Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to decorate your home with romantic and festive touches. Whether you’re hosting a Valentine’s Day party or making a cozy setting for an intimate dinner for two, these decorating ideas will help you transform your home into a lovely love nest.
Introducing Our Big Book of Valentine’s Day Decorating Inspiration
Valentine’s Day comes once a year, so it’s worth doing it right! Decorating for this lovely holiday is a great way to set the mood for romance. From easy DIY crafts to quick store-bought accents, our expansive guide offers 50+ ideas to make your home festive and charming for you and your sweetheart.
Get ready for romance with decor that charms the senses – think soft lighting, fresh florals, tasty treats, and textiles in rich reds, pinks, and purples. We’ll cover every space and detail, frommantels, walls, and entryways to tablescapes and bedrooms. With so many options, you’re sure to find ideas that fit your style and budget.
Follow our decorating guide and you’ll create an ambiance that is undeniably lovely and romantic! A decorated home sets the tone for couples to connect and make new memories. The delight is in the details – keep reading for inspiration and step-by-step tips to decorate for a warm and inviting Valentine’s Day at home.
Setting the Mood with Lighting
Lighting instantly affects the ambiance in a space. For Valentine’s Day, think soft, warm, and inviting. Here are some tips for lighting that sets a romantic mood:
- Use plenty of candles – Group candles of varying heights on mantels, tables, windowsills, and other surfaces. Go for traditional reds, pinks, and whites, or mix in other pretty colors. Arrange candlesticks and hurricane vases for dramatic height.
- Dim the lights – Lower the lights (or use dimmers if you have them) for intimate ambiance. Overhead lighting can be too harsh.
- Try ribbon lanterns – Wrap ribbon around paper lanterns for a soft glow. Hang them at varying heights alone or clustered in groups.
- Light the fireplace – If you have a fireplace, a glowing fire is very cozy and romantic. Lay pillows and blankets nearby for cuddling!
- Use twinkle lights – For a twinkly effect, drape string lights along mantels, headboards, railings, and fronts of cabinets and bookshelves.
- Set out luminaries – Line pathways and entry steps with white paper bags lit from within by candles or fairy lights.
Decorating Your Entryway for Valentine’s Day
The entryway sets the tone when guests arrive, so be sure to decorate it! Here are some easy ideas:
- Hang a festive wreath on the front door in red, white, or pink. Accent with ribbon and hearts.
- Display fresh floral bouquets on console tables or shelves for pops of color.
- Set out a romantic-looking candle in a hurricane vase on the floor near the door.
- Toss rose petals on the floor right inside the front door for a dramatic touch.
- Add a valentine’s doormat for a themed and welcoming feel underfoot.
- Arrange a little vase of flowers or a box of chocolates on a side table or bottom stair riser.
- Hang a valentine garland along the staircase railing or over an entry console.
- Display stacked red or pink boxes and hat boxes of varying sizes tied with ribbon.
Decorating the Living Room for Valentine’s Day
As the main gathering place, the living room deserves special attention. Here are romantic living room decorating ideas:
- Drape lights along the fireplace mantel and shelves for soft illumination.
- Adorn the mantel with fresh greenery, candles, and clusters of red berries.
- Hang a valentine pillow and cozy red throw blanket on the sofa.
- Arrange blooming azaleas, tulips, or other flowers on the coffee table and side tables.
- Place stacked coffee table books with red spines out for color.
- Set out heart-shaped dishes filled with chocolates, candies, or more rose petals.
- Use a table runner in red or pink and scatter heart confetti.
- Display a vase of roses or lilies on a pedestal or table for a dramatic pop.
Romantic Touches for the Bedroom
The bedroom should feel especially cozy and romantic on Valentine’s Day. Transform it with these easy ideas:
- Toss rose petals across the bedspread and along the floor near the bed.
- Layer your bed with plush red, pink, and white blankets and throw pillows.
- Hang sheer curtains to soften the room and filter light romantically.
- Arrange a vase of red or pink roses on the nightstand or dresser.
- Place stacks of books on the nightstand to elevate candle displays.
- Hang twinkle lights or paper lanterns around the bed frame.
- Light the room with clusters of votive candles and candlesticks on the dresser and shelves.
- Sprinkle heart confetti at the foot of the bed and along the top of the headboard.
- Lay chocolates or rose petals on the pillows for a romantic surprise.
Setting a Beautiful Valentine’s Day Table
Your tablescape is guaranteed to wow your date with these chic and romantic touches:
- Use a tablecloth or runner in red, pink, or white. Scatter heart confetti on top.
- Select red or pink taper candles as your centerpiece, surrounded by fresh roses.
- Fold cloth napkins into heart shapes and tuck in sprigs of rosemary.
- Set a small vase of flowers at each place setting for an intimate feel.
