How to Host a Girls’ Night In: 18 Fun Things to Do With Your Friends

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Party at home, save a ton of cash, and spend quality time with your crew tonight

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Wine and cheese tasting

2 Breakfast for dinner

3 Binge watching party

4 Book club

5 At-home workouts

6 Kitchen dance party

7 Karaoke

8 Game night

9 Arts and crafts

10 Makeovers

11 Clothing swap

12 Photoshoot party

13 Vision board party

14 Cook-off

15 Spa date

16 Blanket fort sleepover

17 Camping

18 Witch themed party

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Co-authored by Ivy Summer and Madeleine Flamiano

Last Updated: June 28, 2024 References

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Had enough evenings out and ready to stay in? If your besties just want to chill but still have a blast, let them know you're about to rescue them from boredom. We'll let you in on all the secrets to have a ton of fun on a budget. Mix and match any of these ideas for a girls' nights in and your friends will be begging to kick back at your place whenever they can.

Things You Should Know

• Try a wine and cheese night, a bake-off, a pizza party, or a "breakfast for dinner" slumber party to make sure you feed all your besties.
• Entertain everyone by hosting a book party, binge watching your fave movies or shows, or throwing a game night.
• Get really active to work off all your delicious guilty pleasures. Host a dance party, do some yoga, or try out some YouTube workouts.
• Pamper yourselves and feel like total queens by giving each other glam makeovers and unwinding with a spa night.

Steps

1

Wine and cheese tasting

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1. Create super cute charcuterie boards for a swanky night in. No need to hit up Napa—just bring the glam vibes of a vineyard right to your living room. Stock up on your fave wines, from fruity Merlots to dry Chardonnays. To make a charcuterie board, grab a chic cheese board set and pile it up to your heart’s content. Go for yummy classics like high-end cold meats and cheeses. Or, be silly and tongue-in-cheek with a “lazy girl” charcuterie board. For a fun spread à la an adult’s Lunchable, serve cheap staples like Ritz crackers, American cheese, and M&Ms. Either way, you’ll give everyone a serious case of the munchies.

   • For your sober besties, offer non-alcoholic options like sparkling cider.
   • Throw chocolate and cheese in a fondue pot for a special touch.
   • To cater to your vegan lovelies, make a spread with fruits and veggies.
   • If everyone’s got a sweet tooth, make a dessert charcuterie board.
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2

Breakfast for dinner

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1. Be ladies who brunch whenever you want—even after dark. Give everyone the warm fuzzies with a childhood favorite: breakfast for dinner. Keep it chill by setting up a cereal bar with sugary guilty pleasures like Lucky Charms. If you want to get really extravagant, give your local diner a run for its money—we’re talking omelets, waffles, bacon, and mochas. When your girls chow down, they’ll have fuel to chat all night.

   • Be sophisticated and give a late night brunch a mature spin with mimosas.
   • If you don’t want to be wired, swap evening coffee for some hot chocolate.
   • Throw on a vintage apron to look the part of the perfect hostess.

3

Binge watching party

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1. Kick back and get lost in your favorite movies and TV shows. Have everyone pitch in and tell you their picks. Play fair and go with the crowd pleaser, whether it’s Bridgerton or Love Island. If your girls are ready to get a little random, write some options down on a piece of paper, throw them in a hat, and pull a title out. If you’re all feeling extra daring, play Netflix Roulette and hit “Play Something,” the shuffle feature. Whatever option you all choose, you’re in for a whirlwind night.

   • If you have all night, mix it up and sample everyone’s go-to movie or show.
   • When it feels right, swoon over romantic leads or heckle really bad scenes.
   • Act like very important critics and rave about or rip apart what you binge watched.
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4

Book club

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1. Dive into fun reads, from steamy romances to gripping thrillers. To give all your ladies enough lead time to unpack the stories, vote on a book before everyone hangs out. Think about what feels realistic—maybe it’s best to cover a few chapters every week or review the whole book at the end of the month. Depending on what your book club wants, make some discussion questions or wing it and share your reactions. However you run it, your book club will be a blast and offer a lot to ponder over.

