Ladies, let's face it: sometimes the thought of getting dressed up and hitting the town doesn't feel too exciting. But just because you're staying in doesn't mean the fun has to stay out. Welcome to my ultimate guide to girls night in ideas – where the dress code is comfy, the laughter is loud, and the memories are unforgettable!
I've got 10 girls night in ideas that are guaranteed to turn your living room into the hottest spot in town.
How to Plan the Perfect Girls Night In
Planning the perfect girls' night at home can be a bit tricky.
First things first, let's talk invites. I like to use Partiful. I discovered this gem a long time ago, and it's amazing. With Partiful, you can create fun and interactive invites.
What I love about Partiful is how it lets you add a personal touch to your invites. You can include cute GIFs and even set up polls to decide on activities or snacks. Plus, it sends reminders to your guests, so you don't have to be that person constantly messaging "Are you still coming?"
Once you've sorted out the guest list, pick one of the girls night in ideas below. Choose one that resonates with your squad. Or better yet, use Partiful's polling feature to let your friends vote on their favorite.
Snacks and drinks. Because let's be honest, it's not a proper girls' night without some munchies and beverages.
Don't forget to set the mood! Create a playlist that matches your chosen activity. Having a spa night? Go for some chill, relaxing tunes. You can even share your playlist through Partiful so everyone can add their favorite songs. Just be prepared for that one friend who always adds "Bohemian Rhapsody" to every playlist. (We all have that friend, don't we?)
Lastly, remember that the perfect girls' night is all about creating a space where everyone feels comfortable and can be themselves.
Oh, and always have a backup plan. Technology can be finicky, you can run out of the craft supplies, and sometimes that murder mystery is solved in record time. Having a few extra activities (like a stack of board games or a hilarious playlist of YouTube videos) can save the night.
1. Clay Crafting Fun Girls Night.
Okay, I might be a little biased here, but hear me out! There’s something magical about creating with your hands, especially when you’re surrounded by your best friends. If you're looking for a unique girls night idea, I’m putting Claymoo DIY clay crafting at the top of this list.
As the co-founder of Claymoo, I’ve seen firsthand how our DIY clay kits can transform a regular night in into a creative adventure. Our soft air-dry foam clay is perfect for both newbies and seasoned crafters, so don’t worry if you’ve never worked with clay before!
You’ll find that working with clay is incredibly soothing. It’s a great way to unwind and let your creativity flow. Many of our customers have shared how surprised they were at how quickly the stress of their day melted away.
By the end of your girls’ night, you and your friends will each have a gorgeous handmade piece to take home.
To make your Claymoo girls’ night even more special, why not set the mood with some fun background music? Take before and after pictures and shorts – they’ll make for great memories and social media posts to make your other friends jealous!
Clay crafting goes great with some finger foods and your favorite beverages. Just be careful not to mix up your clay and your snacks!
2. ChatGPT Challenge Girls Night.
Ladies, this is your chance to pit your wits against artificial intelligence and see who comes out on top – spoiler alert: it's usually the AI, but that's half the fun!
Get everyone to download the ChatGPT app on their phones.
Kick off the night with a game of "Reverse Pictionary." Instead of drawing pictures for others to guess, you'll describe an image to ChatGPT and have it generate a picture based on your description. The results can be hilarious! I once tried to get ChatGPT to create a picture of "a penguin riding a unicycle while juggling fish." The image it came up with looked more like a blob with flippers having an existential crisis. We laughed so hard we nearly cried!
For a real challenge, set up a "ChatGPT vs. Humans" trivia night. Split into teams and compete against ChatGPT in various categories. It's a humbling experience, let me tell you. My team thought we had the "2000s Pop Culture" category in the bag, only to be schooled by an AI that wasn't even alive (er, online?) in the 2000s!
Try a round of "AI Improv." Have ChatGPT generate random scenarios and character descriptions, then act them out. Think of it like an improv comedy, but with an AI director.
For a creative writing challenge, use ChatGPT to generate the first line of a story, then take turns adding a line each, alternating between humans and AI.
Keep a tally of "Human vs. AI" wins. At the end, crown either the humans or ChatGPT as the ultimate champion.
3. Gourmet Potluck Dinner.
Who says you need to go out to a fancy restaurant to enjoy a gourmet meal with your girls? Hosting a gourmet potluck dinner at home is another great girls night idea.
