The leaves are falling and days are shortening, which means autumn is finally here. As we say a long farewell to the warm summer sun and welcome in the crunchy leaves and colder weather, many of us may choose to spend this season cosying up indoors. Whether that means relaxing on your sofa with a TV series or hiding under the duvet, the colder months can be an introvert’s dream. But, for the moments when you crave community, this season can also be the perfect time to host your loved ones at home.

Now that the colder weather has arrived, we’ve collated a list of fun and creative hosting ideas for the next time you have your friends or family over. Inspired by viral trends on TikTok and Instagram, we’ve covered everything from painting to cooking and more, so you won’t be short of ideas for what to do when your loved ones come over. Here are Amaliah’s top ten picks for how to host your friends this autumn and winter.

1. Paint Nights

@juliawoolfy

Girls paint and sip date #paintandsip #diyproject #girlsnight #potterypainting #painting #art #fyp #foryou

♬ cupid twin version – ⟡ TRACYTRACKS ⟡

Many of us left painting behind in our childhood classrooms, but it can be a therapeutic exercise that allows you to completely unwind and focus on the canvas right in front of you.

But, forget the paper because pottery painting is a unique activity and you can keep the results forever. Shops like Flying Tiger offer blank pottery items, paints and brushes for you to get creative, or you could decorate mugs, bowls or plates found in your local supermarket. Just make sure to use ceramic or porcelain paint to ensure long and safe wear!

TikTok user @thirzol used art pens to create her pottery designs without the paint, and user @juliawoolfy made drinks for her and her friends to sip on while creating their ceramic masterpieces. Whether you want to design something easy or intricate, pottery painting is a fun and creative activity that can allow you and your guests to let out your inner artists with an ever-lasting keepsake.

2. Create Work-Inspired PowerPoint Presentations

@kiramukerji

POV: you host a presentation night to finally figure out what all your friends do for work 😭😭😭 #presentation #whatwedoforwork #girlsday #bestiesgoals

♬ just a girl – autumnaudios

Be honest with yourself, do you really know what your friends do for work? Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this is a hilarious yet insightful way to get to know your loved ones by asking them to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about what they do for a living.

While some of our friends may have easy-to-explain jobs, like teacher or sales assistant, other roles are a bit more difficult to explain. Seriously, what even is a major trauma lawyer? But, you’re not alone in this confusion and you can get super silly and creative with this one.

Perhaps you could create a day-to-day breakdown of your work responsibilities like this TikTok content creator, provide a list of your daily tasks like these girls who went viral or even test everyone’s knowledge with a quiz at the end to show who was really listening. Either way, you’ll come away with a newfound knowledge and respect for your friends and their varied careers.

3. Host a Themed Dinner Party

@alessandrabrontsema

Cooking for friends & hosting dinner parties is my love language 🫶🏼🍉🍝 especially with such a cute watermelon theme 🍉❣️ #homecooking #hosting #mealideas #dinnerparty #dinnerideas #dinner #fyp #homemade #pasta #watermelon #watermelontheme #watermelondinnerparty #ravioli #dinnerpartytheme #watermelondinner #colorfulpasta #homemadepasta #matcha #matchaaffogato #watermelondessert

♬ Jazz masterpiece “As time goes by” covered by a Jazz violinist by profession(962408) – ricca

There’s nothing quite like a home cooked meal in the colder months. Whether it’s soups, hearty rice dishes or pies, this is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. So, hosting a themed supper-club sounds like a great way to welcome in the new season with your friends.

There’s a plethora of themes that you could try out, like foods of the world where each guest brings a dish from their culture or, like TikTok content creator @alessandrabrontsema, you could create a theme around a certain food, like watermelon – which can also be a way to show solidarity to the people of Palestine.

While this one may take a little bit of preparation or planning, why not find a buddy to co-host with you? As they say, many hands make light work. Or, as previously mentioned, you could even suggest a ‘potluck’ style dinner party where everyone brings their own dish, giving way to more unique flavours and conversations.

4. Increase Knowledge With an Islamic Halaqah

@salmzzzz__

this was so fun mA! highly recommend💟 #halaqa #muslimmedstudent #ms1girlie #halaqasession #muslimadvice #quranstudies #islamicstudies

♬ original sound – Salma🤍

Increasing our knowledge of Islam is a constant journey and it’s easier to continue on that path when the people around you are striving to do the same. So, hosting a halaqah – also known as a religious gathering or an Islamic study circle – is the perfect, communal way to do so.

You or one of your attendees could pick a topic, theme or figure – for example, Khadijah RA, modesty or self-love in Islam – and explore in a simple, casual discussion-style setting or a PowerPoint presentation. For this one, we’d recommend one person in the group preparing an Islamic topic, questions and discussion prompts.

The aim of a halaqah is to come away with a greater level of Islamic knowledge, and it’s a great way to build faith and friendships alike. Also, by doing this on a regular basis with a similar group of people, everyone will have learned something new that can benefit them in this life and the hereafter.

5. Cosy Up for a Movie Night

@lindasoxox

Girls movie night in 🍿🎬🎀 #girlsnightin #movienightwithegirls #girlsmovienight #friendship #dateideas #friendshipdates #datewiththegirls #movienight #dateideas

♬ original sound – Apolina Linda

This year has brought us an incredible selection of films and as the temperature drops, now is the perfect time to cancel those dinner reservations and spend the night in front of the TV with your friends instead.

Whether you want to delve into the world of fantasy and fairytales or watch an insightful documentary that you can discuss with your attendees afterwards, a movie night is the perfect recipe for a cosy night in with loved ones.