   • Give your book club a cute and fun name, like “The Page Turners.”
   • You can even make a FB group to catch up and post literary memes.
   • Decide if everyone should share “popcorn style” or speak one at a time.
   • Create cute merch, like custom bookmarks, on a site like Redbubble.

5

At-home workouts

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1. Work up a sweat and get super fit as a team of besties. Check in with all your friends and see what they’re in the mood for. Maybe they want to unwind with some yoga or let loose with a bit of Zumba. Feel free to mix and match workouts too—just make a YouTube playlist with a bunch of fitness tutorials that appeal to everyone. Make sure everyone knows the dress code is “athleisure chic” and brings a water bottle and hand towel. Get your blood pumping and you’ll all love how you whip each other into shape.

   • Is anyone a trained fitness instructor or just really bold? If so, elect someone to lead your impromptu workout classes.
   • Try a sporty fashion show. For example, see who's the best at styling biker shorts.
   • If you want to get really cheesy, turn on an oldie jam like “Let’s Get Physical,” stream vintage jazzercise vids, and channel 80s vibes with leg warmers and sweatbands.
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6

Kitchen dance party

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1. Put on your favorite beats and show off your sweet moves. If you’ve been binging on chocolate, popcorn, and other goodies, work it all off with a kitchen dance party. Pull out a laptop or set up a Bluetooth speaker, then give everyone a chance to stream their playlists. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got mad rhythm or are crazy uncoordinated—just dance like no one’s watching, because all that counts is having a good time.

   • Check out TikTok, YouTube, or FB Live for inspo on trending dance moves.
   • If your girls have competitive spirits, challenge each other to see who has what it takes to win a dance-off.
   • Get silly and try out styles from different eras—bust out basic disco moves from the 70s or do the Macarena from the 90s.

7

Karaoke

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1. Sing at the top of your lungs without worrying about a judgy crowd. Maybe you’ve got a mixed group—some of your ladies have serious pipes but others can’t carry a tune. Don’t sweat it. The major perk to having a girls’ night in is that you can do whatever you want in the privacy of your own place. So, power up your console or karaoke machine and sing your hearts out. As long as you don’t wake your neighbors, you’ll rock each other’s worlds with your at-home concert.

   • Dress up as your alter-egos—maybe you want to look like a rocker because you’re the ultra edgy “Alexis Rose.” Your other buddy might be in the mood to look like a pop star because she’s the super-sweet “Tee Swift.”
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8

Game night

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1. Take out some top-shelf games to spark some healthy competition. If you want to go for a cozy board game night, try sweet little titles like Calico—a tile-laying game where you all build a quilt for cats—or Succulent, which focuses on growing the largest garden. Is everyone more cutthroat? Check out competitive games like the popular Ticket to Ride, which challenges you to build the best railroad system, or the classic whodunit game, Clue. If you just want to laugh and shock each other, play the adult party game, Cards Against Humanity.

   • If you have a ton of time on your hands and your group is into improv and fantasy, create a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
   • If you all want to play on your phones, try a fun app like the fill-in-the-blanks game, Quiplash.
   • Is everyone more into console titles? Power up a great multiplayer game like Super Mario Party.
   • Hey, you can always give wikiHow to Meme a shot, too—wink.
   • Reader Poll: We asked 1514 wikiHow readers what their favorite type of party game is, and 51% said games that make people laugh. [Take Poll]
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Ashton Wu

   Board Game Expert

   Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 35K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate.

   

   Ashton Wu
   Board Game Expert

   Want to plan the perfect game night? Start by locking down a comfortable location. Whether it's a game store, park, or your own home, choose a place where everyone can relax and have fun. If you're hosting at home, tidy up the space and make sure there's enough seating. And remember, board games are best played when sitting upright at a table, not on the floor!

