There are many reasons why couples choose to celebrate Valentine’s day at home. Having young kids, not being able to get a babysitter, and not wanting to fight the crowds are a few common ones. This year has added some extra unique challenges to getting out. Local restrictions, the comfort level of being out in public, and the fact that the holiday falls on a Sunday are just a few of the most common restrictions.
I know not every couple is planning or even wants to celebrate Valentine’s day. If you’re one of those couples, that’s ok, you can skip this post! But if you’re wanting to find an idea to celebrate the holiday with your spouse, that fits your situation this year, this post is for you! I’m hoping that one or more of the ideas on this list will work for your Valentine’s celebration this year.
For more date night ideas like these ones, check out the book, Prioritizing Date Night in Your Marriage, with 300+ date night ideas.
Tip: A lot of couples have the added challenge of kids at home right now. Depending on the ages of your kids, they need your undivided attention until bedtime. That means you don’t get alone time until later at night, or they might even be awake and roaming the house until after you’re usually in bed. Date night at home, in general, requires creativity and thinking outside the box in these situations. I’ve provided a few suggestions throughout the post for adjusting your plans to align with your current stage of parenting. I hope these extra ideas help you think creatively and make your Valentine’s celebration happen regardless!
Related: 14 Cheesy Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Spouse
One of the most classic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day together is to eat a nice dinner with the lights turned down low. Pull out your fancier dishes or eat on those nice-looking disposable ones for less cleaning. Light candles, dim the lights, or eat by flashlight. If you want to add to your date night, make your meal together. You can also order your favorite takeout or bake a frozen lasagna to keep the night more simple.
If you’re able to have the house to yourselves, either at dinner time or after the kids are in bed, set your dinner up at the kitchen table. If you have older kids who will be awake while you’re eating, you have a couple of options for getting your date in without it feeling like a family event. See if you can enlist them to serve your food, and clear the dishes when you’re done eating. Get them their own takeout and a movie that they can enjoy in the other room while you’re eating. Or set up a small table with a couple of chairs, or a picnic blanket, and have your dinner date in your bedroom or another secluded room of the house.
Related: Everything You Need for a Romantic Dinner Date at Home
We did this one year when we were on a budget and weren’t able to get away overnight like we wanted to. Our entire apartment became a romantic “suite”, minus the jetted tub and room service. You can do this in your own home, or even just in your bedroom and en suite. Clean the space you’ll be escaping to (or the whole house for good measure). Set out a bunch of flameless candles (like these) to create the perfect atmosphere. Order breakfast to be delivered to your house in the morning, so it’s sort of like room service and you can eat in bed.
If you have young kids, like us, start your “getaway” after they’re in bed. Set your spaces up ahead of time, and use door locks to keep them out. In the morning, set up a special breakfast they can eat while they watch a movie or cartoons. This will allow the two of you to extend your “night away” and enjoy some extra time in bed together in the morning. If your kids are older, claim your space, whether it’s the master suite or the basement that you’ve turned into your escape. Clearly communicate with your kids the boundaries, the time frame, and the best way to communicate with you if they need something.
We love The Couples Edition of The Adventure Challenge and the spontaneity the book adds to our date nights while fitting our unique situation. Let one of the 50 scratch-off adventures in the book decide what you’ll be doing for your Valentine’s date! You get to pick which box to scratch off based on your budget, time frame, the weather, etc. The Adventure Challenge makes a great gift and will provide you with fun date nights for weeks to come.
Use code APM10 to get 10% off your order, sitewide! Click here to shop the Couple’s Edition products.
Related: 17 Non-Cliche Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Spouses
One night, we turned the lights down low, put on a slow song, and danced together in our room after we got home from a date. Having your own private dance, with fun songs and slow songs is an intimate and fun way to celebrate at home. You could even find a dance you want to learn and look up tutorials online to help you master it together. Click here for a romantic playlist you can use for any of your at-home Valentine’s date activities.
I don’t know many people who don’t appreciate a good massage. Whether you’re looking to relax, need some muscle tension worked out, or want to create some intimacy with your spouse, a massage is a great option! Order or pick up some massage oil (we love the Hemp Infused Body Oil from Coconu). Then set up a calm and relaxing space in your house and invite your spouse to get a massage. I’ve been following this Massage at Home account on another social channel, but she has a lot of great videos here to help you create the perfect massage experience at home.
Crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, lava cakes, fondue, cookie skillets, and the list goes on. Dessert is something simple you can do together to celebrate, no matter what your time frame is. Pick a fancy dessert you’ve been wanting to try or something you find on Pinterest. Shop for all of the ingredients and tools beforehand. Then make your dessert together and sit down with your glasses filled with bubbly and enjoy eating it by candlelight. Turn on your favorite love songs to really set the mood.
One of the easiest things you can do to celebrate this year is to involve the entire family. Work together, as a couple, to plan a fun celebration that involves the entire family. Make heart-shaped and/or pink and red-colored food to eat. Search online for fun Valentine-themed games or activities your family might like. Watch a feel-good movie while you enjoy a fun treat. Spend time making cards to send to relatives, and heart-attacking family who live nearby. Or bake heart-shaped cookies and deliver them to neighbors. After your party is over, you can sneak away to enjoy some quality time, just the two of you!
We love going on walks late at night. The world is quiet, there aren’t many people around, and the cooler air is refreshing. If you bundle up well, a late night walk can be enjoyable no matter the weather. I especially love the idea of a romantic moonlit walk during a quiet snowfall. If you have younger kids who you can’t leave home alone, take a blanket and some hot cocoa outside and cuddle while you chat and watch the stars together instead.
Related: 6 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Young Kids at Home
If I had to pick, I would say that brunch dates are my favorite! The food is amazing, no matter what you get. I also love that brunch happens earlier in the day, before all of my energy is gone. Make your favorite breakfast foods together, or pick them up from your favorite location the day before so you have them ready to eat in the morning. Sit somewhere with natural light and enjoy the time that you have to spend together.
Spend your date writing love letters and reading them to each other. Turn on all of the best love songs, pull out some nicer paper, and set a time for when you’ll have your letters done. After you’ve finished writing, take turns reading your letter out loud to your spouse.
Serving others is a fun way to spend the holiday! It can be difficult with current restrictions, but with a little creativity, you can make it happen. Maybe you get permission from a local senior center to decorate the windows of residents with hearts and love notes. You could deliver an anonymous love note with a treat or a flower to those in your neighborhood who you know might not get a Valentine this year. Make heart-shaped cookies and doorbell ditch family members, friends, or neighbors who have been having a rough time. Or heart attack the front door of people who you know need a little extra love.
Often Valentine’s Day for married couples is about giving love and getting love in return. What if you spent the day spoiling your spouse with all of their favorite things and lots of extra love, with no expectation of anything in return? Treat them to their favorite foods and activities and a little alone time to do whatever they want. Focus on their love language and love them in a way they’ll appreciate.
Related: 290+ Ways to Love Your Spouse Using Their Love Language
Special date nights and romantic gestures aren’t for everyone. Most of the time I’m happy just spending time with my husband, no matter what we’re doing. Be intentional with your time together, set aside your technology, and simply enjoy each other’s company. That’s the perfect way to show love to your spouse and the importance of your marriage.
Related: 14 Simple Ways to Show Love to Your Spouse All Year Long
I hope these ideas got the wheels turning and helped you figure out how you’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year, and in any future years when you choose to stay home. I know that I’m looking forward to spending the weekend celebrating the love we share as a family and a couple!
Do you have any other ideas for celebrating Valentine’s day at home? Share them in the comments below!
