Date Night Ideas for Keeping the Romance Alive

For couples who have a thing for the finer things, plan a relaxing date at a local spa. Couples with a passion for shopping can also design a one-of-a-kind date at a luxury fashion retailer.

Take a break from tech and play classic board games or try out some new ones that are made for couples! Healthy competition is always a mood-booster.

1. Paint and Sip

Sip and paint is a new, fun date night trend. You get to release your inner artist and make something unique together — and if you don’t have a local painting studio, you can try your hand at making tie-dye (which has recently been seen on all kinds of clothes).

Relive the pottery scene in Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore by crafting your own masterpieces together. This is a great way to get creative and also has the added bonus of a cool souvenir.

Stargazing and a bottle of wine is a classic rom-com cliché for a reason. You can even turn it into a game by using a free stargazing app to spot constellations and stars. If you can’t see the stars, try a moonlit walk instead. Take it slow and enjoy the scenery.

2. Wine Tasting

If you and your partner are wine lovers, a wine tasting is a great way to connect over a shared interest. You can host the experience at home or find a local winery that offers tastings. Whether you’re a Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon lover, you’ll have fun trying new blends and maybe even pin down your favorite.

If you’re looking for an intimate, yet active date night idea, try a blind taste test. Have your local wine shop set up a blind tasting and see who can guess which grape is in each glass. Laughing together can be romantic, too. If you want to add a touch of competitive spirit, challenge each other to a game of trivia or charades. Plan a future date.

3. Paint Your Partner

If you’re a couple on a budget, you don’t have to throw in the towel on romantic date nights. Just take the time to make some of your own fun at-home activities.

Try painting together. This is a fun date idea for couples of all ages and skill levels. It can be as simple as each person painting half of an image (like a heart) that only appears complete when the two canvases are put together or you could paint wine glasses to resemble a toast.

If you’re a little rusty, skip the instructor-led event and grab some canvases and paints. Just be sure to use skin-safe paint. This is a great way to get a little competitive and bond with your partner. Plus, you can have some fun taking photos of your masterpieces.

4. Blind Taste Test

Tap into your playful (or competitive) side with a night of games. Whether it’s poker, War, or your old standbys like board games or charades, a night of competition can strengthen your bond and help you feel closer than ever before.

If you want to take this date night idea to the next level, have blind taste tests with alcohol, food, or even a mixology challenge! Just make sure to prep everything in advance: a tablecloth for the products being tested, glasses or cups for each taster, water for mouth-rinsing and hydration, pens and paper for recording results, and a pre-prepared computer spreadsheet for consolidating and declaring winners.

This is one of the most unique at home date ideas you can try!

5. Recreate Your First Date

Embrace your cheesy side with a night of karaoke. It’s a great way to strengthen your bond and share your talents with one another. For something a little more low-key, try your hand at a game night. Whether you opt for classic games like card or board game marathons, healthy competition will bring out your playful (and hot!) sides.

If you have a passion for the finer things, plan an afternoon at a local spa. This luxury date will be a relaxing way to spend time with your honey. If you want to make it extra special, book a suite for the two of you!

6. Paint a Self-Portrait

While it may seem like a luxury to go on a date night when you’re struggling to stay afloat in financial hardship, this is not the time to put your relationship on hold. In fact, experts agree that regular romantic reconnections can help couples stay in love.

Work together to create your ultimate couples bucket list during a fun date at home. This is a great way to get creative, and you’ll have something to look forward to all year!

Bring out your competitive (or playful) sides with a game night. Play a few rounds of cards, or get competitive at an arcade (the classic Ms Pacman will do the trick). Tap into your inner child by making a pillow fort and throwing pop corn in each others mouths. Or, turn on a movie that brings out your mushy side.

7. Go on a Blind Date

Whether you leave the kids with a sitter or simply take your partner out while the kids are asleep, one-on-one time is a great way to rekindle romance. Make a fun list of simple things you want to do together and put them into envelopes labeled with Activities, Dinner, or After Dark (these free printables are the perfect choice).

Remember, however, that certain topics should be avoided at dinner dates, such as politics and religion. These topics tend to bring out strong emotions and can create a lot of tension. If you want to keep the night lighthearted, try a game of charades or some karaoke.

8. Have a Fondue Night

Whether you choose cheese, chocolate or bourguignon fondue, working together to prepare a shared meal is one of the most intimate and romantic at-home date nights. It also gives you an excuse to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie together.

If you don’t want to break the bank, you can make your own fondue at home with ingredients from a grocery store and a simple setup. This can be even more fun if you take turns choosing the movies to watch and then work on the dinner.

Visit your hometowns (and show off your embarrassing childhood photos). Go for a hike in your city’s green space. Challenge each other at an arcade. Make a couples bucket list. Having a list of things you want to do as a couple will keep your relationship fresh.

9. Make Sushi Together

Whether you’re trying to save money or just want to try something new, this is an easy date night idea for couples. Just get creative in the kitchen and make sushi. You’ll have fun and feel like you’re on a fancy restaurant date!

Creating a bucket list is a fun way to make loftier plans for your future together. It’s also a good reminder of all the things that bring you joy, even if they’ve gone by the wayside in regular life.

If you’re not a sushi chef, you can always go to the lake, river or pond to feed ducks and people watch. This is a great inexpensive date night idea for couples who want to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, this is an active and healthy date that’ll help boost your mood. Plus, it’s more exciting than a movie night at home!

10. Make a Time Capsule

If you and your partner are planning for the long term, a little time capsule can be a fun way to spend a date. Add things from your relationship that you want to hold onto (think hand-made art or special mementos) to a decorative box. You can even include a note from each other with a special request for when you open it again in the future.

While it might sound like a rom-com cliche, staring up at the stars is actually pretty romantic. Unplug for the night, snuggle up and look for shooting stars or the constellations you can find in the dark sky. You can also make it more exciting by playing games like jenga or chess which can tap into your playful and competitive side. This can also help strengthen your bond and spark some flirty banter between you.