9

Arts and crafts

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1. Let your creative sides shine with some fun DIY projects. Maybe there’s something cute you’ve always wanted to try, like making mason jar candles. If you’re not totally sure, leave it up to your girl friends—they might also be dying to throw a paint party. Just gather all the right supplies and set up a work space. With imagination and a can-do attitude, the possibilities are endless.

   • If you’re a little stumped, you can always hop on Pinterest and search for something like “DIY projects with friends.”
   • Make crafts that can be fun little mementos for your girls that they can keep forever. For example, design flower pots to spruce up your homes or gardens.
   • If you’re on a budget, ask everyone to Venmo you for their craft supplies.
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10

Makeovers

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1. Give throwback or IG baddie vibes with some hot new looks. To figure out the theme your girls are going for, make your own mood boards. For example, one of your besties might want to be a femme fatale for the night, so help style her like a glam icon from the 1940s. Before you apply makeup, check out some tutorials on YouTube. Then, enjoy all your transformations—just remember, you’re fabulous with or without a makeover.

   • If you want to be over the top, bring some wardrobe changes to really sell your looks.
   • It’s also totally fine to wing it and try something new, like testing out goth makeup.
   • See if anyone’s a pro at makeovers—maybe one of your besties is a stylist or cosmetologist.
   • When you’re done, snap some pics and unveil your looks on your socials.

11

Clothing swap

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1. Keep your wardrobes fresh and save cash with an outfit exchange. Tell all your friends to bring over a bunch of options that are totally fine but they’re just not feeling anymore. Maybe they’ve got a killer bandage dress that reminds them too much of their first date with their ex. Display them however you like—fold all the choices on a table, lay them in piles, or hang them up in an extra closet. Let everyone go wild and rifle through everything to score some amazing finds.

   • Check people’s sizes in advance and make little labels or tags to organize everything. For example, create separate piles for small, medium, and large blouses.
   • If there’s anyone who can’t wear the same clothes as any of your other friends, be inclusive and throw an accessories and jewelry swap instead. That way, everyone wins.
   • Plan to host lots of clothing swaps? Pick up a cheap rolling clothing rack to get that fun "garage sale" or "little boutique" feel.
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12

Photoshoot party

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1. Make all your socials pop with a bunch of stunning pics. To do a professional looking photo shoot at home, set up a cute space with just a couple props and good lighting. Encourage everyone to wear photo-ready outfits and makeup or elect a bestie to be the makeover maven. If you’ve got a friend who’s a pro photographer or a super enthusiastic hobbyist, ask them to capture some awesome shots of everyone. When you’re done, edit your photos so they pop and post them on social media to shine like the stars you are.

   • If one of your friends is taking all the pics, just make sure they use a tripod or timer to get cute portraits of themselves, too.
   • For a magical backdrop that’ll make you all look like IG influencers, make a photo booth. For cute and flashy touches, use fake flowers or foil fringe streamers.
   • Want super cute keepsakes? Frame your fave group photo or make DIY photo albums that everyone will cherish forever.

13

Vision board party

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1. See into a perfect future by putting together colorful vision boards. Whether you want to swoon over dream weddings, make boss babe business plans, or just visualize the ideal lifestyle, making vision boards is a great call. Pull out scissors, poster boards, and magazines for some old school fun or open up your laptops and put together Pinterest boards. Choose a theme, make collages, then have a show-and-tell of the amazing results you all will obviously manifest.

