If you are looking for home date night ideas while we are in lockdown, then we can help. Whether for Valentine's Day 2021 (be quick!) or a Saturday evening while we are stuck indoors, here are some ideas (and buys) to help bring the romance home. Because you can still have fun together when your favourite bar is shut, the cinema is closed, or you can no longer go for dinner at the newest restaurant in town.
Looking for gift ideas? See our Valentine's Day 2021 gift guide for lovely suggestions.
1. Cook up a storm with this heart-shaped Le Creuset cookware
You will, of course, be spending Valentine's Day cooking at home instead of heading out to a restaurant – let's look on the bright side as it's a great excuse to buy new cookware. Try out one of our recipes – from fish pie to chicken casserole and beef bourguinon.
Le Creuset Cast Iron Heart Casserole | £169 at John Lewis & Partners
We're big lovers of anything Le Creuset, so much so that our kitchen is bursting with the Volcanic Orange collection. For Valentine's Day, why not buy a special casserole dish for a hearty meal? You'll use it year-round and it's so cute for when you (are allowed to) have guests over! Love!
2. Get all dressed up in your best gear – or buy some new clothes for the occasion
One of the most exciting parts about date night is getting dressed up – agreed? So, what's the harm in getting dressed up to stay at home? This will definitely make a date night evening feel more special than just a regular evening – especially if you are going to buy a new outfit for the occasion. You could even buy each other an outfit to wear for a little bit of fun. Where to go? ASOS, always...
ASOS | Click to shop clothing
ASOS sell men and women's clothing, and they can deliver the next day! We are serial ASOS buyers – for accessories and gifts, too – so we are sure you'll be able to find a special outfit, whatever the occasion.
3. Set up your own home cinema – just like this Instagrammer has
A post shared by Kelly | UK blogger (@kellyprincewright)
A photo posted by on
As you can see from Kelly's (@kellyprincewright) setup above, you just need a home projector and add some fairy lights to the mix for an oh-so Instagrammable evening. Gives another meaning to date night at home, eh?
APEMAN Mini Video projector | £79.99 at Amazon
Tried, tested and loved by us, this wireless projector is a total bargain. Connect it to a smartphone, tablet or laptop and plug it into a power source to use. It's lightweight, has speakers built-in – though you might want to connect it to your own. We use it with an Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite to watch Netflix, Disney Plus and more. Just face it towards a plain white wall and you're set.
4. Binge a new TV show and subscribe to a new streaming service – here are a few of our suggestions
If you don't want to spend Valentine's Day (or a date night) watching the same old TV you watch every other night, then why not subscribe to a new streaming service to make this occasion special? This way you can start a new TV series, or watch a movie you've wanted to see for a while. These services are free to cancel, too! You needn't pay for more than one month if you won't use it...
Disney Plus | $6.99/£5.99 per month
This great streaming service plays home to some of the best TV available right now. For a small fee per month, you'll get access to never seen before movies, series, documentaries and more. From Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic world. We recommend watching the new WandaVision series – you'll be hooked in no time.
Netflix | From £5.99 per month
Try Netflix now for just £5.99 per month to watch the best films, TV shows and documentaries around. Oh, and Netflix Originals such as Stranger Things, You, The Stranger, Don't F**ck With Cats, Sex Education and more. Try out the new (and binge-worthy) Bridgerton.
5. Buy some romantic decor to make the evening extra special
If you are fed up of spending date nights inside of the same four walls, then it could be a smart idea to buy some new (and romantic) home decor. This is the stuff you can whip out for a romantic evening in – from bunting to lighting and more.
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PartyTouchesUK Valentines Day Decorations | From £3.79 at Etsy
Choose from a range of decorations – balloons, bunting, plates, napkins – to make this evening special. Not just for Valentine's day...
Love Neon Wall Light | £69.99 at Lights4Fun
With a five-metre lead cable and a six-hour timer option, this neon wall light will illuminate your evening.
6. Buy this Valentine's Day meal kit and make heart-shaped pasta from scratch for dinner
If you don't fancy getting a takeaway for date night, or you'd rather get messy in the kitchen, then a meal kit can make your evening feel special, and it's a nice activity to do together. In fact, we can't think of anything more romantic than making your own heart-shaped pasta at home.
Pasta Evangelists Valentine's Day Amore Pasta Making Kit | £25 at Not on the High Street
This lovely kit comes with enough ingredients to make pasta for two – ravioli and gnocchi. Also included comes Italian sea salt flakes, a straight pasta cutter, a beechwood rolling pin, a beechwood gnocchi maker and a heart ravioli stamp. A Valentine's Day to remember.
