Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating friendship, and it’s usually marked with a get-together on the 13th of February, just ahead of Valentine’s Day. Think great company, something delicious to eat, and a cosy evening to catch up.
It’s also made for at-home hosting. A Galentine’s night-in doesn’t need a reservation or a strict plan. It just needs your favourite people, a comfortable setup, and a home that feels warm from the moment everyone steps inside.
Here’s how to host Galentine’s at home so it feels effortless, cosy and well put-together, without your space feeling overrun.
Plan the night around one simple idea
Parquet bookcase | @casaoldcorn
If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do for a Galentine’s, the answer is simple. Keep it easy, make it cosy, and give the evening one loose theme so it feels like an occasion.
A snack board night where everyone brings one thing, a cosy movie and dessert setup, a games night with picky bits and cocktails or mocktails, or a ‘make your own’ moment, with indulgent sundaes, hot chocolate, or spritzes, all work perfectly. These kinds of plans are also perfect for smaller spaces, as they create a relaxed, social, and low-effort atmosphere.
Make the room feel open by clearing the centre
Malvern u-shape sofa | @renovationliving
When you’re hosting at home, people naturally gather wherever there’s space to stand, sit, and move. In a more compact living room, the quickest way to create breathing room is to keep the centre clear.
Reset the coffee table so it isn’t covered in everyday clutter, and move away anything that doesn’t need to be there for hosting. If possible, leave one surface free, such as a side table or shelf, so guests have a natural place to set down a drink without having to hover.
Use flexible seating so everyone feels comfortable
Elba sideboard | @styleanddecoruk
Hosting in your home is all about comfort. You don’t need matching chairs or a perfect setup, just enough places for people to settle in.
If the sofa is your main seating, build around it with flexible options you can move easily. Footstools and ottomans are ideal as extra perches and can be slid out of the way when the night winds down. Dining chairs can be brought into the living room for the evening and returned afterwards. Floor cushions also work beautifully for a relaxed Galentine’s look, especially if you’re planning to end the night with a film.
To make extra seating feel intentional, add a throw over the back of a chair or place a cushion on a footstool. It instantly looks cosy rather than improvised.
Create a snack and drinks station
When it comes to food for a Galentine’s night in, picky bits are always a winner. They’re easy, they feel abundant, and guests can graze without you disappearing into the kitchen all night.
Instead of stacking everything on the coffee table, create a small self-serve area on a sideboard, console, or even a tray on a side table. Keep plates, napkins, glasses and the main snacks together so guests can help themselves. It stops the centre of the room from getting cluttered and keeps things flowing without you having to play host all evening.
For a Galentine’s touch, style it like a mini moment. A candle, a bunch of flowers, and a bowl for snacks makes it feel special without any extra effort.
Add dining into the plan with a feminine tablescape
Parquet dining table | @yellowbrickcourt
Even if your Galentine’s night is mostly sofa-based, adding a dining moment makes the whole evening feel more considered. You could start at the dining table with snacks and drinks, move into the living room for games or a film, then finish with dessert back at the table.
If you want to lean into the theme, this is where a feminine tablescape really shines. It doesn’t need to be over the top. A few simple details instantly make dinner at home feel like an occasion, even in a small dining space.
Start with a soft base like a runner or placemats, then add candles for warmth. Keep flowers easy and unfussy. Pink tulips, roses, or even supermarket stems in a jug look relaxed but still celebratory.
Mixing and matching glassware and side plates works especially well for Galentine’s, and small bowls for sweets, dips, or chocolates make everything feel a little more abundant. If your dining area is small, keep the centrepiece low so everyone can still chat across the table.
And if you don’t have a dining room, don’t worry. A coffee table setup with trays, nesting tables and floor cushions can create the same feeling, while being a little more informal.
Use lighting to make your home feel cosy
Lighting is one of the simplest ways to make hosting at home feel like a proper occasion. Bright overhead lighting can make a room feel flat and smaller than it is, so switch to softer layers instead.
Turn on table lamps, add a floor lamp if you have one, and use fairy lights or LED candles for warmth. If you have a mirror, place it where it can catch lamplight to bounce brightness around the room and add a little depth.
Turn it into a Galentine’s sleepover
Newton chest of drawers | @bygemmma
If you want to make the night feel extra special, make it a sleepover. It extends the fun and keeps the evening feeling relaxed because nobody’s watching the clock.
Elba side table | @styleanddecoruk
You don’t need a picture-perfect guest bedroom. Fresh bedding, an extra pillow or two, and a throw folded at the end of the bed instantly makes the space feel inviting. Add a bedside lamp for softer light, then finish with one sweet touch like a carafe of water, a small box of chocolates, or a little tray with spare toiletries. If you can, clear a drawer or shelf so guests have somewhere to put their things, even briefly.
The next morning can be relaxed but still lovely. Coffee, pastries or pancakes and a slow catch-up in pyjamas is exactly the kind of Galentine’s finale you’ll all remember.
Add one detail that makes it feel like Galentine’s
You don’t need a full home makeover. One thoughtful detail will still do the trick.
It might be a playlist you’ve named for the night, coordinated crockery, or a simple pink accent on the table. Even a fun photo corner on the sofa with your best cushions and cosiest throw can make the night feel like an event.
The best hosting always feels personal, not perfect. If you’re planning your own Galentine’s night in, we’d love to see how you’ve styled it. Share your setup using #OakFurnitureland and #GrowYourHome on Instagram or TikTok.
Want more staying-in inspiration? Take a look at our romantic Valentine’s date ideas for simple ways to make the evening feel special.
