Recently, indoor date ideas are becoming popular with many couples around the world. Be it due to bad weather or just not feeling like going out, couples are finding alternatives to spend some romantic time together at home. Indoor dates are also much cheaper — or even free! Here are 30 of the best indoor date ideas you can try today.
1. Cook a meal together.
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This is one of the most cost-efficient and convenient at-home date night ideas. Whether you’re already masters in the kitchen or just learning your way around, cooking together is a good bonding opportunity for the two of you while staying indoors. Whisk up some of your favorite dishes or try something new.
When you’re done, light some candles, put on some music and you have a fancy meal at home. If you want to make the experience more authentic, dress up like you would for a real date. Save the time and money spent eating out at an expensive restaurant and enjoy the time together instead.
2. Enjoy breakfast in bed
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Start the day right with a romantic breakfast in bed together. Get up early and prepare a special breakfast as a sweet surprise for your partner. Alternatively, you can prepare breakfast together in the morning and share the meal after.
Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to prepare so focus more on putting as much love and thought into it. Nothing beats starting the morning drinking a warm cup of coffee and being with your loved one.
3. Have an indoor picnic
When you are unable to head out to a park for a picnic outdoors, why not have one indoors? Grab your favorite food and drinks from the fridge, spread out a blanket on the floor and enjoy your indoor picnic. If the weather is good, you can even take the picnic out on your yard or garden.
Having your picnic at home is not just cozy but private as well. It allows you to spend more intimate time together alone without having to worry about the natural elements and prying eyes of passers-by.
4. Watch a movie at home
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Perhaps one of the most popular indoor date ideas is settling into a couch and watching a movie with your SO. Browse through your Netflix catalog or rewatch one of you or your partner’s favorite childhood movie. It might be good to invest in a home theater projector to screen your home movie sessions. Find a bare wall in your house or set up a screen to better simulate the movie-watching experience a lot more.
You can set up a small “home theater” corner in your home so you two can snuggle up comfortably and watch a movie together. Prepare some popcorn or gather your favorite snacks and drinks to share as well while you’re at it!
5. Indoor Camping
One of the perfect rainy day date ideas is indoor camping. Pitch a small camping tent in your living room or build yourselves a blanket fort if you don’t have a tent. Pile it up with comfy pillows and warm blankets and string up some fairy lights to set the mood.
This date idea is perfect on those colder days so you can stay nestled in each other’s arms the whole day. Place your fort or tent in front of the fireplace and roast marshmallows just like you would over a campfire. Even though it’s not the same as camping in the great outdoors, what matters most is that you have good company with you.
6. Clean the house
When you’re stuck at home with nothing to do, the house can get dirty and messy quickly. Use the time instead to do some spring cleaning. This might seem like a chore but you can make it fun! Turn the cleaning process into a dance or competition; see who can clean the whole length of the table faster or glide around your living room with mops and brooms.
While you’re at it, start organizing things around the house as well. Go through your closets and pick out any clothes you don’t wear anymore so you can donate them or throw them out. If you have any drawers or corners that are especially cluttered, take time to clear them out and neatening them up. Not only will you be left with a cleaner house, but you’ll get a workout out of it too!
7. Play video games
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Add a little friendly competition to your relationship by playing a match or two with your partner. Get your game consoles out and spar with each other over a game. Even if one of you is not an active gamer, games can be a fun way to let out all that energy when you’re stuck indoors. Who knows, you might find a new hobby!
At the end of the day, remember that it’s all in good fun. Be a good sport if you lose! Playing games together can actually bring the two of you closer and inject some fun in the relationship so don’t think too much about winning or losing and just enjoy yourselves!
8. Film a TikTok video
TikTok is taking the world by storm and this is the best time to jump in on the craze. Practice one of the many viral dance routines and film yourselves doing it together or film a funny short video of the two of you. It’s a simple fun activity that you guys can laugh over together and the possibilities of what you can post are truly endless.
If you are looking for indoor date ideas when you’re bored with nothing to do, this is one activity to try. You don’t even have to be a good dancer; TikTok is all about being silly anyway. Who knows, the two of you might be the next viral TikTok stars!
9. Set up a home spa
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When trying to consider unique indoor date ideas, why not pamper each other at home? Everyone needs a little TLC every once in a while. Studies have shown that couples who give each other regular massages have an improved relationship.
