Step One: Preparing an Impressive Two or Three Course Meal with Ease
Preparing a multi-course dinner date menu doesn't need to be difficult or time-consuming. In fact, there are numerous tricks and pieces of kitchen equipment that can help you to create delicious and incredibly impressive looking dishes without spending all day in the kitchen and using every pot, pan and utensil in sight.
Whether you're a casual cook or a budding chef, every kitchen needs a slow cooker. Not only are slow cookers renowned for saving energy when compared with other kitchen gadgets, but they gently cook your chosen dishes in a way that will always keep your preferred protein juicy and tender whilst allowing all your favourite flavours to develop.
This stainless steel slow cooker is perfectly proportioned to serve two. So, all you need to do is add your delicious ingredients and let it work its magic for just the right amount of time. This means that you have plenty of time free to get to work setting your table and creating the perfect romantic atmosphere.
But don't forget that if your favourite meal doesn't lend itself to a slow cooker, our Kitchen & Dining collection has an array of appliances, cookware and utensils to help you create a meal to remember.
Step Two: Setting the Dinner Table
Slow cookers give you the option to serve the food you have prepared family-style in the ceramic pot it has been cooked in. Alternatively, you can also choose to dish up your masterpiece onto your best crockery to give your partner the high-end dining experience they deserve at home.
Beautiful glassware is a must-have during every romantic dinner date and balloon glasses are a staple in every glassware collection. But why not go one step further for a special occasion and invest in personalised balloon glasses, which can also double up as a thoughtful gift and keepsake for your partner.
When it comes to completing your dinner table with those extra special finishing flourishes, you can keep things as simple or as extravagant as you wish. If you want to create a sense of drama and atmosphere, this set of six LED pillar candles will definitely do all the talking. The striking red hue is beautiful and the melting wax detailing ensures that these look like real candles, just without the need to worry about knocking them over and setting your napkins or tablecloth alight.
For a softer look, warm white LED fairy lights on a wire string can be placed in a glass vase or wound around a bouquet of flowers as a table centrepiece. These petite lights have a charming and romantic look and are perfect in helping you create the perfect mood for your romantic dinner date.
Step Three: Creating a Romantic Atmosphere
There is a reason why all the most acclaimed restaurants around the world have soft lighting. It plays a key role in creating the right atmosphere, which is important because no one wants to enjoy a delicious meal with fabulous company in a brightly lit space that is harsh on the eyes. So, rather than relying on the main light in your dining space, now is the ideal time to invest in some floor and table lamps that will set the tone for your romantic evening.
This beautiful classic table lamp in a romantic rich red hue has a timeless feel but is equipped with a sensitive touch base that allows you to turn it on and off with ease. Simply position on a sideboard or console table within your dining space to bring some light to the rest of the room without detracting from all the hard work you have put into your dining table design. Oh, and if red isn't your colour, it also comes in green with a complementary cream linen shade.
If you want to showcase your stylish and quirky personality through your home decor, this attention-grabbing LED 'love' light bulb and marble desk lamp is the perfect piece to complete your dinner date look. The sleek marble base has a timeless quality which, when combined with the cool copper and black metal stand, feels effortlessly modern and incredibly stylish. But if that wasn't already enough, it comes with a super cool Edison style lightbulb with an internal filament that spells out the word 'love' with the letter 'o' represented by an oh-so-sweet heart, of course. The head of the light fitting can be turned with ease, which means you'll always be able to see the heartwarming message contained within the bulb wherever you are in your space. Better still, the lamp is also equipped with a dimmer switch which will ensure your dining space lighting is always just right.
For a simpler look, you can't go wrong with a peppering of LED tea lights around your table and the rest of your dining space. Play with tea light holders in a range of colours and sizes for a mix-and-match look that reflects you and your partner, or choose a matching set of simple glass tea light holders for a classic, timeless and romantic setting that is certain to make the right impression. Of course, traditional tea lights are always an option, however, the LED versions are hazard free and will allow you to focus your attention solely on your partner without needing to worry about any potentially dangerous mishaps.
Step Four: Don't Forget the Mood Music
When you've got the mood lighting just right and you're happy with both your menu and your dining table design, it's time to think about the mood music you're going to put on in the background.
Remember, while most restaurants have music playing in the background, only the best manage to select songs that create an atmosphere that matches their menu and the atmosphere they want their diners to experience. And don't forget to set your chosen mood music at just the right volume. Too quiet and you won't even notice it's there, but when it's too loud you won't be able to have a meaningful conversation with your partner as you enjoy your meal together.
While it's perfectly possible to have a playlist running through your home assistant, why not go the extra mile and make a memorable feature out of this important date night must-have. If antique is your style, the Westminster Music Centre has just the right amount of nostalgia and classic design touches to fit seamlessly into even the most contemporary spaces. As well as being able to play your favourite vinyl collection, this versatile music centre can also play CDs and cassette tapes, tune into DAB radio stations, and even connect to your smartphone or MP3 player.
Alternatively, if the retro vibe better suits your style, a Table Top Jukebox is guaranteed to become the star of the show in your dining space for every date night to come. This vintage style piece is equipped with seven colour-changing LED lights, with a built-in sound-to-light feature that can add to your dinner date ambience. Not only can it play CDs and tune into your favourite radio stations, but you can also plug in an SD card or MP3 player of choice and also connect your smartphone.
Step Five: Enjoy Yourself!
We hope we've shown that at-home dinner dates don't need to be dull. So, whether you want to make a point to eat home-cooked meals more often or you simply want to treat your partner to an extra special evening that you won't need to share with anyone else, we hope we've provided you with a selection of ideas and inspiration that you can allow your imagination to run wild with.
The key really is to incorporate a range of personalised touches that are unique to you and your partner, as this will ensure your evening is memorable for all the right reasons and will stay in both of your memories for a long time to come. And if it's successful, why not make it a regular occurrence? Because there's no reason why fancy dinner dates should only be reserved for special occasions. We all live such busy lives that it can be easy to fall into routines and neglect the connections we have with our loved ones. Not only are regular dinner dates one of the best ways to celebrate the love and connection you share with your partner, but your relationship is also likely to be all the stronger for it too.