Pulling Off an At-Home Valentine’s Day Date

Instead of heading out for a stale Valentine’s dinner at an overcrowded restaurant and paying exorbitant prices, do something special for your sweetheart this February 14^th and plan the perfect at-home Valentine’s Day date sure to make your special someone smile.

Set the Mood

Romance is all about setting the mood and one of the best ways you can do this is to alter your atmosphere. There are some easy ways you can transform your living room from family hang out space to gorgeous romance oasis.

First, start by clearing the furniture from the middle of the room. Lay white blankets and sheets all over the ground, accompanied by pillows and plush items that will make it feel like you’re sitting on a cloud. Hang twinkle lights on the walls and from any window curtain rods for an ethereal lighting effect that will cast a warm glow over your evening activities. Nothing says romance better than flowers, so grab Valentine’s Day flower arrangements with custom vases for a surprise that will definitely knock their socks off—and leave an awesome fragrance throughout the room. Last, but definitely not least, strategically arrange candles around the room (making sure they won’t catch anything alight) and light them for delicious wafting scents and added ambiance.

The Menu

Really go all out for this at-home date and make a multiple-course meal sure to titillate the tongue. One way to make this more romantic is to cook together and enjoy each other’s company while reveling in your gourmet cooking skills.

The Cheeseboard

Grab a cheeseboard and lay out a soft, hard, and medium cheese. Complement your selections with a delicious mixture of savory and sweet treats: from pepper jelly to fig jam, you can get as fancy or keep it as simple as you choose. Nothing goes better with a good cheeseboard than crisp, ripe fruit, so order a fresh produce delivery and bite into juicy oranges and delectable grapes.

The Salad

Once you’ve served the cheese, it’s onto the salad. Stick with the classic wedge salad or experiment with your toppings. If you’d like to make it a more interactive experience, create a mini salad bar in your kitchen and laugh together while creating masterpieces for the other.

The Main Dish

Now it’s onto the main course where the sky is truly the limit. Maybe your sweetheart loves your macaroni and cheese, or perhaps the barbecue aficionado wants to grill up some steaks. Whatever the case, make sure it’s your best creation yet.

Side note: Not all of us are chefs extraordinaire, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a delicious meal on Valentine’s Day. You can order from your favorite restaurant and have it delivered with a company like Grubhub.com. Just a simple service fee and you and your honey can be dining like kings–no work or kitchen cleanup required.

The Entertainment

If you’re looking for entertainment sources during your special evening at home, consider renting a projector and turning your living room wall into your very own massive theater screen for the evening. Pop some popcorn and drink some root beer floats, lay back, and take in the latest blockbuster hits—or start streaming that new Netflix program you’ve been hearing about. If you two are board game addicts, spend the evening giving nod to your childhood with some classics. Maybe it’s Monopoly, Clue, or even the game of Life; no matter what you choose you’re guaranteed to laugh your evening away.

Vamp Up Your Look

Just because you aren’t heading out of the house doesn’t mean you shouldn’t vamp up your look. After all, we dress up for our sweethearts, so there’s no reason to skimp on the primping on this night of all nights. Wear your favorite little black dress, up your makeup game, and try a new hairstyle. You’ll feel confident and he will love the effort you put into making this night as special as can be. Keep him out of the bedroom so you can surprise him with your vamped up look—he won’t be able to take his eyes off of you when you finally emerge to begin your evening festivities.

Make this a Valentine’s Day to remember and plan the perfect date right in the comfort of your own home. You’ll love it so much it might just become your yearly tradition.