12 Stay At Home Date Night Ideas To Keep The Love Alive On A Budget

Date nights don’t have to be expensive.

A woman and a man sit on a couch, laughing together. They wear casual clothing, and several bowls of food are on a small table in front of them. The room is warmly lit, and they appear to be enjoying a relaxed and joyful moment.

Date nights should be a part of your relationship no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been with your partner.

But a lack of free time (if you have kids at home) or money can make it difficult to get out for one on a regular basis.

But fear not! You can have a romantic date night at home instead.

If you aren’t sure where to begin beyond dinner and a movie, check out some of these ideas for couples (married or otherwise) who want to enjoy a special evening in together.

1. Reminisce over old photos.

An elderly couple sits on a couch, cozily wrapped in a pink blanket. The man, wearing glasses and a brown shirt, points at a tablet, while the woman, also wearing glasses and a striped shirt, leans in and looks at the screen intently. Houseplants are visible in the background.

Reliving shared memories is a fantastic way to remind yourself of how much you love your partner.

And one of the easiest ways to spark those memories is to look at all the photos you have taken over the course of your relationship.

From vacation snaps to wedding photos and everything in between, browsing your albums (or digital collections) is a fun way to spend an evening.

If you have some home movies, watch them together and gasp at how young/different you look.

2. Draw or paint each other.

A man and woman are smiling while holding paint palettes and brushes. They are wearing aprons, standing in a brightly lit art studio with shelves and art supplies in the background. The atmosphere is cheerful and creative.

It doesn’t matter how artistic you are, getting some pencils or paints and creating a portrait of one another is a great way to spend an evening in with the person you love.

You can do this on multiple dates by choosing different styles each time such as surrealism, drawing caricatures, or turning your partner into a superhero.

3. Plan a trip, vacation, or adventure.

A couple sits comfortably on a gray sofa in a modern living room. The woman is using a laptop on her lap, while the man, sitting beside her, looks on with a smile. The room is bright and decorated with soft colors and patterns.

Discuss places that you’d each like to visit, settle on one, and then go about making that trip a reality.

Find places to stay, work out an itinerary of sights you’d like to see or things you’d like to do, and mark a date on your calendar of when you’re going to go.

The excitement of making travel plans together will make the evening fly by (pun intended!)

4. Watch concerts online.

A couple sitting on a gray couch, watching TV. The man, holding a remote, is wearing a denim shirt and jeans. The woman, wearing a yellow sweater and jeans, holds a mug and leans against him, smiling. The setting appears cozy and relaxed.

Going to see some live music is a great date, but it’s not always possible. Concerts can be expensive and your favorite band might not always be touring.

But you’d be amazed at just how many full concerts you can watch on YouTube. And it makes for a completely different experience to simply listening to an album.

From huge global acts to smaller artists, stream them on your TV and crank up the volume to get the feeling of being there in the audience.

Singing and dancing are encouraged!

5. Hold a karaoke night.

A woman and a man are having fun singing karaoke at home. They are both holding microphones, and each has a drink in hand. The woman is wearing glasses and has long hair, while the man has a beard. Another person is partially visible in the background.

Speaking of singing, why not belt out some of your favorite tunes with the help of… you guessed it, YouTube.

There are thousands upon thousands of songs available, all with on-screen lyrics for you to sing along to.

Grab a hairbrush as your microphone, do some vocal warm-ups, and spend the night serenading each other with romantic hits or sharing duets.

6. Cook together.

A couple happily cooking together in a kitchen. The woman is chopping vegetables on a cutting board, and the man is standing close behind her. Two glasses of red wine are on the counter near fresh produce. Sunlight filters through a nearby window.

Making dinner can sometimes feel like a chore, but on a date night at home, it turns into a couples’ activity and becomes a lot more fun.

It doesn’t matter how good you are in the kitchen, anyone can follow a recipe. Choose a cuisine you don’t normally cook (but enjoy eating) and try making a restaurant favorite yourself.

Creating a delicious dish and then eating it can be incredibly bonding and make for unforgettable nights.

7. Bake together.

Two people baking together. One person pours milk from a pitcher into a pile of flour on a countertop while the other mixes the ingredients with their hands. A jar of sugar and some butter are visible nearby. Both are wearing aprons.

Perhaps you keep the main course simple and save the culinary adventure for dessert.

Whether it’s a classic apple pie, heavenly chocolate brownies, or a more unusual pudding, you can not only get a little dirty making it, but you can feed each other spoonfuls once done.

8. Have a tasting night.

A happy couple sits at a dining table decorated with lit candles and a variety of foods, including bread, salad, and fruits. The woman, smiling, reaches across the table to touch the man's cheek, creating a warm and intimate ambiance in a cozy kitchen setting.

Sticking with the food and drink theme, you could buy in a range of one particular item and taste test the lot.

Wine and cheese are the obvious candidates (and they go well together), but you could do the same with cured meats, other drinks, or even sweet treats like chocolate.

It’s a lovely and indulgent way to spend an evening with your partner.

9. Shake and stir up some cocktails.

A close-up of a couple holding a glass with an orange slice garnish and a straw. The woman has long hair, wearing a yellow top, and the man has short hair, wearing a blue checkered shirt. They are smiling and looking at each other.

Is there anything to get that Friday night feeling (or that vacation feeling) going more than a delicious cocktail?

But if you can’t head out for one, you could try mixing your own at home.

Simply get a few of your favorite spirits or liqueurs along with a range of mixers and try some classic recipes from a cosmopolitan to a long island iced tea.

If you don’t drink alcohol, there are loads of tasty mocktails too.

10. Play with your kids’ toys.

Two people are playing Twister on a tiled floor. The man in the foreground, wearing a green shirt and jeans, smiles at the camera. The woman beside him, in a light-colored sweater, is facing away. The mat is covered with colorful dots.

If you have children, you have toys – and no doubt plenty of them.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re never too old to enjoy some of the family classics.

Build something out of Lego, race Scalextric, or try two-person Twister!

Let the children inside of you out and smiles and laughs are guaranteed.

11. Give each other massages.

A woman with curly hair smiling and giving a shoulder massage to a man sitting in a living room. They both seem relaxed and comfortable, with a backdrop of books and shelves.

Life is often stressful and this can take its toll on our bodies.

So why not help each other relax by taking turns to give and receive a massage?

Get some proper oils, light a few scented candles, and spend a good while working the knots from each other’s muscles.

Massages are also very sensual and… you know… one thing can lead to another if you want it to.

12. Camp out in your backyard.

A couple sits in front of a tent, smiling at each other. They are casually dressed and surrounded by camping gear, including a thermos and a backpack. Trees and greenery are visible in the background, suggesting a forest setting.