Valentine’s Day is the holiday to celebrate and appreciate those who fill your heart every day. Many of us express this sentiment with fancy dinner reservations and spa appointments, but there is another way to show you care. This year, avoid the hubbub of the holiday and plan on enjoying a Valentine’s night at home. To help you get ready, we’ve compiled a list of at-home date ideas that are simple yet festive, no matter if you’re celebrating by yourself, with a special someone, or with the whole family! After all, our homes hold a piece of our hearts, so what better place to spend the holiday of love? hold a piece of our hearts, so what better place to spend the holiday of love?
Indulge in Some “You” Time
Being solo on Valentine’s Day is not a bad thing—in fact, it’s an excellent opportunity to pamper yourself and enjoy a much-needed night of quality relaxation. Even if you are in a relationship or have family to dote on, a little “you” time is never a bad idea. Here are some ways to indulge in the Valentine’s Day you deserve:
1. Set the Mood
Kick back and sink into a relaxing Valentine’s night at home. Light some aromatic candles, pour yourself a glass of wine, and dress down in your comfiest PJs. Set up your queue to immerse yourself in a new television series or switch on that podcast that you’ve heard all about. Layer on a cozy blanket and keep your favorite late-night munchies nearby for a perfect night in with yourself.
2. Learn Something New
If there was ever a perfect time to pick up a new hobby or try out a new recipe, tonight’s the night! Few things are more gratifying to the soul than learning something new, and to do so in a comfortable, worry-free environment. Start by scrolling through your “must-try” Pin Board or search YouTube for video how-tos, and create! Need ideas to get started? Check out the Shea Homes DIY Pinterest board!
3. Spread the Love
Think of all the people in your life that are important to you, then send them a little heartfelt note or small gift to express how much you care. Doing things for others is rewarding to the self—and bonus points if it’s handmade! Need a little help with getting this together? Print out these Valentine tags and attach to a gift or write a note on the back and pass them on to the ones you love.
Prepare a Date Night for Two
Planning on spending Valentine’s Day with your significant other? Create a romantic date night in with the right décor, fun activities, and of course, a special meal to share!
4. Add a Festive Touch
Prep your home with some simple, inexpensive décor items to create a romantic atmosphere. For mood lighting, re-purpose your Christmas lights and string them across the living room, or arrange clusters of tea lights on different surfaces around the house. Buy some Valentine’s candy and pour it into glass vases as a sweet table centerpiece. You can even get crafty by cutting out strips of paper and making a heart garland to hang on your mantle or over your window. If you’re looking for something homemade, but don’t have the time to make it yourself, check out these home décor ideas from Shea Homes Arizona.
5. Create Moments to Connect
Set up a unique activity for you and your loved one to participate in, creating a fun memory that you will remember in the years to come. Here are three ideas to kick start your creativity:
- Learn to dance. Push aside all the furniture in the living room, find an instructional video, and learn how to ballroom dance together to a classy waltz (try not to step on too many toes!).
- Write love letters. Get out the fancy stationery and write love letters to each other, then take turns reading them out loud. If you’re feeling ambitious, save the letters in a box to be opened and reminisced upon next year!
- Dream together. If you’re in the house-hunting frame of mind, make a date to start thinking about what kind of house you both will love and make a list of what you would like to have in your dream home.
6. Make Reservations for the Best Seat in the House
Looking for a romantic table away from the world? Dress up the table at home and make it a four-star experience. Go all out for an indulgent homemade meal, or order in from a favorite restaurant and serve it on the good plates. To take it up a level, build some anticipation with your significant other and send them a smart phone calendar invitation for a dinner for two at your address. However way you do it, make a date to spend some intentional time in each other’s company!
Enjoy a Family Extravaganza
Nothing expresses love better than having the whole family in on the Valentine’s Day fun! From Valentine’s crafts with the kids, to group activities that everyone can participate in, your family date night will be one for the books.
7. Set up a Valentine’s Treasure Hunt
Get the whole family involved in a fun treasure hunt for all ages. To get started, follow these steps:
- Grab a big bowl or small to medium-sized basket and fill it with your favorite Valentine’s candy (or bake up a batch of cookies instead!)
- Print and cut out the clues from the printable below
- Tuck each clue away in its suggested hiding spot
- Place the treats in the final hiding spot and you’re good to go!
When you’re ready to start the hunt, hand over the first clue and watch your family work as a team to get to the jackpot.
8. Enjoy Family Bonding
Laugh the night away while playing group board games, or have a movie night on the couch with several bowls of popcorn—you can opt to watch the kids’ favorite flicks, or enjoy your family home videos. You can also grab bed sheets and blankets for a fort building extravaganza, then have a living room overnight camp out where you take turns sharing your funniest memory of each member of your family.
9. Share a Sweet Treat
What’s Valentine’s Day without some chocolate? Make s’mores together over the gas burner or an ethanol gel can, and get fancy with the fixings by buying a variety of chocolate bar types! Or, you can melt your chocolate over a double-boiler and have a family fondue. Make it more fun by letting everyone choose one snack they’d like to dip (strawberries, pretzels, graham crackers, etc.)!
Do you have any other at-home date ideas or DIY Valentine’s projects to share? Leave them in the comments below!