   • To make vision boards for manifestation, remember to set an intention like, “I want to manifest my soulmate.”
   • Use affirmations on your vision board, too. For example, cut out the phrases “luxury” and “wealth,” then paste them on your poster.
   • Keep your vision boards somewhere safe, like your closets, and check back in 1-5 years. Who knows—you and your besties might realize you made all your dreams come true.
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14

Cook-off

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1. Collab or compete to whip up the most mouth-watering dishes. Okay, so you probably don’t want to pull a Gordon Ramsey and shout at your soul sisters for not using enough salt. Still, you can totally go in the direction of The Great British Bake Off and politely judge who conjured up the best cupcakes. Or, have a pizza party and team up to make a bunch of tasty pies, from triple cheese to a meat lover’s delight. When you’re done, you’ll get to polish off all your hard work.

   • Make sure everyone has a healthy appetite so they can dive in after.
   • Take pics of your masterpieces—or your flops—for some fun memories.
   • If you make way more than you can eat, store it nicely and donate it to a food charity.

15

Spa date

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1. Destress and decompress by pampering yourselves like queens. Tired of your 9-to-5’s or grueling schedules? Sounds like it’s time to treat yourselves, so bring the spa right to your house. Whip up some facial masks, give yourselves the perfect manis and pedis, and apply some nourishing hair masks. Want to go the extra mile for your girls? Play some serene music, turn on an oil diffuser, and serve some cucumber water. Your besties will think everything’s divine and that you’re a total godsend.

   • Try out cheap self-care hacks, like steaming your faces over bowls of hot water mixed with essential oils.
   • If they’re into it, meditate on how to love yourselves to really tap into inner peace and forget all of life’s little hassles.
   • Make self-care boxes that everyone can take home later—fill them with goodies like bath bombs, body scrubs, and a collection of herbal teas.
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16

Blanket fort sleepover

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1. Get silly and comfy by designing an epic and magical blanket fort. Want to turn back time and feel like you’re in middle school again? It’s such a breeze—just grab some chairs, blankets, and pillows to make a blanket fort. Bring some snacks, like chocolate-covered pretzels and popcorn, and stream a girly cult classic, like 13 Going on 30 or Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. Your tight-knit crew will feel like you’re kids again.

   • For an ultra luxurious experience, set up a projector in your blanket fort.
   • Make your cozy sanctuary extra magical with fairy string lights.
   • Spruce up your sweet hideaway fluffy throw blankets.
   • Put on PJs and splurge on treats like sugary cereal.

17

Camping

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1. Go camping in your backyard to enjoy some nature with your gals. If your queens have a taste for the high life, make a super glam camp, or "glamping," set up—put out a fire pit, set up your patio lights, take out the outdoor furniture, and serve some s’mores and Chardonnay. When your besties have an adventurous spirit and want to rough it, tell them it’s a BYOSB (Bring Your Own Sleeping Bag) event and pitch enough tents for everyone to spend the night.

   • If you want to invest in making glamping a regular thing, get a luxe tent. Plus, you can tell everyone to Venmo their fair share—for example, a “Dream House” tent is less than $50 USD a head if you've got 12 girls.
   • To revive some summer camp memories, wait until it gets really late, put on some spooky music, and share your favorite ghost stories. Or, put on a slasher flick since there won’t be any counselors to rain on your parade.
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18

Witch themed party

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1. Channel your inner goddesses and cast any spells you can dream of. Are your girls already astrology pros and into everything New Age? Maybe they’re just dipping their toes into witchcraft and want to get in touch with their power and intuition. Either way, it’s a perfect chance to start a fun little coven— brew some tea, read tarot cards, tell each other’s fortunes, and cast spells. When you’re through, you might decide you were destined to be enchantresses.

   • If you're really serious about it, gather as a coven to develop your psychic abilities. You might learn to become clairvoyant and see into the future.
   • Let your imaginations go wild— cast love spells to find your soulmates or cast a money charm by dressing green spell candles to welcome wealth for your tribe.

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do you pick the right activity for a party?

  

  Ivy Summer
  Certified Wedding & Event Planner

  Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals.

  

  Ivy Summer

  Certified Wedding & Event Planner

  Expert Answer

  Think about where your guests will be emotionally and energetically. Meet them at their level to ensure that they'll have a good time.

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