Prepare a warm bath and add in essential oils if you like. Once you’re done, prepare some calming face masks for each other. You can even give each other massages to ease those tired muscles after a long day. Take the time to fully relax and enjoy the moment in each other’s company.
10. Turn your kitchen into a bar
Why head out to the bars and clubs when you can mix your own drinks at home? Get out your collection of drinks and mix up your favorite drinks (be it alcoholic or not) for each other. Go all out and decorate your drinks as fancy as you like — you’re the bartender so get creative!
The best thing about mixing your own drinks at home is that you have more freedom to experiment with new combinations. Look through your fridge and kitchen cabinets for any interesting ingredients to add to the mix. Try them out just for fun and you might just discover a new concoction that you really like!
For some recipe ideas to try, check out our article of classic cocktails to make at home.
11. Read books
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Reading on a date might sound very anti-social but you can turn it into an activity for two! Grab your favorite books and share them with each other. If you like, you can read out your favorite parts. The type of books you read can tell a lot about you so this can be a great opportunity for the two of you to find out more about how your partner thinks and what topics interest them.
One good idea is to spend the night taking turns reading romance novels. Some romance novels can get quite steamy and explicit with the details so they can really help get you both in the mood. However, if you want to keep things less serious, read out the cheesiest lines in the most dramatic way possible and have a good laugh over your exaggerated recitals.
12. Take virtual museum tours.
Avoid large crowds and traveling long distances for your artsy or culture fix. If you and your partner are into the arts, why not take a virtual museum tour? The best part about it is that it’s completely free — no waiting in line or entrance fees!
Most museums all over the world have cleverly made it possible for patrons to visit their exhibits virtually. You can browse through numerous museums anywhere in the world, from Paris to New York to Germany and even Poland — everything is possible with just a few clicks. Geek out together over artifacts or marvel at beautiful artworks, without even leaving your couch.
13. Play a board or card game
If you aren’t big on e-games, play a good ol’ board or card game instead. Go head to head and pit your strategic planning and quick-thinking skills against each other. Up the difficulty or add certain challenges after each round to keep the game interesting.
If you don’t have any board games or a pack of cards, you can always play other games that require two or more people. Stack up a Jenga tower and see who lets it fall first or let out your inner Picasso with a round or two of Pictionary. Whatever game you choose, just have fun with it!
14. Watch Broadway shows together.
After a while, watching TV can get boring once you run out of sitcoms and shows to binge on. If you two are into musicals and theater productions, why not check out some Broadway shows online? Groove along to the signature dance numbers, quiz each other on trivia or sing your heart out to the famous songs we all know and love.
There are various sites that stream plays and musicals online, such as Broadway HD. Netflix and Amazon Prime have some theater productions so if you’re already subscribed to them, just browse through their selections and pick out some of your favorites. All you need is a stable internet connection and a good enough sound system to bring the theater into your home.
15. Exercise together
You know what they say: a couple that sweats it out together stays together. Staying at home all day doesn’t give you an excuse to be lazy. It’s important to keep yourselves active and healthy even if you can’t go outside. There are plenty of fitness apps and instructional videos online that can make you both sweat it out while at home.
Working out can be tiring for some but it’s always a lot more fun and bearable when you do it with someone else. Encourage and cheer each other on to keep up the pace and not give up. Once you’re done, both of you will be feeling so much more energized and your mood will be lifted for the rest of the day.
16. Do a home makeover
How many times in the past have you put off making the changes you wanted at home? This may be the perfect time to spruce up your home. Sprucing up your home is one of those indoor date ideas that hits two birds with one stone. You get to do something with your partner while redesigning your home to make it more liveable for you two.
Give your walls a new paint job or set up some furniture to add to your home. If you’re out of ideas for room decorations, sites like Pinterest have tons of inspiration you can look through and discuss with your partner. Once you’re done with everything, sit back and admire your transformation.
17. Look back on past memories
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While it’s important to always keep moving in the relationship, it’s good to sometimes reminisce on some past memories. How many times have you talked about that trip to the beach you had a year ago? Or were you both too busy to even remember about it?
