Sometimes celebrating Valentine’s day is complicated. Normally the 14th of February happens during the week, in a month of cold weather, with no nearby holidays that give us some time to prepare something spectacular… that’s why many people choose an intimate and simple celebration at home. However, staying at home doesn’t mean that you can’t create a special environment for the people you love. Read on to discover five very simple ways to prepare your home for Valentine’s Day … with the five senses!
Touch
Hearing
Smell
Sight
Taste
Touch
Most experts agree that romantic decoration has a lot more to do with what makes you feel, than with what you actually see. Your decoration has to evoke all those feelings you want to have in your home, with the people you really care about, and the best way to do that is with different fabrics.
Put soft and warm blankets on the sofas and chairs, fluff out the cushions, cover the floor in rugs, and use silk and velvet in the bedroom. If you are lucky enough to have a four-poster bed, take the opportunity to create a canopy with translucent fabrics. Also, make sure the temperature is pleasant, avoiding the cold of February, but without turning your house into a sauna.
The goal is to turn your house into a comfortable and attractive place, so that you definitely prefer staying in for the night.
Hearing
Music and romanticism almost always go hand in hand, although each person has their tastes and each couple has their history. Create a Valentine’s playlist that you know is going to be special, and let it play at low volume to set the mood on the house.
Also make sure the TV is turned off and your mobile is silent, or even turned off too. If you’re going to have a romantic date at home, the last thing you want is for an inappropriate call to distract you, or to be constantly checking your texts. Take this moment to disconnect, and focus on the people that really matter.
Smell
We have already mentioned it in our entries on home staging and decoration; smell is usually easy to forget in these situations, and it’s one of the most important senses to make a place comfortable.
Start by cleaning the house well before preparing anything, to prevent any bad smell from interrupting the evening. Then, use scented candles (which will also give the most pleasant lighting) or if you don’t want to play with fire, incense or essential oils.
If you are good at cooking, or have time to do it, prepare a meal that fills the house with a pleasant smell, such as apple pie, cookies or even bread.
Lastly, we couldn’t forget about the flowers. If you can get fresh flowers, they can be a very good option to give fragrance to your home on Valentine’s Day.
Taste
Food can also be used to decorate, and you don’t have to be a master chef to manage this. Of course, a table set with an impressive dinner can turn your house into a five-star restaurant, but not everyone has the time and / or desire to do that.
You can put fruit or chocolates to snack on a glass dish or bowl, or if you prefer savoury meals, canapés, which are very easy to prepare, eat, and enjoy. A good bottle of champagne or wine can round off the evening. And don’t be afraid of pulling out the good tableware!
Sight.
This is the first sense we think about when talking about decoration, and that’s why we have left for the end. All the elements of which we’ve spoken in the previous entries should be pleasant to the eye as well, and add to the intimate and romantic atmosphere that you want to achieve.
Red is considered the colour of love, and is usually a safe choice when decorating your home for Valentine’s Day. If red is not your thing, however, think of other warm colours: Pink, orange, gold, they will all work to create the atmosphere you’re looking for.
Flowers also play a role here, since not only have a pleasant smell, but also look good in any home. You can also use petals to decorate any surface, if you don’t mind cleaning afterwards.
As for lighting, in addition to candles, you can also use fairy lights, such as those used in Christmas, which give a soft and warm light to the rooms.
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