Whether you’re looking to save a little money on expensive night outs, are averse to the colder weather hitting towards the end of the year, or looking for great ways to keep yourself entertained indoors during the lockdown, there’s always an occasion for the perfect night in. If you’re a natural extrovert and barely spend any time at home, you might be at a loss regarding what you can do at home, how to entertain yourself indoors, or how to plan a fun night in with loved ones. If so, here’s a helpful guide on planning the perfect night in.
Get Your Supplies
If you’re not planning to go out anywhere, then you’ll need everything stocked up at home ahead of time, and ready for you. This includes food, drink and any sources of entertainment for the evening. If you’re planning a take out, be sure to plan the best time to order and prepare ahead with menus and ordering time, as well as ensuring you have the cash to hand so you don’t have to go out.
If you have guests join you for your night in, be sure to communicate ahead of time regarding the supplies you need. Check with everyone what food, drink or snacks they would like, and what everyone is bringing to contribute so that you don’t waste money on anything which isn’t needed.
Plan an Evening with No Other Commitments
No one can enjoy a great night in if they’re worried about getting up early for work the next day, or if guests have to be home at a certain time. Plan your night in for a day and evening, which leaves enough freedom for you to enjoy the night and stay up as late as you want, without worrying about other commitments.
Have a Game Night
A game night is an ideal way to spend a fun night in if you have two or more people you want to entertain. Game nights can be fun ways to revisit old favorites and classics and add a sense of nostalgia to the evening. This could be through classic boardgames or classic arcade games. Multiplayer games which aren’t too challenging, like classic beat em ups between two players, meaning you can play as a pair or a group and add a fun sense of competition to the evening too.
Have a Movie or TV Binge Night
Nights in are perfect for binging a TV show which has more than one season, or for binging a movie series with plenty of sequels to keep you entertained. Movie or TV nights are best planned with a comfortable seating area, so be sure to bring out plenty of cushions, throws and blankets, and have your seats best directed at the television.
If there are a lot of you and you don’t have enough regular seats, think about compromising by setting up a large, comfy space on the floor for everyone to gather. Or, during warm summer nights, you could even set up a projector in your garden and have everyone camp out on the lawn.
Make sure all your snacks and drinks are laid out close by, so you don’t have to continually pause the movie or show whenever someone needs to get up for refreshment.
Incorporate a Theme
Make your night in more fun by incorporating a theme. This could just be a general idea relating to what you intend to do, or you could go the whole way and have everyone dress up a certain way or put up decorations or accessories.
Some theme ideas include fantasy if you’re looking to binge the latest fantasy or superhero blockbusters and could then have your guests dress up as their favourite superhero. Or, during cold and winter months, you could plan a horror theme for a scary movie night.
If you’re having a retro game night, think about old-school snacks or having everyone dress up as their favourite game character to make it more fun and add to the atmosphere!
Set the Mood
Whatever your plans for your night in, it needs to be adequately lit with the right atmosphere. Think about how best to plan out your lighting, such as backlights and lamps for watching TV or playing games, to prevent eye strain or getting tired too easily.
Make sure you’ve got blackout plans for any bright windows if you need to set a cinema-style room and it’s still light outside.
Whatever you choose to do, nights in can be great and budget-friendly if you plan ahead of time and think about quirky things you can do to make the evening even more special!