Take a walk down the memory lane and look through pictures of your times together, be it past dates, anniversaries or birthday celebrations. Laugh over those funny incidents and look back on how you’ve grown as a couple during those hard times. You may even learn something new about your partner that you’ve never openly talked about before.
18. Belt it out!
Perhaps one of the most enjoyable indoor date ideas around is to have a mini karaoke session at home. Put on your favorite tracks and sing to your hearts’ content. This is one of those couple activities that not only is fun but relieves you of stress and lifts your mood.
To make things more real, prepare your own “mics” and perform as if you’re at a concert. Who cares if either of you can’t sing well? No one else is listening so just go at it! Just keep it down so you don’t annoy your neighbors!
19. Take a quiz together
Find an online quiz on your favorite topics and either solve them together or go head to head and see who gets the most points. This is one of those indoor date ideas that will stimulate not just your relationship, but your minds as well.
Another of those indoor dates ideas you can do is to also take personality tests. These can reveal a lot about your partner’s traits, behaviors, and quirks. There are even tests to see how compatible you are as a couple as well so try them out just for fun and find out how similar or different you two really are!
20. Get up and dance
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When was the last time you two danced? This may be the right time to rekindle. Turn on some slow dance tunes and ask her for a dance. You can both dress up for the occasion or do it in your pajamas, whatever feels right for you two. Indoor date ideas like this would not only bring you closer together, but it would bring out out the romantic side of you.
Alternatively, you can put on some upbeat songs and learn a piece of choreography together. It might take a while for you to get the hang of things but that’s where you can guide and help each other along the way. This is also a great way to get you up and moving and incorporate some exercise while at home.
21. Put together a puzzle
If you are looking for different indoor date ideas, here’s another one you can do. Jigsaw puzzles are surprisingly underrated but they are worth bringing back as a potential at-home date night idea. Get a puzzle set from your nearest toy store — the bigger, the better.
This is one of those couple activities that are fun without breaking the bank. Plus, it gives you something to do for the next few days until the puzzle is completed. Puzzles are a lot easier when you’re doing it as a team. Once you’re done, you can even frame up your completed work to show off your piece of art.
22. Create a couple’s playlist
Most couples have their own songs that hold special meaning to them. Why not take some of those songs and turn them into a playlist? Compile a list of songs that signify certain stages in your relationship and put them in a shared playlist between the two of you.
Include some of your personal favorite songs together or the soundtracks of your favorite movies together. The possibilities are endless. When you’re going through a rough patch, you can listen to this playlist to remind you of the good times and hopefully rekindle that love again.
23. Exchange letters
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Revive the practice of writing and sending love letters. Spend a few moments writing your letters after dinner. It can be about whatever you want; keep that personal between the two of you. Once you’re done, swap the letters. If you like, you can choose to read them privately on your own or read them out to each other.
Instead of writing full letters, you can also make it a practice to write small love notes to each other throughout the day. Write them on sticky notes and put them where your partner can see them or send them a text. It’s little things like this that show you care for each other and this keeps the relationship alive.
24. Write down your bucket list
One of the most meaningful indoor date ideas is to write down your bucket list. Try to incorporate hers with yours so this becomes your relationship’s bucket list. List down dreams and goals you want to achieve as a couple; think for the short-term and long-term.
You can also come up with a list of things you want to do together or places to visit. Check back with these goals every so often and tick them off the list once you have achieved them. When your relationship gets rough once in a while, these goals can act as motivation to stick through with it and not give up on each other.
25. Cuddle up
When it comes to at-home date night ideas, the easiest solution is to just snuggle on a couch together. Get comfortable and enjoy being in each other’s arms. You can choose to stay quiet and indulge in the moment or talk about everything that makes you happy.
This might be one of the simplest rainy day date ideas but you’ll be surprised how effective it can be. Being in your partner’s arms can make you feel a lot more grounded and secure and it’s the most comforting feeling in the world. It’s these moments that you realize you often take for granted when you’re busy going about your lives.
Dates don’t always have to involve dressing up and going to dinner or to the movies. Once you are further into the relationship, you will need some variety with the activities that you do — and sometimes, simple is better. A meaningful date is what you make it out to be. As long as you enjoy your time together, it doesn’t matter where you have your dates; it will be just as memorable and romantic as ever.
