Valentine’s Day is known as the day of romance, and although I usually don’t celebrate it much this year I actually look forward to it. I don’t know about you, but after the year we have all had any excuse for a celebration is highly welcomed in my book. We can all need a bit more love and happiness in our lives right?
With most of us staying home this year, it is the perfect excuse to make Valentine’s Day stress-free, so what about an indoor date to simply enjoy the day with your partner? Whether you want to surprise your loved one with breakfast in bed, make them a homemade treat or plan a fun movie night, here are a few ways to show a little extra appreciation to someone you love.
10 cozy date ideas where you won’t have to leave your home:
1. Breakfast in bed
Start the morning with sneaking out to the kitchen without your loved one noticing and prepare a delicious breakfast tray to come and surprise them with in bed. Simple pleasures like breakfast in bed feels very luxurious to me, and what better way for them to wake up then to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and delicious pastries? Get creative and serve something you know they love; for me that is freshly baked croissants from our local bakery.
2. Have a pamper session
Turn your home into a relaxing spa; light a few scented candles to set the mood, have massage oils and a pair of facemarks at hand. and you are good to go. It doesn’t have to be too complicated, what about a lovely massage or running them a lovely bubble bath. Put on robes, slice up some cucumbers and lemons to add into your water, and have a night of relaxation together.
3. Arrange a surprise delivery of flowers
The good thing is that there are so many home delivery services so no need to even leave your home to be able to surprise someone with flowers. I love flowers, and if someone ordered me a surprise bouquet arriving on the door I would be smiling all day long. Wouldn’t you?
5. Plan a board-game night
Plan a special night of board-games and have some fun together. Pull out your old games and challenge your partner to a duel. Scrabble, chess, or card games are great for when you are two players, or maybe buy a few new board games to try. If you need some inspiration I have a post with Nordic style games for hygge at home that might do the trick.
6. Cook a homemade meal
Many people show love through food, and I think cooking together is a great way to have a date at home – and the best part is you get to enjoy all the delicious food afterwards. You can decide on a theme like for instance an Italian night or a Nordic culinary trip, and set the mood for a romantic evening.
Not good at cooking? Book a fun virtual cooking class that you can do together or simply order your partners favourite take-away for an easier option.
4. Re-create your first date at home
This can be a fun and unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, simply think back to your first date and recreate it home-edition style. It doesn’t have to be exactly right, but find a fun way to recreate the date that fits. I guess it depends a bit on what your first date was… If it was a special dinner at a restaurant for instance you can cook the same meal you ate that night and decorate the table in the same style, or if it was a cinema date you can rewatch the film and hold hands while reminiscing back. Didn’t have an interesting first date or maybe you can’t remember? recreate another special moment shared together whether it is last years Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or a special day on holiday you both hold dear.
For me and Claudio our first date was a tea & coffee at a cafe in London almost exactly 11 years ago today, so that is pretty easy to recreate at home (although this time with our dog as the third wheel)…
7. Learn a new craft
This is a great way to be creative together and get out of your comfort zone; learn a new craft together. It can be a painting session where you both take turn to paint each other, or live drawing. If you don’t have everything you need you can buy lots of craft kits online like for instance a candle making kit, an embroidery kit, a knitting kit… there are so many options. You can also get a pack of air-dry clay for a pottery session (think Ghost). Another romantic idea is to create a photo book to get printed or a scrapbook of your fondest memories together. Spend the time by looking though your phones or printed photos to choose the best ones while remembering those special moments you have shared over the years.
If craft is not your thing, what about a homemade pasta making session or learning to make chocolate?
8. Bake biscuits
I always find that homemade gifts are the best, so my suggestion is that you can bake biscuits for your partner. This year I decided to bake some strawberry shortbread biscuits for my fiancé because he loves them, and to get in the romantic spirit I decided to make them heart-shaped. The recipe for these are very simple if you want to try yourself:
Ingredients
- 90 g sugar
- 100 g diced butter
- 1 egg
- 0.5 ts vanilla sugar
- 185 g flour
- 1 ts baking powder
- jam (stawberry)
Instructions
- Add the butter and sugar into your baking bowl, and mix it for about 3 minutes in a food processor until you have an even mixture.
- Add the egg and run the machine 2 more minutes.
- Add the vanilla sugar, baking powder and flour, and continue to mix until you have a smooth and soft dough. If necessary, adjust with more flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
- Roll out the dough until it becomes thin
- Use cookie cutters to make heart shapes. On half of the hearts, cut out a small heart in the centre with a knife or a smaller cookie shape.
- Place the hearts without holes on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Add a small teaspoon of jam in the middle of the hearts, then place the heart with the hole on top and gently squeeze the seams together.
- Bake the biscuits in the middle of the oven at 190 degrees (top and bottom heat) for about 9 minutes. Let cool and share!
And if you want to make it a challenge, what about challenging your partner to a little bake off where you both have to bake something for the other one to score afterwards. Bonus is that you end up with two treats to enjoy :)
9. Enjoy a wine tasting
Sign up for an online wine tasting or just select a few bottles of your choice to taste together. Make it a fun activity by printing out a list of criteria you have to score or comment on about the wine and compare notes afterwards. If wine is not your thing, what about a beer, chocolate or cheese tasting?
10. Do a movie marathon
Find a few movies you know you both will enjoy and get cozy on the sofa with freshly popped popcorn and a selection of appropriate movie snacks. Maybe even decorate a bit to make your living-room feel like a cinema. We have a projector we use int he bedroom to turn it into a home-cinema for instance, it makes movie nights feel extra special.
Go that extra step further by picking a theme or a decade for the films you are watching – and dress up in appropriate costumes for a laugh. Pick a film from a particular time like the time you where born or the year you met to make it a bit more special. We can all need a little escape from the present and this is a creative way to do it.
Seen in this post:
Lastly I just wanted to say it is just as important to show love in your everyday actions all year round not just on Valentine’s Day; those little things that make a huge difference in someone’s life are so important :)
2 Responses
Valentines Day has passed but I think these are lovely ideas to try any time of the year. Thank you for the inspiration. x
So true, these ideas are great for all year around when we want to do something special for our partner :) x