a comforter or a blanket, mellow music, and of course a gourmet spread and bubbly. Lay a white comforter on the floor with a stylish throw over blankets from the couch or bed. Add as many pillows as you wish. Spruce up with a cheese board with all your favorite delicacies and light up a few scented candles to create an ambiance. A DIY flower arrangement using your favorite flowers in either a vase or jam jar and greenery such as leafed plants can add an outdoor vibe. Deck up the place with the images of you and your partner to fill the day with nostalgic moments and make it memorable. Amp up your down-to-earth picnic table with your favorite food and beverages. And... Bon appetit!
 

It’s all in the ambiance: Setting an ambiance for an indoor Valentine’s Day date is all about setting the right atmosphere. Create a playlist of songs you both enjoy which hold sentimental value. Lighting plays a pivotal role in setting the tone of the place. Switch off most of the lights in the area where you’ll be having the picnic or dinner and light up the scented candles. Besides using scented candles to add an enveloping scent, you can also buy diffusers to craft a romantic and intimate atmosphere.
 

Lost your heart to your sweetheart? It’s time to win: Playing games is a fun feature to add and makes the evening relaxed and light. Think of games you would enjoy playing together such as card games, guess the movie, or even have a karaoke session. Stretch your mental muscles in a new way with your sweetheart by commandeering the kids' gaming system. The loser gets to do the others' chores for a week! Or play your favorite board games — but add a fun twist! How about using candy pieces or cookies for checkers? When someone gets jumped, they have to eat their piece! Add romantic “penalties” to the person who gets jumped or loses a turn (if you choose another favorite board game). Try a silly string fight! You could also play Valentine’s Day Twister! It’s a super-fun game that can turn romantic in no time!
 

Be the chef couple of the day & enjoy it with almost nothing on you: Srsly! Cook a gourmet dinner at home or virtually in your houses together and say goodbye to the worries about getting a reservation, long waits for a table, and possibly yelling over restaurant chatter. Light some candles, turn on some mood music, try your hand at a fancy new dish, and set the kids up with a movie. If you are living together, for extra pizzazz, put on your sexy date night duds or try dining in the buff to really spice things up. If you guys were hankering after dining in London’s naked restaurant Bunyadi or Paris’s O'Naturel or Spain’s Innato, it would be a dream come true and you'll end up asking each other, "Why didn’t we come here earlier?"
 

Order food from outside but bake a dessert inside... together: What better way to say "I love you" than baking a homemade Valentine's dessert? From bite-sized boozy brownies to tiny almond cakelets, miniature treats are sure to win hearts. Whether you're planning for an outlandish date night or a special Valentine's Day dinner - all you need is a decadent dessert to finish off the evening. If your sweetheart is a beer-lover (or a chocoholic), a mini chocolate stout brownie sundae is sure to have them fall head over heels in love with you. If you are I-hate-cooking types or have no time to bake something entirely from scratch, brownie and raspberry trifle is a win-win. This lovely trifle comes together in just 20 minutes, and store-bought brownies speed up the process allowing you more time to love each other!
 

Enjoy a free movie fest: What better day to slip into your new, matching pajamas and relax watching your favorite movie than V-Day while munching your favorite movie snacks? Blow the dust off those fancy-schmancy glasses to pour yourself some mimosas, Bloody Marys, and some steaming cups of Joe and pop plenty of ACT II or Fiddle Faddle (some to eat, some to throw at each other, and some to click that cute photo with popcorns in the air) and enjoy your personal lovey-dovey home theater beneath the covers! Pull up your to-watch list or your childhood favorites and enjoy a rom-com in the comfort of your cozy blanket. Or lay on the fluffy swing oriented to the sea (or anything captivating) swinging alone in your balcony and Netflix and chill under the starry skies to get yourselves in the mood for the, ahem, after-party.
 

Click Click! Time to get photogenic: But before you get camera-ready, light up your bedroom by hanging fairy lights in to create a romantic ambiance. Turn on some classical romantic music. Now dig out an old, large picture frame and capture some silly photos. Keep them as a keepsake to help you giggle! If you are not a professional photographer kind then just enjoy a quiet evening together in the comfort of each other’s arms.
 

Keep your camera rolling: Time to get mushy! A video of you two sharing the tale of how you first met or how your sweetheart proposed you could really be a cute keepsake (uwu!). Or let the sparks of romantic memories fly in the air by making a video together! It’s something your entire family can cherish for years to come! Trust us, you would be looking for this video one day to show it to your kids one day! 
 

Take part in Valentine’s Day Dollar Store Spending Spree: If you don’t want to splurge on a date night kit — like Baking Fun or  Raising The Bar, try this idea. Give each other $10 and make your way to the Dollar Store a day before Valentine’s day. Pick out surprises for your date night and have a blast later! Think snacks, props, cards, bubble bath, massage lotion, and ahem! — get creative! The only rule here is- you have got to use all the articles (those handcuffs too!;)) you purchased that night!

 

Make your own love-nest in the living room

Channel your inner child out with an A-frame creation of comfort or blanket. Go all mischievous and romantic with your blanket and engineer a yurt in your living room. You can also do this one off-the-cuff. Just grab the couch cushions or some chairs and blankets and you've got yourself a cozy hideaway. Setting up an indoor campout will automatically make you feel naughty— in the best possible way.
 

‘Tis the idea for chocoholics only: Break out a fondue pot on Valentine’s Day Night. Melt some chocolate discs in the fondue pot and dip anything and everything you love to snack on in the chocolate. Who doesn’t love chocolate-dipped strawberries, blueberries, pretzels, and sweethearts (Ummm… yum!).
 

Write a few lines about each other: Psst. time to let your inner poet or writer out! Grab some heart-shaped post-it notes, brainstorm, and write a mini-book about your spouse in 30 minutes. It might take a few sticky notes to brainstorm in the beginning but trust me your short biography would be epic consisting of short and sweet chapters describing your loved one’s life. You can later type and print these out for keepsakes. Ah, so touchy-feely!
 

Plan an indoor Valentine’s Day spa date: "The whole body ... imbibes delight through every pore" (Henry David Thoreau). Muster some foot scrub, lotion, face masks, and candles to unwind, and indulge! Don’t forget to light the tealight candles!
 

According to Pepper Schwartz (Ph.D., co-author of The Normal Bar: The Surprising Secrets of Happy Couples), "At-home date nights remind you that your relationship can be exciting without artificial or expensive bells and whistles." The holidays like Valentine’s day give you a golden opportunity to spend some quality time with your sweetheart at the most comfortable place on the planet earth - your sweet home. Get your creative wheels turning and find ways to paint the town red (literally) - red roses, red heart-shaped balloons, and a hot red dress combined with any idea from here if you like. Light on the wallet and heavy on impact, these indoor date ideas will not only fit the bill but also add fun to your Valentine’s day date. Even if you are single and want to celebrate your Valentine’s Day with your friends- this article covers some cute ideas for your Galentine's Day get-togethers as well. No matter what the weather outside is like or if you don’t have deep pockets to spring for date night and a babysitter, or in case you and your honey bun are just looking for creative ideas for nurturing your bond. Some of them are just for $0, while others are pretty low-key and won't burn a hole in your pocket (Hello professional and affordable wedding photographers!). We understand if you are planning a 2021 wedding, every single penny counts. Try one of these fun new Valentine’s Day dating adventures this year, to keep spicing things up between you and your beau or spouse before your 2021 wedding.