How to Host the Ultimate Play Day at Home for Adults
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When was the last time you had some real fun, I mean proper silly, laugh until your sides hurt kind of fun? I’m guessing not in a long while? Problem is, adults are absolutely rubbish at giving themselves permission to just play and have fun, but I’m here to help you change all that. And I’m going to fix it today.
A play day at home for adults is basically what some people are now calling a Playcation. A day where you ditch the to do list, gather your favourite people and just have a genuinely brilliant time without spending a fortune or leaving your garden. And honestly? It’s one of the best summer staycation ideas going.
Here’s what you might need to help with your Playcation -Links to Amazon below.
Why Adults Need a Play Day More Than They Realise
We spend so much time being sensible don’t we. Paying bills. Cooking. Cleaning. Walking the dog. Holding it all together like proper responsible adults.
And then someone drags out a garden game or fires up a playlist from the 90s and suddenly everyone is absolutely beside themselves and you realise. Blimey. I needed that.
Play is genuinely good for you because it reduces stress, brings people together and creates memories you talk about for years. Your playcation day at home doesn’t need a big budget. Just the right energy and a little bit of planning.
Set the Scene for Your Play Day at Home
Ok darlin, this matters more than people think. You want the space to feel like something is happening. Not just like a normal Saturday in the garden.
Blow up some balloons, get a banner and put some bunting out. It sounds daft but it genuinely shifts the mood the second people arrive and signals that today is different. Today we are actually having fun.
A cool bucket full of drinks sorted in advance means nobody is faffing in the kitchen every five minutes. These lce buckets hold a good amount and will get used constantly in summer. I’d say it’s one of those buys you wonder how you managed without.
The Best Games for Adult Play Day at Home
Here are the games that work brilliantly for a play day at home for adults.
Giant Jenga.
Tense, brilliant and gets louder with every round. This oversized garden Jenga set on Amazon is the one I’d go for. Solid wooden blocks that actually stack properly rather than wobbling from the start.
Rounders.
Classic and brilliant. Gets very competitive very fast. Make sure someone neutral keeps score or it will end in chaos. You have been warned
Badminton.
Easy to set up and you don’t need much space. A Garden badminton set is one of those things that costs very little and gets used all summer. Brilliant for all abilities.
A quiz round.
Stick someone in charge of a homemade quiz between outdoor games. Keeps the energy up and gives people a breather without the day going flat. You can find free questions and answers to use here.
Tug of War.
Absolutely timeless. Split into teams and it gets serious very fast. All you need is a decent rope. This heavy duty Tug of war rope on Amazon comes with a centre ribbon marker so there’s no arguing about who won. Not that adults would ever argue. Obviously.
Egg and Spoon Race.
Sounds too simple. Causes absolute carnage every single time. Use hard boiled eggs unless you enjoy cleaning up a crime scene.
Spoon and Marble Race.
Like egg and spoon but harder and faster. Marbles roll off far more easily than eggs and the concentration faces alone are worth the price of admission. Costs around £7 for a bag and causes complete chaos.
Giant Inflatable Skittles.
Bigger, bouncier and far more satisfying than the regular version. Set them up on the lawn and use the included ball to knock them flying. Sounds straightforward until someone starts keeping a serious score and suddenly the whole vibe shifts. This Giant inflatable skittles set is one of those things that looks brilliant in the garden and keeps people entertained for way longer than you’d expect. Easy to inflate, easy to store and absolutely guaranteed to cause at least one heated debate about whether that counted as a proper strike.
Sack Race.
Another one that looks easy until you’re in it. A set of 4 Sack race bags on Amazon costs around £30 and also includes 4 sacks the Egg and Spoon Race, 3 Legged Race Bands, and prize medals to hand out to the winners.
Blind Man’s Buff.
One person blindfolded. Everyone else doing their absolute best to stay quiet and failing completely. It is chaotic, brilliant and costs nothing whatsoever. Works on any size garden and guaranteed to have everyone in stitches within about thirty seconds. All you need is a Blindfold- (a tea cloth will do) and a group of adults who have completely abandoned their dignity for the afternoon.
Water Balloon Fight.
Gets everyone involved regardless of age or ability. Self sealing water balloon, fill hundreds of balloons in minutes. Brilliant fun on a hot day.
The Hula Hoop
Hula Hoop Challenge. Who can keep it going longest. Sounds easy. Is not easy. Very funny to watch.
Welly Wanging.
Exactly what it sounds like. You throw a welly as far as you can. Whoever gets it furthest wins. Costs nothing. Absolutely hilarious every time.
Oversized Garden Connect Four.
Drop the discs. block your opponent. watch grown adults get absolutely furious about a children’s game. This Giant Connect Four looks brilliant in the garden and one of those buys that comes out every single time you have people over.
