Valentine’s Day Indoor Picnic

A Valentine’s Day indoor picnic is a wonderful way to celebrate when the weather is frightful and we’re stuck inside. Tailor it to be family-friendly or as a romantic setting for two!

I can’t remember the last time my husband and I celebrated Valentine’s Day alone. It’s been a family affair since our almost-teenager was born. Honestly, getting to hang with my favorite guys is always the best anyway!

We usually have a picnic dinner once a week, so I thought it would be fun to really do it up for Valentine’s day with a cozy spread in front of the fire. Nothing too fussy…just some family-favorite dishes, good wine (+ sparkling lemonade for the adolescent), games and music. 

Looking for something different to do this Valentine’s Day? Try an indoor picnic for yourself + your main squeeze or for the whole family! 

What You Need for a Valentine’s Day Indoor Picnic

Choose Your Location

Pick a cozy spot with plenty of room to spread out. I chose our family room because of the fireplace and just need to scoot an ottoman out of the way to lay out a blanket. You could set up in front of some windows if you have a pretty view, or a space where you can get creative with twinkly lights and decorations. If your celebration will include a movie, you’ll probably want to set up by a television (thank you, captain obvious!).

Set the Scene

No need to purchase anything special. Shop your house for everything you need to set the scene — you probably have it all on hand! I collected a fuzzy white blanket for the base, some pink gauze fabric leftover from a friend’s baby shower, seat cushions from our sitting room and sherpa bolster pillows from a window seat.

Select a base color to build around and look for items you already have that fit the theme. Items to consider include:

• cozy base blanket
• a secondary blanket or tablecloth to add some extra color
• pillows…lots of pillows!
• candles (flameless are the safe bet) or those twinkly lights that haven’t yet been put away from the holidays 😉
• houseplants and vases (filled with fresh flowers, of course)
• sheer scarves (hang over a lampshade as a color filter)
• a low table (if your menu is best served on a steady base)

If you’re planning a family picnic, get the kids involved by tasking them with DIY decorations. Here are some easy and sweet projects to inspire you:

• Stapled Paper Heart Wreath from One Little Project
• DIY Valentine’s Day Yarn Trees from The Inspired Hive
• Valentine’s Day Tree: Dollar Store Craft from The Savvy Age

Pick your Activities

Our indoor go-to activities are board games and movies. We’re loving Cards Against Humanity Family Edition right now. Clue is a close second. Do a quick Pinterest search and you’ll find tons of ideas including Valentine Bingo, STEM activities, and scavenger hunts.

To round out our evening, Lady and the Tramp is on tap for after dinner…because spaghetti (that’ll make more sense in a minute). A few other family-friendly, love-centric movies include The Princess Bride, Gnomeo and Juliet and Enchanted.

(For a movie time treat, try my Homemade Popcorn Seasonings!)

What to Serve at Your Valentine’s Day Indoor Picnic

You could go in so many directions with your picnic menu. Choose things you love and to make it extra fun, pick favorites that fit your color theme…or not. Up to you. Order takeout from your favorite restaurant, pop a bunch of frozen appetizers into the oven, or go all out with some fancy kitchen footwork. 

Food as a love language hack: pick up a couple of heart shaped cookie cutters and you can turn any food into a Valentine’s Day themed dish! 

Our Menu

I’m starting with a charcuterie board built into was once a heart shaped box of chocolates. (I may or may not have eaten most of the chocolate myself.) It includes:

• Brillat-Savarin (a sweet, soft cheese)
• Vermont sharp cheddar (use that cookie cutter to make cheese hearts)
• Blueberry-lemon goat cheese (love that color!)
• Genoa salami 
• Pepperoni (rolled into rosettes)
• Serrano ham
• Sliced red apples
• Halved strawberries
• Crackers
• Rosemary sprigs to garnish

Our main course is spaghetti and Cast Iron Skillet Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, and for dessert, Red Velvet Pop Tarts.

We’re keeping it simple, minimal and heart felt with some fun family time. How are you celebrating? Drop your ideas + plans in the comments and share the love!