With the ever-rising cost of living, staying at home is the new going out. But just because you’re skimping on costs, doesn’t mean you have to skimp on FUN! You can create magic without leaving the house or blowing your household budget. Whether you’re planning a romantic night for two, a fun evening with the kids, or some well-deserved ‘me time’, these are our favourite creative ways to make your nights unforgettable.
Keep scrolling for the best at-home date night ideas (at all price points) to help keep the fun alive at your place!
Related article: Quick and simple guide to a stylish table setting – every time!
Related article: How to create an outdoor cinema
Couple stay-at-home date night ideas
Dinner date
Pick a night of the week that works for both of you and create your own dinner date at home! Sounds simple enough, but often we push fun things aside for catching up on work, doing life admin or other housework.
Pop your dinner date in the calendar and treat it like a real appointment you have to commit to. It might not sound very romantic, but it’s more romantic than never doing it!
Sit down at the dinner table and enjoy a lovely meal together — order takeaway, use a meal kit delivery box or cook something delicious from scratch. Maybe you could be in charge of the first dinner and your partner can do it next time.
Watch a movie, share a bottle of wine and just be together sans phones and other distractions.
Don’t forget to check out these tips on setting the table to make it extra special.
Themed night
You all know how much we love a theme, so why not try this for your date night at home?!
For example, an Italian themed night could include watching a great foreign film, trying a selection of Italian foods and drinks (Aperol Spritz, anyone?!), playing some Italian games (Briscola and Bocce spring to mind) or even dressing the room (or yourselves!) in an Italian-inspired way.
There’s no limit to the fun you can have on a themed night, and you can be as creative as you like.
Indoor picnic
Ever planned a wonderful picnic only to have it ruined by weather?! Well, why not make a foolproof plan and organise an indoor picnic for another stay at home date night idea?
Choose a spot to throw down some rugs and lots of comfy cushions. Add a few blankets, light some candles and dim the lights to really set the mood. Prepare picnic foods like delicious bread and crackers, dips, cheeses, olives and all your other fave nibblies. Yum!
This is also a fun one to do with the kids for something a little different!
Star gazing
It doesn’t get more simple — or more romantic — than a stargazing date night at home. When you strip things back to basics, it opens up space for genuine connection and quiet conversation.
Spread a picnic rug, pour a glass of wine or make a hot cup of cocoa, and settle in under the stars. Point out the constellations you know, or if you’re both new to it, download a stargazing app to learn them together.
To lean into the theme, string up a few fairy lights or lanterns for ambience and snuggle under a blanket. Sometimes, the best stay-at-home date night ideas are the simplest ones.
Home photoshoot
Let’s face it — most couple photos these days are selfies! If you’ve been wanting something more special but can’t justify spending hundreds on a professional shoot, why not create your own at-home photoshoot?
Dress up, set the scene, and use your phone with a tripod (or a stack of books in true DIY style). Good lighting, a few props, and plenty of laughter are guaranteed. It’s a fun, memorable way to capture your connection — and we’ll leave it up to you whether you keep things PG or a little more M-rated 😉
DIY cocktail (or mocktail) evening
With the cost of a single cocktail generally costing over $20 these days, this may be something you’ve been sacrificing and would enjoy treating yourself to on a couple’s date night at home. Pick out a few recipes to shake up together and turn it into a fun mixology night.
It’s a great way to learn new skills, ready to show off at your next hosting event. Or you could even come up with your own signature creation. With the fabulous range of zero alcohol spirits on the market now, you can make pretty much any cocktail into a mocktail. Enjoy mojitos, spicy margaritas, or non-alcoholic spritzes.
Home spa for two
When the daily grind takes over, sometimes what we need most is simple, physical connection. Treating your partner to a massage or facial at home can be the perfect way to bring back touch, ease tension, and help them unwind after a big week.
You’ll find plenty of tutorials on YouTube with tips for giving great massages, but our biggest tip? Don’t rush! Take your time to show your partner you’re doing this for them — not just ticking a box to move onto the next thing (read into that what you will!).
Set the scene with candlelight and soft music. Use high-quality oils or skincare products to make it feel indulgent, and complete the day-spa vibe with fluffy towels, bathrobes, and slippers. It’s the ultimate stay-at-home date night idea for relaxation and reconnection.
Music nostalgia night
If you’re still in the early days of getting to know your partner, sharing songs can be a surprisingly intimate way to learn more about each other. What did you listen to on the way to your high school formal? What songs take you back to those clubbing years?
Take turns playing tracks from your teenage years or early twenties and share the memories tied to them — the people, the moments, and the stories. Add some snacks and wine for the perfect relaxed night in. Who knows, you might even bust out some of your best dance moves!
Cook-off challenge
Who doesn’t love a bit of friendly competition? Some of the best MasterChef episodes were the mystery box challenges — where creativity and quick thinking came into play. Bring that same sense of fun to your own kitchen with a cook-off challenge at home.
Choose one mystery ingredient (think avocado, chocolate, or even tinned pineapple) and each create a dish using it. Then taste, compare, and declare a playful ‘winner.’ It’s a guaranteed recipe for laughter and lasting memories.
Family ideas
DIY pizza night
What’s the ultimate kids food? Pizza, of course! And it’s even better when you can make it yourself! We’re sure your children will love learning to cook with you, making the pizza dough from scratch. But if you want to keep things simple, you could get pre-made bases and simply set up a toppings bar where everyone can build their own mini pizza.
