Being January, it’s cold outside and set to get colder by the end of this week. And then let’s face it. We’re all still feeling somewhat skint after Christmas so we thought…why not have a cosy date night in instead? Yay!
Here are our top tips for dating in:
Put it in the diary
Between hectic work deadlines and seeing friends, date nights can sometimes slip further down our ‘to do’ list. Make a date with someone you fancy and stick to it by putting it firmly into your diary. If you were going out, you probably wouldn’t cancel because you felt tired or something else came up, so treat it exactly the same way.
Create a lovely space
If your table is cluttered with mags and the floor is cluttered, you won’t be able to relax (oh, and your date will think you’re a slob) Give the place a good spring clean (and don’t forget the bathroom) before your date night and make it feel special by putting candles around the room choosing cosy, calming but not too overpowering scents. Grab a bunch of flowers from the market too, they instantly make a place feel more welcoming. Put a new playlist on your iPod, maybe check their dating profiles for any mention of their favourite tunes, it shows effort, but avoid Motörhead and resist the temptation to have the music too loud. You want to be able to hear what your date is saying. Plump up cushions and sofa seats and opt for soft lighting. People are far more likely to open up, relax and have a good time in comfy surroundings.
Culinary treats
If you like to cook but your date night is mid-week and you’re at work during all day, do as much as you can in advance to take the pressure off the evening itself. Spend money on decent ingredients and have fun creating something delicious and don’t forget to check if they’re vegetarians or have any food allergies. Preparation if key, prepare the night before, you can always cook more than you need so you can keep some for a future date! If cooking’s not your thing, order takeaway or check the supermarkets for those special meal for two offers. You could even suggest preparing a meal together. Check if they drink alcohol and have some soft drinks and nibbles to hand.
Avoid awkward moments
A date at your home can be great at creating talking points; family or travel pics, pictures on the wall, books on the shelf, they all tell a colourful story of you. However, have a quick look around for anything that may create awkward moments such as photos of you and your ex looking cosy. Put away any laundry – Bridget Jones style big pants, cheese-wire thongs or leather boxers on display might be a bit much! Check the toilet is sparkly clean and squirt some toilet bleach down the bowl and er, keep any sex toys firmly out of sight…
Make an effort
Time to ditch the PJs and relaxed home ‘trackies.’ Make a bit of an effort with your clothes and still don aftershave/perfume – we don’t mean you have to completely dress up to the nines but this will help you feel that even though you’re staying in, you’re still on an all important date!
Have you got any date nights planned? Do you have any tips you would like to add?
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