Going out for a date is so old hat. Everyone’s done the dinner and date, fairground, walk on the beach, picnic in the park stuff. Staying in, however, that’s much more interesting. You can show off in the comfort of your own UCF apartment, impress your date with your extensive collection of whatever it is you collect, and can, to a degree, control the general environment better than if you were outdoors. However, there are things to keep in mind when inviting someone over. This is how to prepare your apartment for a stay-in date.
Smelling Good
Not that your apartment smells bad, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with, say, lighting a scented candle, or strategically hiding a few air fresheners in the living room. The scented candle obviously lends atmosphere, and a nice smell subconsciously relaxes people (which is obviously preferable to everyone being on edge). Just make sure not to overdo it, as the olfactory senses are very sensitive, and an onslaught of smells, no matter how pleasing they are individually and moderately, is never good.
One of the advantages of a stay-in date is the opportunity to impress your better half with your culinary skills (unless you’re ordering pizza, which is another idea entirely). But not only can you show off how good you are domestically, having something cooking when your date arrives will also make your apartment smell glorious (depends on how good of a cook you are, of course).
Music To Soothe The Soul
It’s cliched, yes, but music is really the soundtrack to a good date. Having the right song playing can set the mood, and can also dampen the inevitable awkward silence that happens on a date (unless you and your significant other are very serious, of course). A familiar piece of music playing in the background of your apartment can put the both of you at ease, and help you concentrate more on the date than your own nerves.
Tidy Up
There is a place for everything, and everything has its place. Living in our apartments day in and day out, it’s easy to overlook toiletries that somehow make it to the kitchen, or the stack of paperwork on the couch. It goes without saying, so it needs to be said: clean up. Put things where they belong. After your date leaves, the apartment will inevitably slide back into normal mode, but for this one evening, be meticulous with your cleaning and organization.
