How to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home

Opting for a quiet New Year's Eve at home? Whatever your reason for staying in, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you celebrate the start of 2022 and make the night one to remember.
1. Go all-out for dinner One of the best bits of the festive season is the food, and if all you’ve been eating since Christmas is leftover turkey it’s time to spice up your dinner - make it the main event of your New Year’s celebration.

Recreate that restaurant feeling at home by planning a menu for the evening. You could even test out some new dishes from a recipe book and cook them together with family.

Or, have your own mini party and serve up canapes, vol-au-vents and nibbles. This is your chance to cherry-pick your favourite party food. To make it all the more special, create a show-stopping tablescape with serving dishes, gold placemats and more.

2. Shake up some cocktails

Set up your own cocktail bar and enjoy homemade cocktails and mocktails. Whatever your tipple of choice, learning how to make your favourite drink makes for a fun New Year’s activity.

Stock your home bar with key ingredients such as spirits, fruit and syrups and try out some classic recipes or create your own. Serve up your drinks in some decadent glassware for the full cocktail bar effect. The best bit is that you don’t have to wait in a crowded queue!
3. Pamper yourself Who says New Year's Eve is all about partying? Instead, plan a pampering evening packed with relaxing activities to ease you into 2022. Set the mood with a lusciously scented candle and enjoy a warm bath with bath and body products to soothe your skin. Then, finish your home spa session with some nourishing hair care.

Whatever your self care routine, take some time out this New Year's Eve and enjoy waking up on the first day of January refreshed (and hangover-free).
4. Host a games nightParty games are an essential part of celebrations at this time of year. Even if you’re not spending the night with friends or family, you could host a virtual games night over a video call. Test your knowledge with a trivia card game on almost any topic - from gin to pop culture - or up the competition with a game of bingo. If you’re planning a quiet New Year's Eve on your own, try your hand at a jigsaw puzzle and stay entertained for hours.

5. Curl up with a good book

Another relaxing option for your New Year's Eve celebration at home is to get stuck into a book. From travel books to plan your 2022 getaway (here’s hoping) to poetry and award-winning fiction - lose yourself in the pages of a great book.

Or, get inspiration for your New Year’s resolution in our selection of Books for Change. Discover a new passion or learn more about the world around you with a selection of educational, fiction and non-fiction titles about sustainable living, Black Lives Matter, Feminism and more.