Although the lockdown has turned most of us into homebodies, the monotony of lockdown living might be slowly killing the spark between you and your partner. However, an at-home date night doesn’t have to be dull and depressing just because it is lockdown-friendly. For those who are choosing to stay in for date night, below are some fun date night ideas you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home:

1) Date night under the stars
For those with backyard space, make the most of the Summer season by spending the night under the stars. Invest in your outdoor space and turn it into a date-night utopia or simply lay out a picnic blanket and enjoy a meal together alfresco style.   

2) Lockdown-friendly couple challenges

If you and your partner are foodies, try the #FourCourseMealChallenge where you compete in the cut-throat game of rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to pick the drinks, starters, mains, and, of course, dessert. For the more sentimental couples, try the #FavouritesChallenge where you buy gifts for your partner based on certain categories, such as their favourite drink, favourite snack, favourite colour, something that reminds you of them and something you think they need. It’s a fun way to show your partner how well you know them.

3) At-home movie night in blanket forts
Tired of the same four walls? Building a fort is the perfect opportunity to set up new scenery and create a special little space just for you and your partner. Fill your fort with loads of pillows and add some fairy lights to create a comfy and romantic setting in which to watch your favourite films. Unlike the cinema, you can bring all of your favourite snacks to enjoy while binge-watching all of Netflix.

4) Write a letter to your future selves  
If you and your partner love being creative, write a letter to your future selves to read at next years’ Valentines’ date night. You can write about your experience living through a global pandemic and all the new hobbies lockdown forced you into. Alternatively, you can write a letter to each other and mention how your partner helped you get through the lockdown blues.

5) Turn your guestroom into a lockdown hotel

Surprise your partner by transforming your guestroom into a hotel room by adding some fancy folded towels and pillow chocolates. You could even add a little coffee station or mini-bar to give it more of an authentic hotel vibe. It may not be much, but a change of scenery may be exactly what you and your partner need. For that extra oomph, decorate the room to match your dream destination – travel to Paris by sticking a picture of the Eifel Tower over your window or bring the ocean to your doorstep by playing crashing wave sounds as ambient background music.   

6) Transform your dining room into a tasting room

Instead of going to a wine farm or distillery, why not create your own at-home tasting experience? Choose whichever pairing your partner would prefer and curate the whole experience for them, just like the real deal. For couples who prefer decadence, give a coffee and chocolate pairing a try. For an interesting spin on things, you can try non-alcoholic pairing options, like non-alcoholic beer and biltong pairing or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine and nougat pairing.

Has lockdown changed your real estate needs?
It can be difficult to work up a spark in a space that makes it complicated for you and your partner to get along. It might be time to sell your home and search for a new home that both you and your partner can live in happily and comfortably. If you’re wishing you and your partner had more space consult with a real estate professional who can find you a home within your budget that is better suited to your lifestyle.