17 Date Night At Home Ideas to Set the Right Mood

Imagine sitting down next to your significant other, opening a bottle of wine, and eating your favorite food while being surrounded by warm lighting. This romantic scene can bring you closer to your date and help you to enjoy your time together – and you don’t even have to leave your home to bring this dream date night to life.

Whether your babysitter canceled, the weather outside is frightful, or you’re more comfortable staying inside and away from crowds, date night at home can be relaxing, intimate, and often significantly less expensive than that fancy restaurant downtown. With the right activity and ambiance – which savvy lighting can help you achieve – you can keep the spark alive and bring out your romantic side. Try any of the below home date ideas to see for yourself.

17 date night at home ideas

A stay-at-home date night puts you in control of everything from the music and decor (lighting included) to activities and food. There’s no need to worry about directions, parking, reservations, or crowds – all the time you’ll have is quality time, the moments that lead to everlasting memories. Find some inspiration with the below 17 home date night ideas:

1. Project a movie in the backyard

A romantic date night at home doesn’t have to be kept indoors. If the weather is nice, move outside to the backyard for a good movie. All you need is a movie projector and a screen or some empty outdoor wall space, though comfy patio furniture, a blanket, and your favorite beverages certainly make the night more romantic. You can dress up as much as you want or make your movie night a pajama party for two – the neighbors might be jealous!

2. Tackle a DIY project

If you’re looking for a hands-on date night at home, consider doing a DIY project with your date. Try putting together a scrapbook of your favorite moments together or making decorations to hang around the house. DIY projects like these are an especially great way to bond through shared interests, so pick a craft that both you and your date enjoy and will eagerly work on together. For example, maybe there’s a room in your house you’ve been wanting to paint or some old wood furniture that could use a touch-up.

3. Stargaze indoors

Using laser projectors, turn your ceiling into a starry night sky, then lay down and watch your gorgeous indoor skyline while holding hands with your date. With indoor laser lights such as the BlissLights Evolve Galaxy Projector, you can kiss under thousands stars without leaving your house. The brilliant nebula cloud beautifully sets the mood and provides a calming atmosphere for your date night at home.

Sky Lite Evolve: Smart Galaxy Projector

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The latest evolution in smart galaxy lighting.

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4. Cook a gourmet meal

Tired of going to the same few restaurants over and over again? Become chefs at home and cook a gourmet meal together. Sure, the idea of cooking a fancy dinner could at first seem intimidating, but trying something new is a great way to bond with your date – part of the fun is learning alongside someone else.

You can venture out of your culinary comfort zone using several delicious gourmet recipes. Once it’s time to eat, light candles on the table, dim your overhead lighting, and pour a bottle of wine for the ultimate restaurant experience right in your dining room.

5. Camp out in your living room

Recreate the ultimate camping experience right in your own living room. Skip the hassle of pitching a tent and dealing with mosquitoes by rolling out your sleeping bags indoors. To simulate a true outdoor camping experience, light your fireplace, roast some marshmallows, and make s’mores.

Elevate your indoor camping experience by incorporating the BlissLights Star Port Laser USB – stay warm by the fire while surrounded by a glittering starry nighttime sky. You won’t have to worry about the weather forecast and can instead focus on singing campfire songs and enjoying your tin foil dinner.

StarPort USB Light

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One tiny light. Thousands of stars!

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6. Relax with an at-home spa day

De-stress and rejuvenate by turning your home into your own personal luxury spa. A spa night gives both you and your date a chance to unwind, take a load off from work, and spend time just talking. For a tranquil yet romantic evening, create your own avocado face mask, burn your favorite candles or incense, and play some classical music to immerse you and your date in a state of bliss. If you have a bathtub, fill it with bubble bath, lavender salts, or bath bombs and sip champagne while soaking in the relaxing warm water.

7. Snuggle by candlelight

Nothing says romantic date night at home like burning candles. Place candles all around your room and watch as your space is illuminated with a warm glow when you turn off the lights. Reach for electronic candles for a fuss-free experience, but if you prefer the real crackle of fire, be sure to light your candles safely and don’t leave them unattended. Snuggle up on your couch or bed under your coziest blanket, and you just might find that the dim lighting and gentle candle heat gets you into deep conversation mode.

