Decorating Your Home for Valentine’s Day
Picture it – your Christmas decorations have all been packed away for a while now, the house is looking a little sad, and you’re still in the middle of winter with cold temperatures and not much sunlight. Let’s be honest, February can be a bit of a downer sometimes. Springtime and sunshine are still a month or two away, and you need something to celebrate to lift everyone’s spirits. Enter Valentine's Day. With its warm, rich colors and the obvious theme of love, February 14th comes just at the right time to brighten our lives!
Why We Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Feel free to skip ahead to the decorating tips, but, if you’re interested, here’s a little bit of background on Valentine’s Day and how it got started! In terms of history, there are essentially two camps for the classic holidays we know and love – the old old holidays and the newer ones. The newer holidays include 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and even Thanksgiving because each of these holidays were started in the US, which is only about two and a half centuries old. The old old holidays, on the other hand, are the ones that have roots way back in history, like Christmas, Easter, and New Years. Valentine’s Day – though not as old as those three examples – falls into the older camp of holidays, with roots going back to the 5th century.
There’s a lot of debate surrounding the origin of this February holiday, but, like many other holidays, including Christmas, it most likely began as a combination of the Roman festival of love and fertility called Lupercalia and the Christian feast honoring a man called Saint Valentine. Though there were several, one of the Saint Valentines from that time period was a pastor when the Roman emperor decreed that soldiers were forbidden to marry, hoping that this would keep the army’s focus on fighting rather than on coming home to their families. According to legend, Valentine defied the emperor by secretly performing marriages for soldiers, in spite of the decree. He was found out and martyred on February 14th. Regardless of the exact details of the story, Valentine’s Day has been associated with love for centuries, celebrating its significance in our lives in all its forms – romantic, platonic, and familial.
Getting Started: Colors & Themes
Before you start setting things out and hanging things up, first you need to decide what color palette and theme you want to use. Do you want your decorations to be a little more classy and refined, or, with little kids at home, are you shooting for a more fun and colorful theme? Here are a few ideas for your Valentine’s vibe!
Classy – Red & Gold. If you’re going for a more sophisticated look, opt for this combo. The red is the most refined and romantic of the typical three Valentine’s colors – pink, white, and red – like a chic red cocktail dress or a dozen red roses. And though you could go for silver instead, gold brings out the warmth of the red all the more and pairs with it beautifully.
Fun – Pink & White. If you’re going for a fun feeling for your Valentine’s Day decor, really any bright colors will do! Think of the rainbow of brights in a box of sweetheart candies, from purple to yellow to blue. If you do go for a range of colors, just be sure to incorporate them in lots of heart shapes to keep your theme clear. Or just highlight pinks and whites above the rest to maintain that classic feel.
Unique – Pastels. This color palette is a great option if you’re going for a look that’s a little less traditional. Incorporating pastel pinks, lavenders, or yellows brings the anticipation of springtime and feels a bit more related to the love of family and friends than romantic love. Pastels look lovely in any context, but they can be an especially good fit for a Galentines party!
A theme can help unify the look of your decor, tying all the spaces together in a coherent genre, but a little mixing and matching never hurts either! Once you’ve chosen your theme (or chosen not to have a particular theme), now it’s time to start decorating.
Where to Start Decorating
Whether you have two storeys to cover or just a few rooms to deck out, you have to start somewhere. Here are the three easiest places to begin your decorating and some ideas for each area.
Front Door
The front door is a great place to start decorating because it can be enjoyed by you, your guests, and your neighbors! This is the first thing people will see when they come over or pass by your home, and it’s a pretty easy box to check. A wreath is a good place to start, and there are tons of options in this department! Stores like Target and Walmart will always have good deals on seasonal wreaths, or you can find nicer options on Etsy or Williams Sonoma. You can even make your own, like this flower wreath or this one made of playing cards. In addition to a wreath, you can also dress up your welcome mat with some festive fabric underneath as a frame, or you can buy a new one for the season. It doesn’t take much to bring your front door to the next level!
Kitchen
After your front door, we think your kitchen should be the next stop on your decorating day. Home with Heather suggests starting small, with themed hand towels and a heart-shaped bowl filled with chocolates! You can incorporate holiday dishes or napkins, and don’t forget a cute tablecloth for your kitchen table. Whether it’s a disposable one from the Dollar Tree or something a little more durable like this pink checkered tablecloth from Amazon, it’s an easy way to bring color and festivity to a space where you and your family probably spend a lot of time!
Living Room
Here’s where you can get a little more creative! The living room is where people relax and hang out, so you’ll want to give this room at least a little special flair for Valentine’s Day. Think heart-shaped throw pillows or color-themed blankets. Get a garland (or make one!) for the mantle or put a pretty centerpiece on the coffee table. Adding decor to your living room for this winter holiday can help to bring some coziness and brighten up one of the darker and colder months of the year.
Bonus Ideas
Once you’ve covered your basics, you might not want to stop! Here are a few more ideas to get your house looking its best for Valentine’s.
Scatter red, white, & pink balloons
Or confetti!
Or even faux flower petals
Make a special display of wedding photos, or special moments with your loved ones
Change out your wall art for themed pictures or sayings
Add extra garlands & wreaths
Or just buy a bunch of beautiful fresh flowers!
And if you’re really all in, go for the balloon arch.
Next up is Easter! Look out for that post soon, and check out other posts and blogs like this one at the links below.