7. Get some dried flowers from Bloom & Wild for a romantic table setup
A post shared by Bloom & Wild (@bloomandwild)
A photo posted by on
Instead of buying flowers for a Valentine's gift, use them to decorate your home and bring the outside in, or to go on your Valentine's Day table this year.
The Jo | £42 at Bloom & Wild
You heard it from us first: dried flowers are going to be so in this year. Why? They can't die, they look nice and they're much better for the purse strings.
8. Treat yourself to a cocktail making kit and get busy in the kitchen (with your other half, of course)
Grey Goose Espresso Martini Cocktail Kit | £39.99 at Amazon
This Espresso Martini kit comes complete with Grey Goose vodka, Patron XO Café and cold brew coffee. Oh, and a Grey Goose Martini glass! Not only does it make this caffeine-fuelled cocktail easy to make, but it's also a great at-home date night idea. Especially if you used to spend date night at your favourite local bar. All you need is some coffee beans and a pinch of salt for garnish. We've tried it ourselves and we obviously loved it.
9. Get competitive over a game of Cluedo, Monopoly or even a virtual escape room
We all love a board game come Christmas, but whose to say that you can't play one on Valentine's Day? Just don't get too competitive...
Cluedo The Classic Mystery Game | £23.99 at Amazon
This classic game of whodunit can be enjoyed by two to six players. This version has an all-new character – Dr. Orchid.
Puzzle Post UK Escape Room In An Envelope, Personalised Puzzle Gift | £14 at Not on the High Street
There's no need to leave your home to do an escape room anymore – this virtual one is just as fun. A great gift, you can personalise this game by writing a secret message to the recipient. And, once they have completed their puzzles, the secret message will be revealed to them...
Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Classic Game | £22.99 £14.99 (save £8) at Amazon
Not just for kids, a good old fashioned game of Monopoly is a great date night idea. It's something different than sitting in front of the TV, it will get you off your phones and it can be played by more than two of you, once date night is over.
10. Transform your home into a spa with this essential oil diffuser
We love the idea of this one – especially if it's always our turn to be given the massage. Since spas are currently shut so a spa day is off the cards, why not bring it home? We suggest buying an essential oil diffuser for the full effect.
Ellia Adore Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser | £59.99 at Homedics
This diffuser doubles as a lamp and it even plays calming music, and it looks nice, too! I have one and use it all of the time for all of the spa vibes. Only thing is, it doesn't come with any oils. I bought these ones from Amazon for just over a tenner and they work a treat.
11. Get messy and sculpt some clay with this home pottery kit
Roll up your sleeves because it's time to get your pottery on and do something very different this date night. Make each other a mug, bowl, plant pot – whatever, they'll love it and it's handmade. Make an event out of showing each other your creations once they are set.
JackLaverickCeramics Home Pottery Kit For 1-2 People - DIY Craft At Home | £38.69 at Etsy
This kit comes with everything you (and your partner) need to get crafty. From tools to instructions, paint and more.
12. Bring the bar home with a drinks trolley
One of the best things we've bought during this pandemic is a bar cart – it really does make you feel like you are kind of at a bar. Get one that's on wheels so you needn't move from your sofa to grab a drink, and don't forget an ice bucket – the one we've popped below will do the trick.
Harper Drinks Trolley | £139 at Dunelm
This lovely drinks trolley is on wheels and it has a handle for easy moving. Pop your bottles at the bottom and your lovely glassware at the top. Sorted!
Viners Double Wall Ice Bucket in Silver 1L | £30 at La Redoute
This double-walled ice bucket is a great addition to a bar cart – no need to get up to get ice from the freezer now. And it has a handle for easy carrying.
13. Why not design some jewellery together? Use this lovely kit to do so...
Jewellery making at home? Well this is something a little different. With help from this kit you can make each other a lovely bespoke ring, and design it in a shape you know they will love. You'll send your wax back to the Cast workshop, where they will transform it into a solid 925 sterling silver, solid gold (rose, yellow or white 9/18/24ct) or platinum ring. How lovely?
Bespoke Jewellery Making Kit | £89 at Not on the High Street
included with this kit comes everything you need to mould the shape of your ring, from a carving knife to two shaping tools, a file, sandpaper and jewellers wax. You could even personalise it with your fingerprint...
14. Let these cards decide which movie you'll watch
If you are a couple who can never ever choose what to watch on TV – date night or not – then you need these cards. Simply choose one next time you want to watch a movie, and the card will decide for you – no more hours lost trying to decide on something both of you love.
Personalised Box Of Movie Date Night Ideas | £29 at Not on the High Street
We love this idea! Especially if you are movie lovers. You can get this box personalised, too, and we are sure that you will get good use out of it. One way to make up for not being able to go to the cinema...
