Home Depot Dating Is TikTok’s Answer To Dating Fatigue, And It’s Kind Of Brilliant

To say dating sucks is basically the understatement of the century. Dating apps are cesspools of the worst the single (and sometimes not-so-single) scene has to offer, and the dates you do actually go on tend to end in disaster. It’s no wonder so many of us have dating fatigue. Thankfully, TikTok has an answer for that: Home Depot dating.

Uh…what is Home Depot dating?

@daterightstuff

Waiting for you ladies!! #dating #datingapp #homedepot #homedepotdating #single

♬ original sound – xxtristanxo

It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Instead of swiping through Tinder or Hinge, you put your phone down and head to the home improvement store. You wander through the aisles looking at the 47 different shades of deck paint on offer. Or, maybe you check out the lighting fixtures or power washers. The point is, you’re there, and so are other single people, presumably.

So, how does going to Home Depot relate to dating? Well, you use the store like a dating app. Instead of scrolling, you’re strolling and keeping your eyes peeled for anyone of interest. If you see someone, you strike up a conversation, maybe exchange numbers, and voila. You’ve got a date this weekend.

Does this actually work?

@daterightstuff

Waiting for you ladies!! #dating #datingapp #homedepot #homedepotdating #single

♬ original sound – xxtristanxo

Given that Home Depot dating has been around since 2021 and is still going strong two years later, it seems like it might.

Take, for instance, Janna Tak from California. She was seeking a “doer” and went to her local Home Depot “looking for a husband.” It’s unclear whether or not she actually found someone, but the idea was genius enough that it took off on TikTok and more and more people have been trying it ever since.

Some people take Home Depot dating very seriously and follow a very specific strategy when heading to their local store and grabbing that oversized orange cart. Going early in the morning to catch the construction workers or on Friday nights when weekend DIYers are shopping for supplies are just two tips people suggest. Others say certain sections of the store are more successful than others, with the plant area being a favorite.

Home Depot actually loves the idea

@homedepot

Find love in unexpected aisles 🧡 #homedepot #homedepotdating #meetcute #fyp

♬ Disney-style fanfare-style BGM – harryfaoki

They’re well aware of the TikTok trend and support it fully. They share videos of their mascots encountering “love in unexpected aisles” and even share store-themed date night ideas on their account. It might be a bit late to bag a sweetheart for this Valentine’s Day, but there’s no time like the present to start preparing for next year!

Jennifer has been the managing editor of Bolde since its launch in 2014. Before that, she was the founding editor of HelloGiggles and also worked as an entertainment writer for Bustle and Digital Spy. Her work has been published in Bon Appetit, Decider, Vanity Fair, The New York TImes, and many more.