Valentine’s Day isn’t really a holiday that we… decorate for. I mean, I know people do! But the last time I remember Valentine’s day decor it was my teacher putting up window clings in Elementary school– not really the vibe for our house. Still, I’ve found simple, subtle ways to romanticize our home for February’s pending holiday (See all our favorite ways to romanticize life at home here). Indulge in one or two of these sweet touches, and get in the mood for love.
Glass Candy Jars | Framed Heart Picture | Kitchen Sources
Stock a pretty glass jar (These ones are only $8!) with Valentine’s Day candy. This is my favorite kind of functional decor because it’s edible! I put Conversation Hearts and sour lips in our jars, but I can already foresee refilling these with Hot Tamales or Swedish Fish. I put these jars on our kitchen shelves and have been enjoy the pop of color — and the handful of sweets every time I walk by.
Preserving a sweet memory in a heart frame makes for in-the-moment Valentine’s Day decor — but I’m here to tell you that you can keep this cutie hung or on a table easel all year round (I personally have three of these hanging in my house).
Tie a Ribbon On It
Here’s another hot tip for you: Get some “Valentine’s Day” ribbon — I got black hearts and “I love you” — and keep them in an easily accessible drawer. When you have ribbon, nearly everything feels like a gift. I tied some ribbon around a little cookie bag in the girls’ lunches, and I tied another ribbon around the Martinelli’s that I brought to my sister’s. No need for a full-on wrapping job — this is the sweetest little touch.
Decorating can be a fully sensory experience! I don’t know about you, but we’re still burning down our Christmas candles over here. So, I starting burning a new candle — “Love Potion” — and just walking into the room feels differently. This one has sweet/floral/citrus notes, and the new smell signals a new season and a new celebration. Grab a little candle pedestal for a special touch.
Valentine’s Frame TV Art | Bonus Room Sources
Picking a new painting for our Frame TV could practically be a reward in our house. Our girls love to change the picture, and as we coast into February, the images are getting more and more lovey dovey :) I’m rounding up a few favorites for you here.
It doesn’t have to have a heart on it! I hung some red-striped tea towels on the oven door and set the table with maroon linen napkins (leftovers from Christmas, honestly). I also raided the linen closet for pink sheets for the beds — and pillowcases with romantic florals.
Faux Peonies | Vase | Candle Pedestal | Candle | Lamp (similar) | Nightstand (similar) | Gold Trinket Box (similar)
Grab some fresh flowers at Trader Joe’s. Roses are a classic, but fresh tulips are really sweet. Shh… I also got some faux peonies and spritzed them with a little perfume (*wink*).
Swap out your taper candles for a sweet Valentine’s Day hue. I found an ombré set that goes from peach to pink to lavender, and I keep moving them around the house for a romantic rose-colored glow. Hot tip: Swapping out your taper candles for a seasonal or festive color is just about the easiest and most inexpensive way to “celebrate” anything.
Red Plates (similar) | Gold Candlestick | Brass Candlesticks | Ombre Tapers | Dining Room Sources
One of my favorite “hacks” is to switch out the salad/appetizer plates for something festive/seasonal: bunnies at Easter, Christmas trees in December… and for Valentine’s Day, I look for something red or red-rimmed or something with a little heart on it. You can keep your everyday table setting, and just switch out the salad plate! Everything looks “decorated.”
Get a heart-shaped cookie cutter, and start baking. Never underestimate the enthusiasm behind freshly baked cookies on the counter after school. Bonus points if the kids get to ice them. Save a few on a pretty plate, and enjoy even more edible decor.
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
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Really great ideas! As always.
If you have a new writer, have them double check their work. Just looking out.