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This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.
Consumer culture is constantly urging us all to plan nights out. Drinks with friends, dinner dates, and if it's a special occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, or a manufactured holiday like Valentine's Day--ahem) then we gotta make it extra nice with an expensive meal, new outfits, and gifts for the occasion. But that's not the only way to do it! Sure, it’s enjoyable to spend an evening out on the town, but really, is there anything better than a cozy night in? Whether it's a simple date night with pizza and a movie after the kids go to bed, or a game night with just you and the family, or a dinner party where you invite friends to your house instead of going out...there's something really lovely about building special memories at home. As a couple of introverts, Ben and I are always drawn to this option anyways...we're homebodies. And with our commitment to try and be frugal in 2019, we're especially likely to stay home a lot this year. So I want to try and create some special nights in that are fun and intentional. Here's how!
1. Clearing Our Schedules
The lame thing about staying at home is that there are always practical tasks that need to get done: laundry, dishes, paying bills, decluttering, you know the drill. Sometimes that's the best part about going out, honestly--no dishes or distractions! But why not apply that same principle to a cozy night in? What if we dedicate one night where we won't feel obligated to get through our to-dos? No multitasking. We'll give each other the attention we deserve. No phones, no emails, no interruptions whatsoever. Obviously we can't ignore the practical tasks every night, but once in awhile I think this would really encourage conversation and connection: if we just gave each other our full attention! By treating a night at home as something special, I think it can become something special to look forward to, instead of just routine.
2. Making Our Home Extra Comfortable
If we’re going to be home a lot, then we'd better create a comfortable environment that allows us to relax! In the living room, plenty of pillows and throws nearby will make it extra cozy and inviting. I also think lighting is really important. In the evenings, it's nice to have side lamps that are warm, soft, and atmospheric, so you can unwind and hang out without the full blare of the overhead lights. Whether you’re watching a television series or movie, reading a book, or chatting with a cup of tea, soft lighting will help set the mood for cozy relaxation.
3. Having Entertainment On Hand
There's only so much time you can spend relaxing at home before you'll want to do something. Paying for a night of entertainment out of the house is usually pretty expensive: concerts, comedy shows, movies at the theater. Most of these things involve one-time ticket purchases that don't provide anything after the evening is over. I'm not saying never pay for tickets to a show--some things you really can't replicate at home. But for something you do repeatedly, a one-time purchase for at-home equipment can keep providing value over and over again. It's the concept of owning your own fancy espresso machine vs. buying lattes everyday, or setting up a home gym in your garage vs. paying for a monthly gym membership...there's an upfront fee, of course. But over time, it makes much more sense than continuing to dump money into rentals. If you're a big movie-goer, set up a home theater with a large television and a system that allows you to stream Netflix and the like (click for more information on how to get this in your home). Plus, don't forget the cheap forms of entertainment that can provide many hours of fun at home, with a very low setup cost. We love board games in our family!
4. Making the Food Fun
Food is a big part of any gathering. When we go out to eat, we often let ourselves indulge in something extra decadent. We can apply that to special nights at home too! Instead of making home a no-fun zone where we strictly adhere to a diet, we can designate nights where we treat ourselves to something we're craving. We can do this as a couple, with our immediate family, or with friends. Rather than meeting up to try the hip new restaurant in town, why not invite people over for a fun dinner (or morning brunch)? We're big fans of simple themes where everyone brings something to contribute, like charcuterie boards + games, or a New Orleans morning with beignets for breakfast + a big pot of gumbo for lunch, or a Bachelor viewing night complete with wine, chocolate, and popcorn. Honestly, we've found that--especially with kids--eating IN with friends is often much more fun than eating out.
What about you? Are you a homebody or would you go crazy without a regular night out? Any tips for making nights at home more memorable?
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If i had extra money sitting around and a baby sitter on call I would LOVE to do weekly date nights were we get OUT of the house. I only say that because I'm at home with the kids all day and I neeeed to get out sometimes ;) But realistically, I'm not craving the need to always go out so quiet evenings at home are wonderful too. I think we could work on setting that time aside though, theres something to that for sure!
Haha I hear you on that. I'm also usually more excited to get out of the house than Ben is. Especially this time of year when we are home SO MUCH!