Valentine’s Day can be polarizing, but if you’re in a relationship or married, you know there’s nothing better than an opportunity to show your partner some love. Still, you don’t have to do something grandiose or go to a five-star restaurant for Valentine’s Day — you can plan the perfect date right from the comfort of your home.
1. Set the Mood
Your first step toward a memorable Valentine’s Day at home is to set the mood. Look around your home and take an inventory. Are there messes anywhere? Take care of those messes as soon as you can. A cluttered home doesn’t make for a romantic atmosphere. You don’t need to deep clean your entire home, but you’ll have a worry-free date night if the messes are out of sight and out of mind.
Once your home is clean, you can focus on setting the mood in other ways. Consider dimming the lights and using candles to set a romantic mood. Set up some music while you’re at it. If you have a wireless speaker, you can set up some soft, romantic music to play while you and your spouse have your date.
2. Plan a Spa Day
Stress affects everyone differently, and almost everyone feels it. Unfortunately, stress is inescapable in many people’s daily lives. To get your partner’s mind entirely off existing pressures so they can focus on having an evening together, you may set up a “spa station” or even spend the day pampering yourselves together. You can create a spa in your home using bath products and just by being with one another.
Simple things like bubble baths and massages can go a long way in reducing stress. Nearly half of Americans report being unable to sleep due to stress. If you can encourage your partner to relax, especially under immense pressure, they’ll have a more enjoyable time with you on Valentine’s Day. For maximum effect, spend the day before your Valentine’s Day plans relaxing and pampering yourself and your spouse so you’ll be fully prepared for a date night.
3. Feast on Something Delicious
Valentine’s Day calls for all sorts of sweets, but you should prioritize a romantic dinner for two, too. Whether you choose to get takeout or cook something up yourselves, you’re sure to have a wonderful time when food accompanies your perfect Valentine’s Day. You can choose whether to eat formally at a table or have a picnic on your living room floor.
Southern dishes can be easy recipes to follow and give you a heap of delicious comfort food to eat with your special someone. These recipes typically involve things you already have handy in your kitchen, meaning you won’t have to take a special trip to the grocery store to prepare for your perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. After you eat, make sure you have plenty of sweets to share with your sweetheart.
4. Choose a Meaningful Movie
Dinner and a movie might be one of the most romantic dates you can have from home. Many streaming platforms offer movies that are currently in the theaters, but if you want something more meaningful to you and your partner, choose the first movie you saw together.
First dates are often spent at the movie theater — so if that’s the case for you and your partner, why not relive your first date and watch the same movie you did back then? Watching a meaningful movie together may make your Valentine’s Day all the more special.
5. Dance Together
Romantic events call for dancing! When’s the last time you and your partner danced together, whether in public or in private? You can work on your dancing skills so that you impress at the next corporate party or wedding you attend together. Maybe you can play “your song” and dance to it over and over as a sweet way to end the night.
Dancing serves as more than just a way to pass the time. Making dance a regular part of your life means you’ll likely have more bone mineral density than people who don’t dance regularly. It’s the perfect excuse to spend every evening after Valentine’s Day dancing with your partner.
Make This Valentine’s Day a Sweet One
Just because you’re staying at home doesn’t mean this Valentine’s Day has to be a bore. If your partner likes surprises, consider surprising them with a date already planned out. Otherwise, you can cook together and decide things to do together. Whether you play video games or board games, dance in your kitchen, or spend some quiet time alone, your Valentine’s Day at home will be spectacular because you are with the person you love most in the world.
Author Bio: Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine Revivalist, where she writes about style, beauty and adventure. Keep up with Cora on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.