You don’t need to leave the comfort of your own home to enjoy Valentine’s night with your special someone. Whether it’s the rainy weather, a tight budget, or simply just your sheer unwillingness to leave the house (we feel you) keeping you from going out this Valentine’s Day – not to worry! Here’s how you can still make the night romantic at home:
Get your Christmas beds together, it’s movie night
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We all know and love a ‘Christmas bed’ when its done right! Find your cosy spot, set the atmosphere with fairy lights, a makeshift fort and lots of pillows. Once you’ve got the comfort factor down, you need to address the stars of the show: snacks, and what you’re going to watch.
If you haven’t sorted dinner already, get yourself an Uber Eats from a restaurant you both love, and stock up on the wine and drinks. For some extra movie snacking, pick up some of your favourite nibbles (we’re going for the salty chips and a bag of Chuckles) and voila!
As far as romantic movies go, you’ve got hundreds to pick from! If you’re looking for something new, try Your Place or Mine on Netflix – Rheese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher will muster all the romance your movie night needs. If you’re going for classics, go for The Notebook, Love Actually, When Harry Met Sally, The Vow, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, or The Proposal.
A perfect indoor picnic
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Why not set up the perfect picnic for two indoors? It’s not every day you get to go all out for a picnic, and being in the comfort of your own home gives you the freedom to get as lovey dovey as you like without the PDA.
To set up your perfect indoor picnic, pick a cozy spot in your home like your living room or bedroom and get to work on setting the scene. You want a romantic but cozy atmosphere, so dim the lights down if you can, or light some candles or fairy lights. Set up your bluetooth speaker (just in case loadshedding decides to interrupt) and dip into your couples playlist. If you don’t have one, Spotify has hundreds to get you in the mood.
Once you’ve laid down your picnic blanket it’s time to load it with nibbles! We love to opt for a charcuterie board with loads of yummy options for optimal snacking.
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How to make your charcuterie board
- Choose a board: Start with a wooden board, slate board, or any flat surface to arrange your charcuterie board.
- Select your meats: Choose a variety of cured meats like salami, prosciutto, and ham. You can have both thinly sliced and chunkier cuts for texture and flavour variation.
- Add some cheeses: Choose a few different types of cheeses such as brie, cheddar, gouda, or blue cheese. Cut them into small bite-size pieces or leave them in wedges for easy snacking.
- Add some fruits and veggies: Add some colour and freshness to the board with a variety of fruits like grapes, berries, and figs, and some veggies like carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes.
- Add some nuts and crackers: Choose a variety of crackers and breadsticks to pair with the meats and cheeses. Add some nuts like almonds, cashews, or walnuts for added crunch.
- Arrange the board: Start by placing the larger items like the cheeses and meats and then fill in the gaps with the smaller items. Add some fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to make the board look more appealing.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the charcuterie board with some wine, beer, or your favorite beverage, and enjoy with your special someone.
Do pizza and board games
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If a movie night or indoor picnic doesn’t match your fancy, consider ordering a pizza and playing some of your favourite board games together.
Time away from devices will allow you to be in the present and focus on what you’re doing together. You could go for scrabble, card games, monopoly, trivia or even chess if you’re feeling like you’ve got the mind power for it! We love a board games night, especially when loadshedding looms.
You could combine board games with an indoor picnic, or you could take the easier route and order pizza from your favourite pizza joint.
Set the mood with an at-home spa
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You don’t need to visit a spa to have a proper pamper session. Have your partner treat you to it instead! And you can return the favour, it’s more romantic that way! Set up a little DIY spa night at home, complete with massages, facials, and that couples’ playlist we mentioned earlier.
Set the mood by dimming the lights or lighting some candles. Then draw a warm bath with aromatic oils, bath salts, or bubbles. Make sure you’ve got the spa essentials like big fluffy towels, matching robes, and slippers in check.
Prepare some healthy snacks and drinks to enjoy during the spa night, or you could opt for a healthy charcuterie board to snack from.
Once you’re all set, get your face masks on, and then ease into giving each other massages with your aromatherapy essential oils. End the night on a calming note by flicking through a coffee table book together, listening to soft music, or enjoying the last moments of your Valentine’s date together.
Wine tasting, at home
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Do a wine or beer tasting together and try out different varieties. Have a read of our Valentine’s wine guide to clue yourself up on which wines should make a feature on your special evening!
Break out your fondue set
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Have a fondue night and dip fruits, veggies, and bread into melted chocolate or cheese.
The most important part of having a fondue is choosing a cheese that melts well, like Gruyere or Emmental. You can also add other cheeses for flavor, like cheddar or Parmesan. When it comes to choosing your dippers, cut up a selection of bread, and meats that you can dip into the fondue, like sausages. Some popular dessert options you could dip into your melted pot of chocolate could be apples, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and marshmallows.
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