Big romantic gestures on Valentine’s Day have their place! Who doesn’t want to be swept off their feet and flown first-class to Paris at least once in their lifetime?
But the truth is, there’s more to love than flamboyant displays of devotion or spoiling… When it really comes down to it, the day of love is about sharing something special with your someone special.
And for many of us, something special doesn’t have to be something over-the-top. A small but meaningful gift or experience could be the one thing that truly tells us how our partner feels about us. There’s a place for going out and having wild nights, but sometimes staying home and sharing something more intimate can make for the best memories.
If you’re looking for ways to spoil and surprise your beloved on the day of love without leaving the comfort of your own home, here are 7 romantic at-home Valentine’s Day ideas to consider.
1.
Living Room Picnic
Nothing says you love someone and you’re comfortable with them than lying on the floor eating finger foods together! A living room picnic is a chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company, but it’s also a chance for you to get creative and surprise your loved one with a magic picnic setting!
Sure, you can throw a blanket on the floor and watch TV while eating dinner on the floor. But just a bit of effort can go a long way. Stock up in your person’s favourite snacks. Find romantic decor. Go for candles or fairy lights to create a romantic atmosphere.
Depending on you and your partner, you may want to prepare some fun little games, like 20 Questions, Two Truths and a Lie, or even a bit of strip poker for a bit of adult fun!
2.
Treasure Hunt
You may need a bit of time to put this together, but creating a treasure hunt for your partner to do inside the house can be a whole lot of fun! It doesn’t need to be overly complicated, but it does require a bit of thought and planning.
You’ll need to select a bunch of smart hiding places within the house that have some sort of meaning to your SO. Then, write up a few cute notes to lead your person to each separate spot. It might be a good idea to place a small gift in each spot, something that’s meaningful or fun. The last gift should be something more meaningful as it’s the final one of the hunt.
Sounds complicated? Here’s a quick rundown of how you could do it. Work backwards from your final gift’s hiding place. Once you’ve decided on the final hiding place, write a note that would lead to it. For example, you may choose to hide it in your partner’s jewellery box. Your note may say something like “To find the next thing, follow your bling!” (Bonus points for rhyming notes!).
Then, choose a spot to hide that note and its accompanying little gift. Next, write a new note to lead your person to this note… And keep working backwards until all your notes/gifts are hidden. Takes a bit of time and a lot of creativity, but it’s super fun and your SO will appreciate the effort you’ve put in!
Try not to make it tooooo easy, though—it should have a bit of a challenge, otherwise it’s less of a treasure hunt and more of an instruction-following exercise!
3.
Blanket Fort!
There’s nothing more fun than putting aside adult life for a bit and acting like kids. And what better way to do that than building a blanket fort? You can do this by yourself to surprise your partner if you have the time and space—it’s also an excellent idea to pair with the picnic!
Or, if you enjoy doing things like this together, rope your partner into the building process and create a fortress together! It’s the next best thing to going camping, so if you’re looking for a fun, almost-outdoorsy experience, this could be it.
Build a fort, stack it with comfy pillows and snacks, set up the laptop, and have a tent-like romantic experience together!
4.
Private Chef
If you’re looking for at-home Valentine’s Day ideas because you’re on a budget, this might not be the choice for you. But if you and your partner just happen to be homebodies and money’s not an issue, it might be a great, relaxed night in to bring in a personal chef to cook for and serve you a delectable meal.
This might be an excellent choice especially if your partner tends to do a lot of the cooking (but doesn’t fancy themselves a gourmet chef who may be offended by getting someone else in!). Hiring a private chef for a night to cook their favourite meal is a wonderful way to give them a break while spoiling them a little.
It also frees both of you up to enjoy a romantic evening together without the hassle of cooking, the bustle of a restaurant, or the less-romantic feeling of takeout!
5.
Cook Together
On the other hand, if your loved one happens to enjoy cooking, why not join them in the kitchen to make a 3-course meal together? You can make this a sort of extended date, where you put together a menu, go shopping for the ingredients together, and then settle in and do the cooking. And, of course, enjoy your home-cooked meal later, complete with a romantic table setting and candles!
If your partner particularly enjoys cooking, they may appreciate you taking an interest in spending time with them doing something they love. If you aren’t great in the kitchen, it’s their chance to boss you around a little bit!
There’s something special about sitting down to a meal that you’ve created together. If you’re with a foodie whose love language is quality time, you can’t go wrong with this idea!
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