When you are dating, house and home are left behind and you venture into restaurants, theaters, clubs and bars. Most people consider the classic date to consist of dinner and a movie. Some people find security in "sticking with the classics", but there are drawbacks to the classic date formula. For one, both dinner and the movie can be expensive. Also, going to a movie theater limits the interaction between the couple. Their focus is mostly on the movie and opportunities for conversation are limited. However, a home-based date is both less expensive and more intimate than going out to a restaurant and a movie theater. Further a home based dating can still adhere to the classic dinner and movie formula, but in a more personal way.

Take first the dinner. Most people consider having a partner cook for them a very romantic experience. The home based date affords you the opportunity to perform this romantic act for your partner. The secret is to make the food simple. Pasta is a good choice because it can be made quickly and easily, with minimum mess. If you feel confident in your cooking skills you can make your own sauce. Otherwise a good quality canned sauce works just as well. Remember that presentation is everything. Use the good dishes, and never put pans on the table, put into serving dishes, or else bring it out already on the plates as though you were in a restaurant. Flowers or candles on the table will also add to the mood.

Part of the advantage of the home based date is that you can control the atmosphere. All it takes is soft music and a couple of candles to turn an ordinary dining room into a romantic nook. However, it is a good idea to be sure that the house is clean. A pile of dirty clothes or children's toys noticeably detracts from the romantic atmosphere. Also, if you have children or roommates it is a good idea to get them out of the house. Nothing breaks the mood quite as effectively as your roomate watching the ballgame in the next room, or your kids fighting over their favorite toy. Along similar lines, you should unplug the phone and lock the door to make sure you are not disturbed.

Take next the movie. Another advantage of the home based date is that you can choose the movie. You don't have to be restricted to whatever is paying in the theater. Instead you are free to rent something romantic that is tailored to your preferences and your relationship with your partner. Also, by choosing to watch a movie at home, you are able to have a deeper interaction with your partner. Instead of sitting upright, separated by the arm of a chair, you can snuggle up on the couch under a blanket. Best of all, no one will throw pop-corn at you if you decide to talk during the movie.

If you want to do something a little less conventional for your home based date you could play board games, or read your favorite books to each other. Both of these ideas work well on a cool fall or winter evening, when you can snuggle up on the couch with hot chocolate and your partner. If your partner is a more restless type you could play some music and ask them to dance with you. Everyone feels more comfortable dancing when their not being watched by a crowd of strangers in a club. Most importantly, use your imagination, your dating, house based, or otherwise, will be more memorable for it.