Family art night
Paint and sip nights aren’t just fun for adults! Set up your own family art night with some mini canvases, paints and brushes, or work together on a larger piece you can hang in your home.
Mix up the medium for extra fun — try clay sculpting, plaster casting, or drawing with pastels. Remember the aim of the game is to have fun, so try not to stress about a bit of miss or creating the perfect masterpiece!
Backyard movie night
Keep this one for just you and your partner, or maybe make it a family stay at home date night idea!
Set up a projector and screen, create a comfy seating area, add ambient lighting and don’t forget the snacks before getting ready to sit back enjoy a movie on the big screen in the privacy of your backyard.
It’s easier than it looks to turn your backyard into an outdoor cinema. Watch this video to see how we made a large outdoor cinema screen for under $100!
Games party
Bring back old fashioned family time with a board game or puzzle. This idea is fun for all ages. Either work together as a family to tackle a puzzle or create teams to compete in a game.
For younger kids, keep things simple and silly with games like picture bingo, Twister, or even a classic round of hide and seek. They’ll also love smaller jigsaw puzzles, Jenga or matching games that challenge their memory and coordination.
As your children get older, you can introduce more strategy and teamwork. Try Uno or make things more interesting by trying a collaborative Sudoku session. Solving Sudoku together encourages teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving as everyone contributes ideas to fill in the grid.
Teenagers may be harder to rope into a games night but Monopoly, Scrabble or charades are timeless for a reason. You can also try trivia or guessing games using free online question generators. Add snacks, some friendly competition and maybe even a small prize for the winner.
Karaoke competition
Many kids love to perform and see their parents get a little silly! Use YouTube karaoke tracks and perform your favourite songs. You can get those electronic microphones for added fun, and award playful prizes like ‘best dance moves’ or ‘most dramatic performance.’
Night time animal walk
If your kids love animals and a bit of adventure, why not go for an evening animal walk? Head out after dark and see how many creates you can find for a magical evening together. Our kids love spotting geckos, bats and the occasional possum!
Give everyone a torch and turn it into a game by creating a bingo card of things to spot on the walk (like the moon, specific animals or even star constellations). It’s a wonderful way to connect with nature and burn off energy before bed.
Family bake off
Another fun activity to do together in the kitchen is to host your own family bake-off! There’s a reason The Great British Baking Show is one of the most-loved TV programs — the creativity, the competition, and the chaos all make it so entertaining.
Bring that same energy into your home by baking cupcakes, brownies, or cookies together. Everyone can decorate their own creation and then vote for the best design. You could even make it a regular event with different themes — ‘best flavour,’ ‘most colourful,’ or ‘most creative.’ It’s a sweet, low-cost way to spend time as a family and enjoy the delicious results.
DIY movie premiere
Another way to make movie nights at home more special is to create that cinema experience! Pick your favourite movie and go all out — print ‘tickets’, make buttery popcorn, dim the lights and let kids ‘usher’ guests to their seats.
‘You’ time ideas
Isn’t it funny how making time for you is often the hardest thing to do?! We spend so much time caring for our children, partner, family, friends, attending to work commitments, and somehow there’s never any time leftover for you.
Well, we’re here to encourage you to take time some time out for yourself!
Bubble bath
This is a fave for many people. Run a hot bath and add your favourite bath salts, bath bombs or however you like to take a bath, and set the mood with candles.
Online class
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn — painting, yoga or cooking perhaps? You can literally learn anything with an online class these days. If you’re shy to get in front of a new crowd of people, doing an online class from the comfort of home could be the perfect solution.
Declutter therapy
It sounds practical, but is there anything more satisfying than clearing and organising a pocket of your home? We think not!
A dedicated evening to declutter our wardrobe is on our to-do list. Not only does sorting and organising your clothes make it easier to get dressed each day, you could make some extra cash by selling items you no longer want or use on sites like eBay or Depop.
Take it one step further by planning out new outfits you’d like to wear. Snap a photo of the clothes and accessories you’ve chosen so you can refer back to them. For example, you could set a goal to come up with two work outfits, two elevated casual outfits, and one for going out.
Pamper sesh
Pamper yourself at home with a DIY facial, mani or pedi. Cleanse, exfoliate, apply a mask, and finish with your best moisturiser — the perfect reset without leaving the house.
Vision board evening
Creating a vision board is a powerful way to attract the things you want in life. You can use our tips to create a mood board here and apply it to your life — not just your next design project 😉
Fill your board with inspiring images, quotes, and goals for the year ahead, and display it somewhere you’ll see it daily. Having a visual reminder of what you’re working toward helps keep you motivated and focused, and makes this one of the most rewarding stay-at-home date night ideas to do solo or with your partner.
Do what you love
Meditate, yoga, craft, DIY (we have heaps of DIY ideas here) cook, listen to a podcast, play music…What do you love doing? Whatever it is, put aside some time in your calendar, and make an appointment with yourself to look after you.
With so many creative stay-at-home date night ideas, there’s no excuse not to plan one soon! Whether it’s a simple dinner for two or a family games night, making memories at home is what really matters. Tag @stylecuratorau on Instagram if you try any of these ideas — we’d love to see your night in!
