Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! If there’s someone special in your life, you’ve probably faced the struggle of making Valentine’s Day plans. With restaurants booking up weeks in advance and movie theaters packed with couples, planning a Valentine’s Day date can be stressful.
Whether you forgot to make a reservation at your favorite restaurant or you just want a more intimate Valentine’s Day, a date night in is the way to go. With just a little bit of effort, you can put together the perfect dinner date to celebrate your partner.
Put the Phones Away
Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating your love for your partner, so postpone your doomscrolling and focus on your person. There’s a time and place for you and your partner to catch up on your texts, but date night is a time to catch up with your partner.
Set the Mood
The atmosphere of your apartment can make or break a date night in—no pressure. Luckily, there are two easy ways to set the mood: lighting and music.
Turn off the big lights and opt for candles and lamps instead. Steer away from strongly scented candles during your dinner so as not to interfere with the yummy dish you’re going to share. Warm vanilla candles and alfredo pasta don’t mix well.
Next, turn on some music! Whether you like classical compositions, modern pop, or soft jazz, make sure your playlist is perfectly curated to create a romantic ambiance. If there’s a song that’s special to you and your partner, queue that up!
Show Off Your Cooking Skills
Cooking a meal with your partner is a great way to spend quality time together. It’s a win-win situation—you get to bond by doing an activity together, and you get a yummy meal out of it, too!
If you’re not the best cook, don’t worry! The meal you cook for your date night in doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple pasta dish you both like or pizzas made with store-bought dough are easy meals that make for a great dinner date.
Have a Signature Drink
Whether it’s soda, wine, or a cool cocktail you saw online, a signature drink can tie together your date night. If nothing comes to mind automatically, do some research ahead of time to find a drink you and your partner will enjoy. Is there a new flavor of their favorite soda? Can you put a festive twist on their favorite cocktail or mocktail? Putting in the effort to pick something with your partner in mind speaks louder than candy hearts.
Have a Movie Picked Out
Wind down the night by curling up on the couch and watching a movie. If there’s a movie you and your partner have been wanting to watch together, now is the perfect time!
Choose a movie in advance to remove the anxious decision making from the night and avoid twenty minutes of scrolling aimlessly through Netflix. Make some popcorn, grab a blanket, and check a movie off your watchlist.
The key to a successful date night in isn’t perfection—it’s planning. Regardless of how long you and your partner have been together, putting in the effort to create a romantic date night is a great way to show you care. With a little bit of planning and forethought, your Valentine’s Day date night in will be one you and your partner remember.
