Stuck On What To Do For Valentine's Day?

(Image courtesy of Simon_sees)

The pressure is on! Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and if you haven’t made plans for a special night with your significant other yet, we bet you can feel the stress mounting. Don’t worry, at it’s very core, Valentine’s Day is just a time to show your sweetie how much you appreciate them, right? You don’t need to make reservations months in advance in order to show someone that you care - a well-planned night in can do that and more!

If you’ve decided to score some extra points by cooking for your date, there are a few things you need to remember before they arrive. This article from renters.apartments.com walks you through all the last minute prep items that you can’t forget to really ‘wow’ your date! Keep reading to make sure your Valentine’s Day dinner goes off without a hitch!

Step 1: Clean.

You need to clean beyond your usual standards. But it can be tough to ascertain how gross you really are on your own. Invite a stranger into the mix and everything that is awful and horrifying about your place will be instantly clear to you as you watch them react.

Helpful strangers include: the UPS guy, a pizza delivery person, or the woman from 3B who is too polite to say no to the coffee invitation you sprung on her as she came up the stairs after work.

Step 2: Cook.

Even if you’re not any good at it. Esquire offers a few recipe suggestions you might try here. Or you can hack into your significant other’s Pinterest account and there will be a minimum of 1, maximum of THERE IS NO MAXIMUM food boards. Scour them for ideas.

When it comes to the meal, there are only a few absolutes:

• Burritos are a bad idea (and Valentine’s Day is the only day that’s true).
• Champagne is a good idea (careful when you open it).
• Dessert is a must.

Step 3: Gussy.

Wherever you’re serving dinner, make it look like you a) thought about it and b) made an effort. It doesn’t even have to look good. When it looks planned, it implies that you thought about wanting to do something nice and when you look like you thought about wanting to do something nice, you have achieved the desired effect.

Suggestions: Flowers, candles and real dishes and glasses on the table are nice. A tablecloth is nicer. Cloth napkins are pro status.

One caveat: It doesn’t have to be fancy. If your roommate recently moved out and took all of his furniture with him, a picnic blanket in the middle of the floor with paper plates and plastic cups is adorable. Just set the mood with a few candles or twinkle lights and soft music.

Step 4: Dress.

Your apartment looks great, you should too. Keep it polished but casual—after all, you are at home.

Step 5: Check the oven.

Is it off? Good. Safety first.

What are your top tips for hosting a romantic night at home?