Grab a bottle of wine and settle in with these fun ideas for a girls' night in. You don’t always have to go out, spend a ton of money, and worry about having a designated driver to experience a good night with your best lady friends. Set a date, put on your favorite outfit or even your favorite PJs, and plan one or more of these ideas for a girls' night in...
Put on your PJs, get the popcorn and wine ready, and have a few laughs with this great game theme idea for a girls' night in. The game featured is called, “What’s a DAME to Do?!” which is all about asking the ladies what they would do in crazy situations. Like, “You see an Ex at the grocery store and you are NOT looking your best. What's a DAME to do?!” Me, I’d probably run for the bathroom! From one of the makers of “What’s a DAME to Do?!” Kerri Neubek says, “What's a DAME to Do?! (ages 18+) is the Best Girls' Night Game Ever! Featured on The Today Show's Style Buzz, it's the perfect activity to get a girls' night in going. Perfect for girls' nights, bridal/baby showers, bachelorette parties, family parties, all girly get-togethers!” You can find out more about the game over on amazon.com.
You might need to stock up on some tissues for this girls' night in idea! Who doesn’t love a good chick flick night, especially one that includes “Thelma & Louise,” one of my all time favorite chick flicks. Call your girls and ask them to bring with them a few of their favorite DVDs like Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, and My Fair Lady among many others. Again, you can all get cozy in your sweats and PJs or sport your favorite pair of jeans for this relaxed night in. Just be sure to let your besties know what the dress code is so no one gets embarrassed when they show up in their bunny slippers and ducky PJs and everyone else is in jeans!
Um...how amazing is this DIY girls' night in tutorial! She turned a prom dress into a fun and flirty skirt, and an empty space into an all-in-one girls' night party with makeup, nail polish, drinks, and flavored popcorn, I’m in love! Take a few tips from Brooke Peterson and “rock what you got” to make the best of your girls' night in. Set up a makeup, nails, and little spa treatment station to treat your friends to a stress free night to remember.
Whether it’s jazzing up an old pair of heels, scrapbooking, or putting together your own set of arm candy, make your girls' night in a craft affair full of DIY projects. Check out this sparkly shoe DIY over on irocksowhat.com, that will turn your drab heels into a fabulous glittered pair in no time. I think I know a certain fashionista who would love to have a girls' night in like this one!
Get the glitter, the scissors, and the glue ready for a night of pure creativity. Remodel your old T-shirts into chic tank tops or turn jars into funky candle holders. If you've collected a mass of beads and baubles, why not craft your very own jewelry? The options are endless, from homemade soaps and bath bombs to personalized tote bags. Not only will you have the cutest custom-made goodies by the end of the night, but you'll also create lasting memories filled with laughter and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.
Cupcakes in a jar, call me up for this girls' night in idea! Make it a baking night in filled with all your favorite junk foods like homemade cookies, cupcakes, macarons, and more. You could also buy a few plain aprons and DIY them with fun chef names like “The Cookie Master,” “The Cupcake Girls,” or “Girls Who Bake,” so everyone can have something to wear while making a mess in the kitchen. What are some things you would like to make during a baking or cooking girls' night in? Head on over to mycakies.com for this cake in a jar tutorial.
Be sure to have all of your gals hand over their keys and set to have a sleepover for this idea of a wine tasting girls' night in! Tell your besties to each grab a bottle of their favorite wines, including this 100 calorie Skinny Girl Moscato, and get out your best wine glasses for a night of taste testing. Don’t forget the cheese and crackers to complete this vineyard themed night in! You can also try your hand at this DIY wine bag tutorial to turn your boring bottle into a gift: bystephanielynn.com.
No, this is not just another book club, this is something much better! I love the idea of exchanging one of your favorite books with someone who hasn’t read it yet, and sharing with them why you love it. Over on reidgirlshandmade.blogspot.com, they asked their guests to wrap their books to leave everyone in suspense, which makes it a bit more exciting when you get to see what book you received. Also, instead of just handing their book over to someone, they had everyone draw names to see who they were exchanging with. After exchanging you can keep in touch with the person who gave you the book to discuss your favorite parts and characters together. It’s a great way to make new friends and bond over something you now have in common.
Just like the book exchange, this is a great way to get rid of something you’ve used and are done with to trade in for something you’ve never had before. Send out invites to explain to your girls what a clothing swap party is; which is to bring clean, still good but used clothing, shoes, handbags, or accessories in exchange for someone else’s goods. One way to set it up is to have everyone choose a number out of a hat and go in turn. However, like a white elephant or Chinese auction, they would be able to steal an item from someone who went before them if that’s the thing they wanted most! Make sure to limit the number of steals someone can make, otherwise it won’t be much of a party! Have you ever been to or hosted a clothing swap party?
I feel like I never have time to learn new makeup techniques, so this would be a really great girls night in. Spend some time looking up makeup tutorials on YouTube, have everyone bring over all of their makeup, and spend the night practicing on each other. If you need somewhere you start you can look up Zoella, Michelle Phan, MacBarbie07, and Tanya Burr to get some great tips and have fun with your friends. These YouTuber's definitely know what they're talking about when it comes to all things beauty and makeup.
Remember when we were younger and we used to get together, eat junk food, and talk about boys all night?! I don't know about you, but I miss those nights sometimes. Call your friends and tell them that you want to relive your teen days and you want them to take part! Throw diets and caution to the wind because this is definitely the night to get together and eat junk food all night. My personal favorite was raw cookie dough and vanilla ice cream, if you've never tried it I would definitely suggest that for your next girls night in.
Making your own pizza is fun and delicious! Round up all of your best friends and find some great recipes. You don't have to be a great cook to do this, but it probably wouldn't hurt if you had a friend or two that can cook. Who doesn't love pizza? The best part is that if you have leftovers you can freeze the pizza dough to make your own pizza whenever you want. Friends, food, alcohol, and music - seriously what else could you possibly need for a girls night in?
There's a new trend going around where girls are getting together and going out to have a painting party. Our solution? Throw your own painting party! Have all your friends chip in a few dollars before you run out to a craft store to get a couple canvases, paint, and brushes. Of course you could never forget the wine. Don't forget to sign the paintings like any true artist would. At the end of the night look at all the fun pictures you've made. They don't all have to be great, you just had to have had fun.
Painting parties are a great way to have a fun and creative girls' night in. Not only will you have a great time, but you'll also have beautiful artwork to show for it. All you need to get started is a few canvases, paint, and brushes. Don't forget the wine for a more relaxed atmosphere! Once you have all the materials, you and your friends can let your creativity flow and make some amazing works of art. At the end of the night, you can sign the paintings like any true artist would and have a collection of art that you can proudly display.
This probably isn't the kind of girls' night in that everyone wants, but if you're looking to spice things up then look no further. Tupperware parties had their time and so did jewelery parties, but now it's the adult parties turn to make its rounds. For this party, you just have to book an appointment with a host and she'll come over and throw the whole party for you. You don't have to spend any money, but of course there's always the option to buy some of the exciting items that they'll show you.
Are these ideas for a girls' night in that you would consider planning? What are some ideas for a girls' night in that you like?
This article was written in collaboration with editor Lydia Sheehan.