If you wanted to go the extra mile, you could create movie tickets, make popcorn or hang string lights for the ultimate homely vibe. You could even make it themed to whatever film you’re watching – think Harry Potter-inspired treats or vintage outfits for a period film like Pride and Prejudice. The only must-haves are a great film, cosy blankets and, of course, popcorn!

6. Floral Craft Nights

@kaciaclark

girls night. 💗 @aerielepatrice #girlsnight #bouqetofflowers #girlsnightideas #blackgirltiktok #flowers

♬ flower day – jeanie

Flowers are often seen as symbolic of love and friendship, meaning that an evening spent creating beautiful bouquets can be a meaningful and unique way to mark a relationship. Plus, it’s very Instagrammable.

To prepare, you and your friends could head to your local supermarket or florist and pick out flowers to take home and arrange. Alternately, you can also get pressed flowers and arrange them in pretty frames for a cosy winter night activity. Together, you can create a masterpiece that you can take care of for as long as possible or even dry and press to keep forever. Roses are always a good choice, as are delicate peonies and daisies and dried flowers are an everlasting keepsake that will brighten up any home. 

@carly_holzner

Pressed flower frames was a 10/10 craft night in my book #bridgerton #craftnight #craftideas #girlsnight @Anusha Sen Gupta @☀️ @Abby @user2869353577990 @user7339459074053 @Jobin

♬ Bridgerton (Wildest Dreams) – The Theme System

7. Get Competitive at Game Night

@sisterscircleto

A competitive and fun Sisters Circle game night! #gamenight #toronto #muslimstiktok #muslimah #blackmuslimgirl #sisterscircleto

♬ Dandelions – Ruth B.

Whether it’s Mafia, Guess Who? or Twister, there’s nothing quite like a good game night to bring out your competitive side and laughs are almost always guaranteed on a night like this.

Plus, there’s a different game for everyone – if you prefer something wordy, charades or Articulate! are good choices to inspire your inner wordsmith. Or, if you want things to get feisty, the mafia is always a go-to for a night of fun drama. Just ensure you set some ground rules beforehand and, of course, no cheating!

Or, there’s even a selection of Islamic trivia games available to purchase online like this one from Salam Store, which has a variety of questions covering Prophets, the Qur’an and Islamic history. You can even combine a a painting activity with trivia night like Maisha did.

@maishasgallery

hosted a paint n play for the girls 💖 #islamictrivia #islamicgames #muslimgames #girlsnight #paintingparty #paintandsip #hijabifriends #muslimahtiktok #paintingprocess #islamicart #quranjournal #muslimgifts #muslimshop #wholesomedinner #girlsdinnernight

♬ trust Allah – stay high 4 tmrw

To foster meaningful conversations, Culture Mocktail offers a card game where you can connect with your cultural background and identity, and The Digital Sisterhood have a card game all about relationships.

8. Make Friendship Bracelets

@aqeelahugc

Make friendship bracelets ON A BUDGET? My friend and I went to Bling Bling over on Queen St West to make friendship bracelets. Being students and broke, we decided to stil to a budget of $20 in total. (We did not stick to the budget) they had so many charms from sanrio to anime, to random charms that will really bring your bracelet to life. This is a great activity if you are on a budget or want to have a nice cute date with your girls. Definitely going back again soon! #toronto #torontoactivities #torontotiktok #torontothingstodo #torontothingstodothisweekend #torontohijabi #hijabivlogs #dateideas #uniqueideas #uniquespots #torontouniqueevents #torontougc #torontougccontent #torontolife #friendactivities #friendshipbracelets #chainbracelets #charms #charmbracelets #charmbracelet #lovebracelet

♬ vibey birds of a feather – Jordan Greenwald

It’s official, we’re basically back in the 2000s as friendship bracelets are making their way back into the mainstream. Many of us will remember making and exchanging friendship bracelets on the school playground, so why not make some during your next night in with your loved ones?

Materials can be easily purchased at craft shops or online, and you can get as creative as you would like with a variety of colours and beads. Plus, if your love language is gift-giving, you could even make one for one of your friends in attendance as a thoughtful keepsake of your relationship.

9. Murder Mystery Night

@celinkax

10/10 ! 🤩 #murder #girlsnight #hosting #crime

♬ A Night Like This (Cha, Cha, Cha) – Post Big Band Salzburg (Dance Orchestra Stardance Formation)

Get ready to delve into your dark side for a murder mystery-themed night with friends. Pick a theme – it could be Old Hollywood with the untimely death of a budding actor, or make it masquerade-themed complete with masks – and create your story, complete with characters, settings and which guest will come to their demise.

Decor, fancy dress and themed food will always be welcomed on a night like this, so we recommend that you go all out for your murder mystery night!

10. Design Your Own T-Shirts

@j.xnah

It’s baby tee making night and you’re invited 😘 Girls Night Tips: 🫶🏼 I got all 3 tops from Target ($5) 🫶🏼 Use an actual iron haha I only had straighteners on hand 🫣 🫶🏼 You probably can only hand wash these #crafting #diy #besties #babytee #craft

♬ Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan

With the popularity of fast fashion, it can be difficult to find a unique item of clothing, which is why creating your own T-shirt is a unique way to express your inner fashion designer.

Grab a friend, some ethically-made plain T-shirts and pens or paints to design a trendy masterpiece. We recommend looking online, on sites like Pinterest, for inspiration and planning your design carefully in order to avoid waste.

No matter how intricate or abstract your design is, you can rest assured knowing that your creation will be one-of-a-kind. Plus, if you want to take your friendships to another level, matching T-shirts sound like a great idea.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged us to be hospitable and welcoming towards our guests. This sunnah encourages a sense of community and belonging, improving emotional and mental well-being for all. In a season where it may be easier to shut ourselves off from the cold outdoors, hosting night-ins can be the perfect opportunity to gather your loved ones for a memorable night at home.