Ping Pong or Beer Pong Table.
You do not need a proper table tennis table for this one. A Fold away ping pong set that fits over any table is one of those genius buys that takes up no space and comes out all summer long, and it works on any flat surface. Keep it clean with soft drinks or turn it into beer pong later in the evening. Either way it will absolutely not be put away until someone has demanded a rematch.
Flip Cup or Ping Pong Cup Challenge.
Line up a row of cups, fill them with whatever you fancy and take turns bouncing a ping pong ball to land it in a cup. Sounds simple. Is absolutely not simple. Gets louder and more competitive with every single round and someone will inevitably claim the table is uneven. A Pack of ping pong balls on Amazon costs around £5 and you already have the cups. Cheapest laugh you will have all summer.
Garden Putting Green.
If the golf course has taught me anything it’s that non playing adults standing watching get frustrated very fast. At least in your own garden you can walk away and nobody judges you. A Garden putting green is one of those buys that looks properly impressive when guests arrive and gets used far more than you’d expect. It’s like having your own mini golf course without the overpriced tickets or the queueing behind a family who have never held a putter in their lives.
The Bouncy Castle
Nah look. I have to mention this.
When my kids were little we hired a bouncy castle for them. As the day went on and the drinks went down. It became very apparent that the adults were far more interested in it than the children were. Grown adults. Absolutely on it. Bouncing away like it were 1987. No shame whatsoever and honestly. Best decision of the day. Although we hired, you can pick this Bouncy castle up for under £100 on Amazon.
Listen mi darlin. There comes a point in every great play day at home where the body starts sending little messages. Nothing dramatic. Just a gentle suggestion that perhaps the sack race was enough for one afternoon. And that is absolutely fine. Because the fun doesn’t have to stop. It just gets a little more civilised from here.
Two Truths and a Lie.
Perfect filler between outdoor rounds. No equipment needed and you always find out something brilliant about someone you thought you knew well.
Mr and Mrs or Who Knows Who Best
Works brilliantly for a mixed group. Gets funnier as the day goes on. Especially after the cool box has been open a while.
Keep Everyone Fed Without Being Stuck in the Kitchen
The trick here is food that looks brilliant but needs zero effort on the day.
A big grazing board. Loaded with bread, cheese, meats, dips and fruit is perfect for a play day at home for adults. People can graze all day between games without needing a sit down meal and it keeps the energy going.
I have a whole post on how to style a gorgeous grazing table on a budget that will save you a lot of faff. And if you fancy firing up the BBQ too. My budget summer BBQ ideas post has loads of good shouts.
Wind Down the Right Way
Every good playcation day needs a proper ending.
As the energy starts to drop. Move things inside or settle into the garden with something a bit more relaxed. A DIY cocktail or mocktail bar is absolutely perfect for this moment. Easy to set up and makes everyone feel like the day is still special even when the games are done.
My post on setting up a DIY cocktail bar at home for summer entertaining has everything you need to pull it together without any stress.
Outdoor projector
A brilliant end to the evening. A garden film under the stars is the kind of thing that makes people say they’ll remember this day forever. This Outdoor projector will transform a normal garden into something that feels really special. Absolutely worth it for summer entertaining.
Music
Lastly I have to say, one thing that makes the whole day land properly is decent sounding music, because nothing kills the vibe faster than tinny music coming out of someone’s phone propped against a plant pot. For great sound, I’d genuinely point you towards this Portable bluetooth speaker because it’s waterproof, (in case it rains) wireless, comes in 4 colours and it’s loud enough for a garden which is spot on for your Playcation.
FAQs: Play Day at Home for Adults
What is a playcation day at home?
A playcation is a play focused day at home where adults give themselves permission to have proper fun. Think garden games, good food, great company and zero responsibilities for the day. It costs very little and delivers a lot.
What are the best garden games for adults?
Giant Jenga, rounders, badminton, hoopla and limbo all work brilliantly. The key is having a mix of competitive games and silly ones so everyone can join in regardless of ability.
How do I host a play day at home on a budget?
Use games you already own or borrow from friends. A cool box of drinks, a grazing board and a good bluetooth speaker are really all you need to make the day feel special. Keep food simple and focus on the activities.
How many people do I need for a play day at home?
Even four people is enough for a brilliant day. Six to ten is the sweet spot for garden games. More than that and you’ll want to split into teams which can actually make everything more fun anyway.
Can a play day at home work if it rains?
Absolutely. Move the games inside. Board games, a quiz, a cocktail making competition or an indoor film afternoon all work just as well. Have a backup plan and it takes the pressure off completely.
Well go on then mi darlin. Get that cool box sorted, dig out the garden games and give yourself and your mates the Playcation day you’ve all been quietly needing.