15. Or, organise a romantic treasure hunt with this kit
This romantic Valentine's Day treasure hunt will be sure to provide a lot of entertainment on date night. Give them clues to different spots in your home, where you can pop presents, decorate an area and more – get creative!
Valentines Day Treasure Hunt Kit Pack | £4.99 at Not on the High Street
These blank cards are ready for you to fill out with clues – create a treasure hunt around your home for the one you love and watch their face light up.
16. Build a gingerbread love shack together – and then eat it in front of the TV
Clearly, gingerbread houses are not just for Christmas. With this kit you can built a 'love shack' together – then eat it in front of the TV watching your favourite movie. Cute!
Love Shack Gingerbread House Baking Kit | £20 at Not on the High Street
This kit includes everything you need to make your very own 'love shack', and it has a shelf life of six months. You'll even have to build the gingerbread house – fun! Also, a percentage of each sale is donated to charity.
17. Better yet, bake some rainbow bagels together with help from this easy kit
If gingerbread is not your favourite, then you must love a bagel? Better yet, a rainbow bagel. Buy this kit to make some colourful bagels together, and enjoy them with sweet or savoury fillings – one for the Instagram, we reckon.
Rainbow Bagel Baking Kit | £19 at Not on the High Street
We love this idea! This kit comes with enough ingredients to make six bagels, and it has a shelf life of six months, too.
18. Let your fate be decided for you with these date night tokens
If you are a couple who is constantly umming and ahhing about what to do come date night – home cooked dinner, takeaway, board game, movie night? – then this jar can help inspire you.
Personalised Glass Bottle Date Night Tokens | £26.50 at Not on the High Street
This lovely buy can be personalised to say your names, and inside lives 15 maple tokens that read date night ideas. All inside a glass bottle with a cork lid. And, it looks nice on display, too!
19. Take a dip outside in this inflatable hot tub – just £330 from Argos
Give a new meaning to 'date night' with help from a hot tub – this non-permanent fixture just needs to be inflated and filled with water. Turn it on to heat up a few hours before you want to get in, and bring some prosecco to enjoy twice the bubbles. When we are allowed guests over, they'll love using it, too.
Lay-Z-Spa Cancun 2-4 Person Hot Tub | £330 at Argos
This compact hot tub is a much easier solution since it inflates and deflates. It can seat two to four people at one time, and it has 81 air jets. It comes with a cover, too, and it has a power-saving heating system to save £££s.
20. Indulge on another level with a chocolate fondue kit
Chocolate lovers will jump for joy when they hear about this kit – it comes with everything you need to enjoy chocolate fondue at home. A lovely dessert to finish date night, or you could make it the main event while watching a movie. Something different!
Quirky Chocolate Ultimate Date Night Chocolate Fondue Dipping Kit | £36 at Not on the High Street
This kit comes with everything you need to serve four people – or two people, twice. In the box, you'll get marshmallows, honeycomb chunks, salted pretzels, almond biscotti and four bamboo skewers for help dipping. Choose from two dipping pots – milk, dark or white. You can, of course, add your own fresh ingredients from strawberries to banana slices and more...
21. Embark on a gin tasting adventure with this set from Drinks by the Dram
Drinks flights aren't just limited to wine, clearly. Buy this gin tasting set (they also have tequila, whisky and rum ones, too) to try out a few new flavours and brands. Write notes on which ones you prefer, and make an evening out of it with cheese and biscuits or other snacks to enjoy while tasting.
Drinks by the Dram 12 Dram Premium Gin Collection | £39 at Master of Malt
We love the idea of a drink tasting from home, and this 12-bottle gin collection is an easy (and cheap) way to try a good few versions of your favorite spirit. Inside comes 12 mini wax-sealed bottles, ranging from Bathtub Gin (our fave) to a grapefruit gin and more. We thoroughly enjoyed tasting this set...
Hi! I'm Annie, and I'm the Head Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes. I've been part of the Real Homes team since 2018, when I joined as Deals Editor. Along with covering major sales events — from Black Friday to Amazon Prime Day — I review home must-haves so that you can buy with peace of mind. Mostly focusing on home fragrance and sleep, as well as a few vacuum cleaners, I've tested pretty much every item you can think of that you need in your home. I live on the outskirts of the city in a two-bed apartment with my husband and my pug, Doug. So I am always searching for compact alternatives and ways to save floor space. What about when I am not typing away? Well, you'll find me enjoying an iced coffee (no matter the season) and trying out the latest brunch spots the city has to offer, or booking my next holiday. Where else can you find my words? Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home, Gardeningetc, and Woman & Home.
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