I and my girlfriends like to choose a theme when we do a potluck. You could go for “foods from around the world”. My favorite is “childhood favorites with a twist.” Having a theme adds an extra layer of fun. I remember when me and my friends did a “street food from different countries” theme – we ended up with an amazing spread of tacos, falafel, and even homemade sushi! Try to share your picks in advance to avoid duplicates.
If you and your friends enjoy wine, you can turn your dinner into a fun tasting experience.
4. DIY Spa Night.
You can create the perfect DIY spa night right in the comfort of your own home!
Set the ambiance. Dim the lights. Light some scented candles. Play soft, relaxing music to create a spa-like atmosphere.
Next, try making your own DIY face masks. You can look up some simple recipes using ingredients like honey, avocado, or oatmeal. Mix them up together and apply! It's fun, and you know exactly what's going on your skin. Plus, you might end up looking pretty silly with green goop all over your faces. Perfect for some laughs and silly selfies!
Set up a nail station. Take turns giving each other manicures. It's a great way to chat, catch up, and maybe even learn some nail art techniques from each other. One of my friends, Jessica, is a whiz with nail art. She taught us how to do really cool and simple flowers.
For a truly luxurious experience, fill some basins with warm water, epsom salts, and essential oils for a relaxing foot soak. After a long week, there's nothing better than soaking your feet while chatting with your best friends.
To keep the spa vibe going, prepare some spa snacks like cucumber or fruit-infused water, herbal teas, and light, healthy bites.
You can also do some yoga stretches or a short guided meditation to feel fully relaxed and rejuvenated. You could even download a meditation app and try a group session. It's amazing how calming it can be!
5. Binge-Watch Movies or TV Series.
A binge-watching is a classic girls' night in activity, but if you want to kick it up a notch to make it extra special choose a theme for your marathon. This could be based on a specific actor, director, genre, or even a decade.
Some binge-watch ideas: 90s rom-coms, all-female leads, or Oscar winners. I personally like to do "movies we loved as teens" marathons with my friends.
Bring out all the pillows and blankets you own. You want to make your place so comfortable and cozy that you'll never want to leave.
Get creative with your snacks. For example, if you're watching something like "Breakfast at Tiffany's," you can get mini croissants with cheese and apples, and coffee. Say, you're binge-watching Harry Potter, get some Butterbeer (cream soda, caramel extract, whipping cream, butterscotch syrup). It will make the whole experience so much more immersive! Or just get something like Tostitos and salsa. Not judging!
For some extra fun you can create movie trivia quizzes with prizes. You can use Chat GPT to generate quizzes.
For me, the key to a great movie marathon has always been comfort, good friends, and plenty of snacks.
6. Cocktail (or Mocktail) Mixing Girls Night.
Turn your kitchen into a trendy bar for the night with a DIY cocktail mixing class featuring fun cocktails. It’s a fun way to learn a new skill while enjoying delicious drinks with your friends.
I’d start by choosing 3-4 cocktails (or mocktails) to learn. Mix it up with different base spirits and flavor profiles. You could go classic with a Mojito or Margarita, or get fancy with a French 75 or a Pink Lady. Don’t forget to include some mocktail options for friends who don’t drink alcohol!
Before your friends come, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients, tools (shakers, strainers, muddlers), and glassware. You don’t need to go out and buy a full bar setup. You can get creative with what you have. A mason jar can work as a shaker!
Watch some tutorial videos. Take turns being the bartender.
You can also do a competition to see who can make the best version of each cocktail? OR who can mix some complicated cocktail the fastest!
For an extra challenge, everyone can create their own signature cocktail using the ingredients available. That’s always fun!
Don’t forget to set up a “photo booth” area to take pictures and reels.
Get some bar snacks. Mixed nuts, olive tapenade on crostini. Homemade pizza bites will work too. Just remember to drink responsibly!
7. Board Games Night.
Board game night is a fantastic way to bring out everyone’s competitive spirit. Get a mix of classic and newer board games. You could have Monopoly set up alongside Cards Against Humanity and Ticket to Ride. I also highly recommend Splendor, Carcassonne, and Skull King.
If you have enough people, you can organize a mini tournament with prizes for the winner. You could even create a silly trophy using household items like a “championship belt” made out of tinfoil!
