Find Relationships With “Home Depot Dating”
Can I go shopping for a life partner? According to the latest TikTok trend, it could be simple: ” Home Depot Dates ,” which has over 6 million views on the social media app, first began as a video of single women looking for suitable bachelors among hammers, paints, and screwdrivers at a hardware store. Their mission was to strike up a conversation with fellow shoppers to set up a “cute date” or at least learn a few DIY home decor tips. While the concept sounds a little “try hard,” as the Gen Z crowd might say, the idea that we can meet a potential date in the real world while doing what we love is enticing, especially if you’re suffering from dating app fatigue.
“The concept of Home Depot dating is really that we are traveling the world all the time, running errands, going to restaurants, hanging out with friends, and that someone who is compatible with us can be attracted to those same types of relationships. places just like us,” says Heather Shannon, sex therapist and host of the Ask A Sex Therapist podcast. “So you don’t have to just focus on dating apps and miss out on all those personal opportunities while you’re bored scrolling and thinking about how people should put more effort into their profiles. Home Depot is a great example of how to find someone IRL compliant: two people who enjoy home improvement and DIY projects will be drawn there, so you might as well strike up a conversation in the hardware department and see what what it will lead to.”
If spending time at Home Depot isn’t for you, Shannon shares how you can use the new dating trend to your advantage.
Why meeting someone in a place that matches your interests is a great idea
Do you like tennis? Take tennis lessons. Do you love animals? Become a volunteer at an animal shelter. Passionate about plants? Remember to visit your local plant store often. Bonus from this? You can do what you love and at the same time meet the love of your life.
“This is what we call alignment,” Shannon says. “When you live your best life and do things that light you up from the inside, you are going to attract other people who are living their best lives and you will also meet people who share your interests and passions. It gives you instant compatibility and something to talk about with each other.”
How to strike up a conversation with a stranger
Used to swiping and texting, most of us are a little nervous when it comes to meeting an attractive stranger in real life. Shannon suggests making things easier by asking a question.
“It could be as simple as, ‘Hey, do you know where I can find XYZ in the store?’ You can ask them for their opinion on a shirt in a clothing store, or if they’ve heard a certain record in a vinyl store,” Shannon suggests. “At Home Depot, you can ask them if they know how to properly hang a picture on a brick wall, for example. Also, since it’s become a trend now, you can even joke about “dating at Home Depot” and see if they’re really here for a home improvement project, or if they’re there because they heard about the trend. Maybe it’s even a way to find out if they’re single.”
Another way to strike up a conversation? Try to help them if they seem stuck in a decision and may need help to choose something. You can say something like, “This color will look great on you!” or “Personally, I would choose white tiles.”
What are the pitfalls associated with using something like Home Depot Dating?
Yes, you could potentially meet someone great at Home Depot or elsewhere, but you need to make sure you visit these places because you genuinely want to, not because you’re strategically pushing things. Shannon’s advice? Be less attached to the outcome and just be open.
“Keep it loose and let your bliss lead the way,” she says. “Let everything go organically. Before, online dating did not exist, and then, when they first appeared, people were suspicious of them. Everyone met in person. Now that everyone is meeting online, the opposite has happened and we have become less open to meeting in person or even forgotten about it as an option. So go to the places you love and be open to being friendly and starting a conversation with no further goals. You’ll know it when you click and feel the spark.”
Don’t be afraid to expose yourself
Whether you’re visiting Home Depot or standing in line at your local coffee shop, Shannon says the dating trend is a good reminder that “you can meet someone compatible anywhere, and we’re not necessarily in charge of how and where it happens. . By being open and understanding that this can happen anywhere, anytime, we increase our chances of finding a great match.” While she doesn’t think you should completely ditch dating apps, she does recommend that you take breaks and focus on personal networking events, conferences, live performances, volunteering, shopping, and yes, Home Depot.
“Don’t hold back,” Shannon says. “If you think someone is cute or you’re curious about them (or their DIY project), don’t censor yourself. The most genuine and organic thing in this case would be to let this attraction and curiosity manifest itself.