- Use white dishes with red charger plates layered underneath for pops of color.
- Incorporate metallic accents like gold candlesticks, silver serving pieces, and mercury glass vases.
- Tie pink or red ribbons around flatware rolls, menu cards, or napkin rings.
- Arrange floating candles and rose petals in glass bowls of water for whimsical centerpieces.
Decorating Your Fireplace Mantel for Valentine’s Day
The mantel serves as the focal point above the fireplace, so decorate it beautifully for the holiday! Ideas include:
- Arrange fresh red, pink, or white flowers in the center in a tall vase or cluster of small vases.
- Hang a valentine wreath embellished with ribbons, hearts, greenery, and flowers.
- Display a pair of red candles in gleaming candlesticks or hurricane vases.
- Lay a garland of artificial roses interspersed with LED lights along the length of the mantel.
- Sprinkle faux rose petals across the mantel for color and romantic style.
- Group stacked hardcover books with red covers facing out on each end.
- Arrange gleaming gold-rimmed platters or trays across the mantel.
- Top the mantel with 3 to 5 glass hurricane vases of varying heights holding candles.
- Hang a macrame heart wall hanging or heart-shaped wooden plank above the mantel.
Festive Outdoor Valentine’s Day Decorations
Don’t forget your front porch, patio, yard, and outdoor areas! Decorate them with:
- A big red or pink bow tied around a column or railing.
- Heart-shaped wreaths and garlands hung on doors, railings, and lighting.
- Pink or red balloons tied to an outdoor chair or railing.
- Heart pillows or cushions on outdoor chairs and chaises.
- Fairy lights or lanterns illuminating trees, bushes, and fences.
- Heart-shaped flower planters filled with flowering plants or arrange faux flowers.
- Heart stakes stuck in plant beds or pots of mini roses or succulents.
- Chalkboard signs near the walkway with cute valentine’s greetings.
More Valentine’s Day Decorating Ideas
For more inspiration, here are additional ways to deck out your home in holiday style:
- Decorate a side table with a lace doily, a romantic framed photo, and a vase of flowers.
- In the kitchen, hang a set of 3 heart plates or bells over a doorway.
- Place heart-shaped boxes filled with candies around the house.
- Tape valentine’s postcards along the wall in a collage in your hallway.
- Hide secret love notes around the house for your partner to find throughout the day.
- Frame vintage valentine’s cards from past years and hang in a gallery wall display.
- Fill apothecary jars with candy hearts, chocolate kisses, or red licorice twists.
- Scatter heart confetti at the base of plants and on shelves for pops of color.
- Decorate a cake stand or tiered platter with iced cookies, cupcakes, macarons, or other red and pink desserts.
Shop These Valentine’s Day Decor Essentials
To help you get started, here are some must-have decor items to purchase:
- Fresh flowers: Roses, tulips, lilies, carnations, daisies
- Heart garlands: Banners, pennant strings, beads
- Candles: Glass jars, taper candles, votives, tea lights
- Table linens: Red or pink tablecloths, runners, napkins
- Vases and containers: Glass vases, ceramic pots, galvanized buckets
- Platters and trays: Metal, wood, white ceramic for candles and floral arrangements
- Balloons: Red, pink, and white balloons with ribbon
- Bows: Adhesive-back and wired ribbon bows for accenting
- Boxed chocolates: Heart boxes, Valentine’s chocolate sampler packs
Valentine’s Day Decorating FAQs
Get answers to some common decorating questions for the holiday:
How early should I decorate for Valentine’s Day?
- You can start decorating 1-2 weeks in advance. The beginning of February is a good time to begin so you can enjoy the decor all month.
What are good DIY Valentine’s crafts?
- Make decorated mason jars, flower arrangements, paper flower wreaths, strung garlands, candle holders from wine glasses, and painted wood signs or canvases.
What can I use if fresh flowers are too expensive?
- Opt for faux flowers, fabric roses, paper flowers, flower picks, or greenery accents which cost less than fresh blooms.
What do I do with decor after Valentine’s Day?
- Store nicely for next year or repurpose decor for other occasions. Candles, vases, linens, and wreaths can be used year-round.
Where should I hang and display Valentine’s decorations?
- Mantels, shelves, console tables, countertops, bookcases, walls, cabinets, banisters, doors, fireplaces, and entryways are great display spots.
How can I save money on Valentine’s decor?
- Shop sales at craft stores after the holiday, make DIYs, reuse what you have, buy faux flowers instead of fresh, and find printable decor online.
Get in the Valentine’s Spirit with Festive Decor
However you choose to celebrate, decorating your home for Valentine’s Day helps set a romantic ambiance. With so many affordable and easy DIY home decor ideas, you can infuse sweet holiday style throughout your space. Let our guide inspire you to create a warm, welcoming love nest this Valentine’s Day!
