By now, we’ve all had plans scuppered by lockdown. This year, Valentine’s Day is the next casualty. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate your love for your partner and spend some quality time together as a couple. In any other year, you might be going to a restaurant, the theatre or the cinema, but this year we have to be a bit more creative.
Lockdown makes celebrations like these harder, but there are still plenty of fun activities you can do together to mark the occasion. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to make it special at home, we’ve put together the perfect recipe for spending Valentine’s Day at home with your partner.
Get a restaurant meal kit
With the hospitality industry being closed, many restaurants have started offering meal kits where you can recreate restaurant-quality dishes at home. So you get to enjoy a delicious meal with your partner, and have the fun of cooking something new together. They are available from all kinds of restaurants and cuisines across the UK.
In London, for example, popular restaurants like Dishoom, Shoryu and Padella offer kits to recreate their famous dishes at home. The meal kits range in price depending on which restaurant you decide on and how elaborate a meal you want to create. There’s sure to be something that takes your fancy.
Take a trip down memory lane
Since it’s getting difficult to create new memories, why not relive some of your old ones? Collect some of your photos from previous Valentines Days, anniversaries and holidays, and look back at all the wonderful memories you’ve shared.
You could even put them in a slideshow and stream them to your TV (through a Chromecast, Fire Stick or just a USB). Or if you have photo albums or boxes, you can leaf through those instead. Grab a glass of wine and reminisce about everything you’ve done together. You could even use it to spark some ideas about trips or experiences you want to do together in the future.
Decorate your house
Even though we can’t do much outside the house, you can still make your indoor Valentine’s Day special. Decorating the house can make any day feel like an event, so find some fairy lights or candles, get out your best tableware and transform your home into a romantic getaway.
If you know your partner will be popping out to the shops or for a run on the day, you could even try and put up some decorations as a surprise when they get home. Romance is all about breaking out of your routine and doing something spontaneous for your partner, and this is a great way to bring some excitement and fun into your lockdown Valentine’s Day.
Get dressed up
Another way to make the day feel special without leaving the house is to get dolled up, like you might if you were going to dinner or to the theatre together. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to pull out some of the formalwear you probably haven’t had a chance to wear recently and just get dressed up for each other!
It’s easy to fall out of the habit of putting in effort to look your best for each other after you’ve been together for a while, but it can make any date feel special. If you have the space, get ready in separate rooms so you get the fun surprise of seeing your partner looking their best just for you.
Lockdown gifts
Gift-giving is one of the few Valentine’s Day traditions that you can still do in lockdown. Even if you don’t usually get each other gifts for Valentine’s Day, it’s another way to make the day feel special.
If physical gifts aren’t your thing, why not make plans for a trip together later in the year? Or find something to pamper your partner on the day, whether that’s bath salts, chocolates or their favourite flowers.
Take a Zoom class
Since the lockdowns started, lots of people have started offering classes and activities online that you can take part in from the safety of your own home. Many people and businesses provide them online, but if you're not sure where to start, try Airbnb Experiences. There are activities for everyone on there, from cooking classes or interactive games to history tours and dance classes.
Do something different this Valentine’s Day. Learn a new skill, experience something new or just do something completely silly. No matter which activity you choose, you’re bound to have a laugh with your partner and make this Valentine’s Day really memorable.
Try to love your lockdown Valentine’s Day!
Whatever your usual Valentine’s Day traditions are with your partner, use this Valentine’s Day in lockdown to be creative, put in some extra effort for each other and make the day special. We all need an excuse to do something fun and different at the moment, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to do something new, even when you can’t leave the house.
