Romantic Valentine's Day Decorating

Stephanie Smith

Whether you're going for the ultra romantic atmosphere in your Valentine's Day decorating, or for a light-hearted approach, we've got some ideas for you. Regardless of whether you're on your fourth date or your 30th year of marriage, Valentine's will always be a special day.

First of all, nothing says romance like soft lighting. Dimmer switches can do the trick, as well as candles which also give some warm ambiance to the room. Make sure to have your lighting planned so when you're celebrating with your sweetie you aren't rushing around to find more candles or trying to remember where you left those matches. Have everything set up beforehand so all you have to do when you enter the room is light the candles. This goes for food as well... have everything prepared ahead of time so you're not spending your romantic evening in front of the stove.

Flowers are also a great way to add a romantic feeling to a room, but be careful with this one. Don't overdo it with large bouquets. A small flower here and there is fine. You don't want to load up on roses only to find out that your sweetie has brought you a dozen more of what you've already purchased. If you want flowers, a gerbera here or a couple of pansies there will be perfect.

Don't get stuck in the red, pink and white decorating scheme. It's tempting to go all out when decorating for holidays and special occasions, but try to hold back a little on this one. There is such a thing as too much for Valentine's decorating and you don't want to scare away your date! A few splashes of festive color will go a long way in making an impression. Napkins, tablecloths, or colored candles are great places to start. For an alternative to red and pink, try using silver and gold accent pieces.

Now that we have the basics taken care of, lets plan out the evening... this depends to a large degree on what you and your significant other like to do. If you like fine cuisine, consider dressing up and dining in style with your best dinnerware. Add some romantic lighting and soft music and you're set. A great centerpiece for the romantic dinner involves putting pillar candles of different heights on a plate, with flower petals scattered around the base of the candles.

If watching movies is more your style, throw a picnic in front of the television. Move furniture out of the way so you have room to spread out a red and white checkered tablecloth on the floor. Then pack a picnic basket with your favorite finger foods and lounge away the evening on soft pillows.

Want to reconnect with your loved one? Try a twist on the movie theme and put up a tent in your living room. Climb inside with your sweetie and your picnic basket and zip out the rest of the world for the evening. Everything else will seem miles away and you can get some quiet time to talk about little nothings or big everythings. Don't try candles with this idea though... a flashlight will be much safer!

For many couples, smiles and laughter can be more romantic than a serious and perfectly coordinated evening. Spice up your romantic decor with your own personality instead of going for the picture-perfect look. Not everyone is comfortable with a formal dinner, so don't feel like that's your only option for a romantic evening.