Pretty much everyone in the United States stays home nowadays more than they use to. This means people are dining at home more often as well. It’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to meal prep and at-home dining.
With the 5 tips I’m about to share, your at-home dining experience will go from blah to aaahhhh. There’s no reason you can’t have lovely café ambiance in your same old, everyday dining room. In fact, no one said you have to eat in the dining room all the time. Dining outdoors or in your room can liven things up or create a romantic atmosphere for your next at-home date night.
Dining at home is more fun with bread bowls
Autumn has officially begun. If you live in a location where the temperatures begin to significantly drop at this time of year, you might be a soup lover! Dining at home is an attractive idea for anyone who loves the thought of simmering a big pot of soup on the stove all day!
Eating soup doesn’t have to make your at-home dining experience boring, especially if you have bread bowls! You can buy some or make them yourself. Add some crisp, oven toasted baguettes, a fresh salad and a glass of wine and you’ll feel like you’re sitting in a French café!
Twinkle lights make dining at home special
A strand of twinkle lights adds a festive ambiance to any dining atmosphere. We mentioned earlier that taking your meal outdoors can help you break the monotony of eating at home all the time. Well, if you string some sparkly lights across your deck or porch or gazebo, you’ll transform your same-old backyard into a cozy dining area for two.
Kids love twinkle lights at much as lovers do! Add a special touch to your next family meal by hanging a few strands of lights!
Candlelight makes any meal feel special. If you’re having a stay-at-home date night, the warm, inviting glow of candlelight creates a cozy setting that whispers “Let’s put the kids to bed early tonight!” ::wink::
Dress up for a fine dining experience
Everyone loves lounging around in their “house clothes.” If you want to spruce up your dining at home experience, why not go all out? Plan a night to use your best tablecloth and flatware. Tell everyone to dress up as if you were going to a 5-star restaurant!
Being dressed up for a special occasion puts everyone in a happy mood, and why shouldn’t meal time at home be a happy time?
Two more dining at home tips to liven up your meals
Years ago, my family belonged to a supper club with several other families. Every month, one family would host the evening, providing a main dish while the others brought salad and dessert. The host family would also plan a craft and a few games or activities for everyone to enjoy. Each month, we’d rotate houses. It was SUPER fun!
If you’ve been dining at home a lot and want to liven things up, invite some friends over for supper! Finally, never underestimate the value of some good background music to turn an ordinary meal into a special occasion! If you’re having Italian food or Mexican or Chinese, try to pare your background music to fit.
If you want to make it a habit, you can alternate themes by the week. Perhaps, every Friday night you’ll create a dining at home atmosphere to match your food choice for the evening. A few simple wall hangings and decorations can bring the room alive with celebration!
Okay, let’s recap our 5 dining at home tips:
- Use bread bowls
- Add twinkle lights or candles
- Dress up
- Invite friends
- Play background music
Let us know your best dining at home ideas by leaving a comment under this post on our Hot Mess Press Facebook Page!
