There’s something about a romantic night em>in/em>, with curated music, a shared activity, and a free-flowing conversation that sparks romance like nothing else. A thoughtful night in, with a playlist of songs you both enjoy, a shared hobby, and a free-flowing discussion, can spark romance like no other.
There are many ways to create a romantic evening in your living room, whether you’re inspired by bad weather or want to escape the crowds. We’ve put together five home date ideas as romantic as any night out because connecting with your partner shouldn’t be difficult at all.
You can do a wine tasting at home.
There’s definitely something romantic about wine tasting. If you’re not engaged or don’t have the time to visit a vineyard, ordering your favorite wines and setting up a date is all it takes to do an at-home tasting. To ensure that your tasting has a wide range of flavors and undertones, we recommend choosing at least 4-5 bottles from La Crema’s exclusive wines. Choose classics such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Then, round out your group with some more unusual choices, like Late Harvest Roussanne.
You can serve your favorite charcuterie as a dinner (girl’s dinner, anyone? Start tasting. You can take this to the next step by making a variety of small dishes to pair with your wines. (For inspiration, look at the matching tabs on the website of each La Crema wine.) Then, taste each dish alongside the wine to determine how the wine enhances its flavors. It’s a fun way to make a date night more memorable.
Join La Crema’s wine club to make this date night regular (and save money in the process). You can get 20% off six bottles of wine three times a year. You can order six different bottles every time to have a variety of wines for date night.
Paint-and-sip DIY class
You and your partner may always say you will do paint-and-sip together, but never book it. You can save money and stress by DIYing your paint-and-sip date at home. Pour two or three glasses of your favorite wine (maybe from the La Crema at-home wine tasting that we recommend above), and cover your dining table with paper. Then, paint your heart out. You can use a kit and see how each of you approaches painting the same scene. Or, try recreating a favorite photo together. You could even paint portraits. You can choose a subject that you and your partner both enjoy, such as a pet. You’ll both still want it, no matter how creative it is.
It’s not necessary to use large canvases. You can use a small canvas to create a keepsake that you can store in a box of mementos rather than buying something larger and feeling obligated to find wall space. You can get creative by painting fun designs on glassware.
Prepare a delicious meal with your friends.
It’s always fun to cook a meal together. Why not take it up a level and make the night a special occasion? Bring out your matching aprons and the prettiest table settings, and come up with a restaurant-worthy meal that you can make together. It will taste better because both made it out of you. You can choose something completely outside your comfort zone or put a fresh spin on an old favorite. You can start by making your dough for a pizza or create your pasta noodles to recreate your favorite takeout. This last option is great because you might even like your version better than the version from the restaurant. We’ve put together a list of recipes for date nights at home that will inspire you.
It will take time to create a recipe from scratch, so make it an adventure! Prepare some appetizers and snacks to enjoy while you are cooking. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to cook with someone when you’re hungry. Cooking is a great way to spend time with your date. So, make it a point to enjoy the experience. The fruits of your hard work will be even more enjoyable when you want them by candlelight.
Select a wine to enjoy while you cook and with your meal. Select a wine to pair with your chosen meal and elevate the experience. Are you unsure where to begin? If you’re not sure where to start, match the color and type of meat with the wine. White meats such as chicken go well with white wines (such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc), while red meats such as ribs or steak pair nicely with reds.
The idea is to get out of your kitchen comfort zone and do something new together. Dinner will become less of a chore and more of an event on this particular night.
Enjoy a themed film marathon.
Movie nights are often viewed as low-effort dates. It’s worth it to romanticize your movie nights by turning them into marathons. You can watch a favorite series together (Harry Potter always works), or you can dive into the work of a director or genre.
You could snuggle on the couch, but I suggest taking it a step further. You can make the experience even more special by adding a screen and projector. It will be like going to a drive-in, but you will be able to sit comfortably. Bring your favorite popcorn, hotdogs, and candy to the movie. You can customize each snack according to your tastes by adding special popcorn seasonings or toppings for hot dogs, as well as candy that you cannot get in a movie theater. A bonus? It is much cheaper to take this route than to go to the movie theater. The movie theaters are fantastic, but the prices can be a bit steep if you consider how long they have had their “fresh” snacks out.
Set the mood by lighting candles and turning out all the lights after you have selected the main feature. You can also leave your phone in a different room so that you can concentrate on the movie. This “simple” romantic movie night could become your favorite thing to do with your partner.
