Indoor sleepovers are a unique experience. From a child’s first night with their friends to a cozy adult gathering, a little planning and setup makes for a memorable night. Comfy blankets, movies, and games are a must, but one item that can elevate the evening experience is themed dining.
Food is part of the fun at a sleepover: the presentation, colors, and little extra details create excitement and bring on the formalness of the theme for your guests. If you have a sleepover planned in the near future, here is some inspiration (themed dining setups) and useful ideas.
Movie Night Diner
Bring the movie theater to the living room with a “movie diner” table with striped popcorn buckets, nacho trays, and soda bottles with paper straws. I like to have a mini snack bar that guests can load up on popcorn flavoring, candies, and toppings before the start of the movie. A blanket fort of some sort and trays of finger foods make for some extra fun.
Breakfast-for-Dinner Pajama Party
Who says breakfast is an exclusively morning meal? When you are at a sleepover, pancakes, waffles, cereal, and hot cocoa are even better at night. Add bowls in many colors, pitchers of syrup, and maybe even a homemade waffle bar where everyone can build their own waffle with fruit, sprinkles, or whipped cream to their heart’s content. A sit-down pajama meal is delightful.
Spa Night Theme
This is great for teens or girls’ nights, and a relaxing dining experience can be created with the spa theme. You can set out light, refreshing snacks such as cucumber sandwiches, fruit skewers, sparkling water with lemon, and herbal teas. Consider presenting everything on a pretty tray, complete with the use of candles or fairy lights for ambiance.
Camping Indoors
Bring the outdoors in with a camping-style dining experience. Spread out checkered picnic blankets and packs of brown paper bags, automatically creating a layered picnic effect with indoor comfort. Serve hot dogs, s’mores, hot chocolate, etc. Roast marshmallows inside with a portable mini firepit or just the oven, and globally this is a perfect example of an experience for any age group to enjoy.
DIY Taco or Pizza Bar
Sleepovers are for hanging out, and there is nothing more fun to do together as a group than to prepare food. You could prepare a taco station with tortillas, fillings, and toppings so guests could construct their own meal, or a mini-pizza station with individual-sized crusts, sauces, and toppings so the guests could prepare a meal using their imaginations and creativity.
A Candyland Feast
For children or adults with a sweet tooth, a Candyland table can be a dream come true. Using plates with pastel colors, candy jars, cupcakes, and lollipops, anyone could create a Candyland experience. You can even incorporate fruit platters, cookies, or popcorn drizzled with a little chocolate to even out the sugar rush and create a balanced candy experience.
Cozy Hot Cocoa & Dessert Bar
If your sleepover is planned during the cooler months, as a bonus, your guests will be comfortable in their lounging clothes with a hot cocoa station. Set up a cup with mugs for hot chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, or options for hot chocolate flavorings. Alongside the hot cocoa station, you could also set up brownies, cookies, and donuts for a warm and cozy experience.
Final Touches That Make a Difference
No matter which theme you choose, it’s the little extras that pull everything together:
- Use matching napkins and plates to complement the theme.
- Add fairy lights, candles, or themed decor to create atmosphere.
- Offer food in easy-to-handle portions so guests can snack while lounging or playing games.
The goal of an indoor sleepover is fun, laughter, and bonding together. Another bonus includes a themed dining setup to add an extra sparkle and make each guest feel special for the night. Whether you choose to do a movie theme, a cozy breakfast, or a creative food station, you will surely have a memorable sleeping experience.