8. Hold a throwback movie or TV marathon night

Sometimes all you need is a night spent at home watching your favorite nostalgic movies or TV shows. Go all-out for a TV show or movie marathon of your favorite throwbacks and travel back to your younger selves. You can prepare foods and snacks that go along with the theme, dress like the characters, and put up decorations that complement your film and TV choices.

9. Have a wine and paint night

Buy a few blank canvases and some paint for a DIY wine and paint night. Recreating this popular trend at home will save you money and keep you comfortable in your usual surroundings. To start your date, find a painting tutorial online and watch as you and your date both try to become professional artists. You and your date can also try painting portraits of each other for some good laughs. Once you’re done, show off your masterpieces by hanging them up in your home to serve as decor and a reminder of your epic date night at home.

10. Practice yoga or meditation

Find your inner zen and connect with one another through the power of yoga and meditation. Practicing meditation with your date is a wonderful way to loosen up and strengthen your bond. If neither one of you has experience with these practices, try out partner yoga for an exciting night of learning something new together. With the BlissLights BlissBulb, the red stars will promote relaxation and help you concentrate on appreciating each other's company. Create the perfect mindfulness space with soft lighting and natural decor, then end with a guided meditation session.

BlissBulb Laser LightBulb

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Transforming your world is as easy as changing a lightbulb.

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11. Enjoy an outdoor picnic

You may feel like you’ve been stuck inside lately because of work, bad weather, or attempts to stay socially distant – a change of scenery (even if just in your backyard) can be a game-changer for your date night at home. If the weather is nice, go outside and lay down a blanket on the grass or patio. Put out a charcuterie board with a lovely spread of cheese, crackers, grapes, and other savory snacks… and don’t forget the wine!

12. Play a game

Break out the board games or a deck or cards and get ready for some friendly competition during your exciting date night at home. You and your date can challenge each other by adding a twist to some of the games – for example, the loser has to do the dishes. Consider having multiple board games handy in case you get tired of just one or switching to classic two-player card games such as speed, slapjack, and war.

13. Have a deep conversation

Sitting in silence because you’ve run out of things to discuss is awkward and can dampen the magic of date night. Instead of only scratching the surface with your conversations, use your date night to have deliberate conversations about deep and meaningful topics. Ask questions and let the conversation naturally segue from one subject to another – you’ll probably learn something new about not just your date, but yourself. The result could be a rough draft of a bucket list or, more importantly, trusting your date on a more intimate level.

14. Enjoy a wine tasting session

When the weather isn’t right for leaving home, have your own wine-tasting night at home. Try a few different types of wines, and lay out some cheese, crackers, and cured meats for an elegant and sophisticated date night at home. To bring your wine-tasting night to the next level, try specialty wines from local wineries or purchase a wine tasting kit.

15. Make your favorite pizza

Forget takeout menus – you and your date can create a delicious homemade pizza together. If you’re feeling inspired, make your own dough (alternatively, you can buy premade grocery store dough). Finish your pizza with all of your favorite toppings – you can even write a personalized message with the veggies! Once your pizza is out of the oven, you and your significant other can marvel at your culinary accomplishments.

16. Team up on a puzzle

Like games, puzzles can be both fun and challenging, but unlike games, puzzles are team efforts rather than competitive activities. Even more difficult puzzles can be calming and give you and your date a shared experience and plenty of conversation starters. You’ll sit next to each other and work in tandem to fill in those pesky missing pieces.

17. Have a light show

Shine a stunning array of colorful lights inside your living room for an evening of mesmerizing, fluttering patterns. Grab your fuzzy socks and slippers, pull up a cozy blanket, and cuddle on the couch while you watch as bright laser lights fill the room with stars, clouds, auroras, and other enchanting images. To create this picture-perfect night, all you need is a laser light projector such as the BlissLights Ark Aurora Light. Pair your laser light show with some romantic mood music to really make your date night at home an unforgettable time.

ARK Aurora Light

$29.99

Transcend reality with a moving abstract aurora.

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Create an enticing date night at home with BlissLights

No matter your choice of date night at home idea, the mood you set makes all the difference, and here at BlissLights, our laser light bulbs and projectors are perfect for creating the perfect romantic atmosphere. When you kiss your date under glittering indoor stars, your sparks might fly in an even more unforgettable way. Check out the BlissLights collection to find your dream date night lights, and hopefully, your dream date will follow.