Valentine's Day is just around the corner so why not add a little romance to your decor? A few romantic touches will show your significant other how much they mean to you. It doesn't take much to show you care.
After a long day at work, your loved one will enjoy relaxing in a romantic bathroom decorated for Valentine's Day. Rose petals for the bathtub, a new luxurious bath sheet, spa slippers and oversized bath soap will surely endear him or her to you. Scented candles and perhaps a bottle of wine will set the tone for a relaxing soak in the tub.
If your better half needs a place of solace in the home you can create a serene reading space with a comfy chair, bookshelves or a basket of books, a great reading lamp and a cozy throw. Or, if your partner is like me, a writing desk with lovely stationary, stamps and quality pens with which to journal or write letters. Set this vignette by a window with a great view, a fireplace or any other cozy corner of the home. Creating a place to getaway from it all, even in the middle of the home can be a loving gesture.
If you have a fireplace with a mantle you can create a Valentine's Day display on the mantle using various items from the home. Favourite photos that invoke fond memories set in frames among candles and fresh flowers will make your partner gush. Go for the real romantic touch by using red candles, jars of cinnamon hearts or candy hearts along with your photos. Hang a garland of paper hearts along the mantle for added romance. You can make paper hearts using red doilies, card stock or craft paper or you can print some off of your computer and cut them out. Use varying sizes for an old-fashioned touch. A garland of heart-shaped cookie cutters could also work.
Red roses are synonymous with Valentine's Day and are sure to bring a smile to your sweetheart. You can purchase less expensive roses and use the petals in a bath or strewn on the bed as a romantic gesture. Long stem roses are costly, if you're on a tight budget, one single rose in an appropriately sized vase and a romantic greeting card will still be a welcome and affordable gift for your valentine.
A bouquet of unexpected flowers, such as red carnations, is still a loving gesture for your better half. Purchase a large bouquet and be sure that she/he has a vase into which they will fit, or better yet, take the time to create a lovely display of flowers using clear hurricanes, small bud vases, mason jars or what-have-you and fill an entire tabletop, dresser or accent table with red blooms.
Purchase an inexpensive chalkboard and write loving messages to your valentine. Hang it in the kitchen and continue this throughout the year. Or you can purchase magnetic letters which you can create loving notes for your partner on the refrigerator.
Instead of flowers, consider purchasing an exotic plant such as an orchid for your valentine. Fresh flowering plants are always a welcome addition to the decor.
Candles always create a romantic ambience and can be used in the decor throughout the year. Use inexpensive tea lights to create a flaming heart or spell out 'I love you' or 'Be mine' on a tabletop surface. If you're worried about safety (if, say, you have small children around) you could use flameless candles for this project. When the lights are dimmed the flameless candles are quite realistic.
Frame your loved one's favourite song lyrics or sheet music for Valentine's Day. Your wedding song would be a good choice here. Have a photo of the two of you enlarged and placed in a decorative frame. These are items that can be hung in the home any time of the year and are a reminder he or she is loved. Create a romantic canvas. You can purchase canvases at most dollar stores and even if you're not a painter you can glue on letters or stenciled letters to create a message of love.
Buy simple cotton pillowcases (or use ones you have) and use fabric paint to write special quotes or words of love on the large open hem end. I've used this idea for Christmas presents and they were always well received. The fabric paint is easy to use and once dry, is washable. This is a really simple project with a personal touch. You could create a pair of pillowcases with His and Hers on it, or a quote like "To sleep, perchance to dream" by William Shakespeare. Another cute idea is a key on one case and a heart on the other. A message such as 'I love to watch you sleep' is sure to be well received. Get creative.
An old-fashioned Valentine's display can be a lot of fun. Use sepia toned photos in vintage frames, mason jars as tea-light holders, set the table with vintage dish ware and fill a pitcher or vase with red flowers. Use a small section of a split birch log to create a long tea light holder. Simply drill out wells large enough to hold a tea light on the rounded side of the log. Use simple cotton or jute string to create a message on a framed canvas. Dip lengths of string into a flour and water mixture (thin enough to be like white glue) and place it in your desired shape or words onto the canvas. A simple heart or Xs and Os is fine. Allow to dry, then present to your loved one or hang on the wall as a Valentine's Day surprise.
Surprise him or her by hanging a note that says 'I love your face' or other messages of love on a bathroom mirror. Spell out messages of love using cinnamon hearts or candy hearts. Using a tabletop mirror as the base will enhance the effect.
Valentine's Day is a wonderful opportunity to show your partner they are loved and cherished. Don't miss the chance to tell your partner you care.
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