We may not live in Westeros, but winter and everything that it entails is very much coming. This can put a pin in the notion of leaving the house too frequently, with the prospect of staying on the sofa in your warm and cosy house a lot more tempting.
As such, it’s a good idea to have some stay-at-home date ideas for when you and your loved one want to keep the spark going but can’t face the thought of heading out. As an added bonus, these ideas also help you save a ton of money. Here are three we love.
1. Throw a themed dinner party
Avoid the stress of reserving a table, waiting for it to be free and having to shout over restaurant chatter by cooking a fancy dinner at home. In fact, why not go even further and throw a themed dinner party for yourselves? There are so many great themes to choose from, from authentic Italian dinner parties and Greek-tasting menus to Mexican fiestas and Indian suppers.
For example, should you opt for a Mexican-themed dinner party, you can properly immerse yourself by finding a Mexican playlist on Spotify, drinking traditional Mexican alcohol like mezcal, tequila or margaritas and buying a pinata for some silly after-dinner fun. If you’re unsure where to start with the food though, check out these authentic Mexican recipes by Gran Luchito. Featuring everything from tacos and burritos to fajitas and quesadillas, you can rustle up multiple different dishes to share between you.
Alternatively, transport yourselves to the romantic streets of Rome
with an authentic Italian night. Create a playlist filled with classic
Italian tunes, savour a variety of Italian wines and indulge in a homemade
feast of pasta, risotto, and tiramisu for a truly memorable evening. Add
Gastronomica; an online shop offering delicious Italian food and drinks.
2. Hold a an at-home wine tasting
Forego the pub and jazz up drinking at home by holding your own wine tasting party. Just like with a dinner party, there are so many ways you can spice this up with themes. These include trying different wines from specific geographic locations, blind tasting both bottles worth under £20 and over £50, and vertical or horizontal wine tasting — i.e different wines of the same style or one type of wine from different years. Buy some cheese to match, put on some music from the country of the wine you’re drinking, throw on your fanciest gladrags and voila, you’re good to go.
If you’re stuck for inspiration regarding the plonk itself, there are numerous at-home wine tasting kits you can purchase. Some, like Vivant’s and 67 Pall Mall Virtual Wine Club’s, even feature videos of wine connoisseurs guiding you through the session, meaning you’ll finish with a broader palate and be more educated.
3. Indulge in a spa evening
Date nights should be about relaxing and letting your hair down, and what better way to do this than by indulging in a DIY spa evening? Below are the three main activities you can enjoy. Whatever you opt for, get the mood set with low lights, candles and chilled tunes to make it feel like you really are at a spa.
Massages
Before the date, you and your partner should both learn how to give a great massage. Undress, oil up and massage away those knots and aches. You might also want to try different parts of each other’s bodies, such as the back, the hands and the feet.
Masks
The classic couple’s at-home spa activity, you can either make DIY face masks yourselves or buy some online. Among the best homemade ones include those featuring anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, avocado and honey.
Soaks
If your bath is big enough, a luxurious soak together could be just the tonic for a hectic week at work. Be sure to buy bubble bath, oils, salts and scents, and really take the time to lay back and enjoy each other’s company.