Between longer games, have quick, silly challenges like balancing cards or Jenga. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and shorts!
Some of my fondest memories with friends have come from board game nights. Like the time we were playing Pictionary and my friend’s attempt at drawing an elephant looked more like a potato with a straw. We still tease her about it to this day!
8. Craft and Sip Night.
While I’ve already talked about Claymoo as a fantastic crafting option, there are plenty of other crafts you can explore for a unique girls night idea.
Pick a craft that’s manageable in one evening and doesn’t require too many specialized tools. Painting, knitting, origami, or creating vision boards are all great options. When I hosted a craft and sip night, we did watercolor painting. It was really fun and by the end of the night, we each had a unique piece to take home. Some were more abstract than others :D
Before your friends arrive, make sure you have all necessary materials for each person.
I highly recommend finding a good tutorial video or guide in advance that everyone can follow along with. There are many great craft tutorials for beginners that are available online for free.
Create a playlist that enhances your creative mood.
As you work on your projects, take progress shots at different stages. It’s fun to see how each person’s craft evolves over the course of the night. Plus, these photos make for a great before-and-after comparison!
9. Nostalgic Slumber Girls Night.
Relive the magic of childhood sleepovers with an adult twist and turn it into a fun night. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel like a carefree kid again when you recreate those slumber party vibes!
Set a pajama dress code. Encourage everyone to wear their favorite comfy PJs. Build a fort in your living room using sheets, pillows, and fairy lights. It might seem silly at first, but once you’re all snuggled up inside, you’ll remember why fort-building was such a crucial part of childhood sleepovers.
Play some classic sleepover games like Truth or Dare or Never Have I Ever. You might think you’re too old for these games, but trust me, they’re even more fun as an adult!
Do each other’s hair and makeup, but with a twist. Aim for the most outrageous looks possible!
Have a good old-fashioned gossip session.
No slumber party is complete without some midnight snacks like popcorn, pizza, and ice cream sundaes. Don’t worry about calories for one night. It’s all part of the experience!
In the morning, don’t forget to plan a delicious breakfast. There’s nothing like waking up to the smell of freshly baked croissants (get some frozen croissants at Costco, they always come out great) after a night of fun with your best friends.
10. Retro Game Show Night.
Bring the excitement of classic game shows and girls night games right into your living room!
Start by picking a few iconic game shows to recreate. “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy!,” and “Family Feud” are great options. Remember “Name That Tune” or “Password”? These can be hilarious!
For “Wheel of Fortune,” you can easily create a makeshift wheel using a large piece of cardboard and a spinner from another board game. Write different point values and penalties on each section. For the puzzle board, a whiteboard works perfectly.
If you’re doing “Jeopardy!,” create categories that are personal to your friend group. Maybe “Inside Jokes for 200, Alex” or “Jessica’s Dating Disasters for 400.”
For “Family Feud,” you can find lists of actual survey questions and answers online, or create your own based on your friend group. When we played, one of the questions was “Name something you’d find in Carol’s purse.” The top answer was “at least three types of lip balm”. They know me too well!
Don’t forget to have prizes for the winners. They don’t have to be expensive. Funny dollar store or party city finds or handmade “trophies” work great.
BONUS: Murder Mystery Dinner Party.
Get ready for a night of suspense, intrigue, and lots of laughter with a murder mystery dinner party!
Pick a murder mystery kit. There are lots available online with different themes and difficulty levels.
Assign characters to each of your friends before the night of the party. Encourage everyone to really get into their roles – accents and mannerisms!
Decorate your space to match the theme of your mystery if you can. It really helps set the mood and get everyone into character.
Plan your menu around the theme as well. Just remember to keep the food relatively simple. You’ll be busy playing your character and solving the mystery, after all!
As you work through the stages of the mystery, really encourage everyone to stay in character. Some of the best moments come from improvised interactions between characters!
Don’t worry if things go off script sometimes. That’s part of the fun!
Conclusion
There you have it - my top fun girls night ideas for the perfect girls’ night in! Whether you’re in the mood for creative pursuits like Claymoo crafting, culinary adventures, nostalgic fun, or relaxing self-care, there’s something here for all your friends.
The most important ingredient for a successful girls’ night in is the company you keep. And don’t forget, if you decide to go with a Claymoo night, I’d love to hear about your creations!