Valentine's Day Decorating Tips

Vivacious Valentine’s Day decorations will sparkle up every room of your home and vanquish those mid-winter blahs.

• The front door is the perfect place to set a fresh new February mood, with a heart-shaped wreath, a large lacy ribbon tied in a bow or a swag of red, pink and purple flowers.

• On the dining room sideboard, assemble a grouping of beautifully wrapped little gifts – one for each member of the family or perhaps one for each of the days leading up to the 14th.

• Say it with music. Nothing saturates a space with strong emotion better than music. So, whether your heart beats to the rhythms of Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, Nora Jones, Ray Charles, Audra McDonald or Cole Porter, let your favorite love songs speak for you. Portable tape players fit just about anywhere, from a formal entry table in the foyer surrounded by valentines, to a shelf in the laundry room or basement workroom–where folding towels, matching socks or doing any household chore is much more fun when you’re singing along.

• In the bedroom, complement your existing décor with a pile of multi-colored, multi-textured heart-shaped pillows on the bed. Then, as a February 14 th surprise, treat yourself to a set of pink sheets and a box of bon-bons.

• Just for your own luxury and comfort, take a private holiday in the bathroom with rose-scented votive candles and rose petals scattered in a tub of bubbles.

• For the powder room, invest in a small but special set of guest towels with a Valentine’s Day theme. For a jolt of style try embroidered vintage linens in a modern décor, or strong, saturated solid colors that bring attention-grabbing contrast into a more traditional setting.

• In the den or living room, red sheeting tucked into place and tied with an occasional ribbon can turn a love seat into a real 3-D valentine.

• To reward yourself for all those acts of loving-kindness that you bestow upon your family and friends every day of the year, this is the time for a luscious display of red tulips right next to the kitchen sink to remind you that you are your own Valentine, too!

While red is always the color of choice for Valentine’s Day, you never have to limit yourself to just one shade. Reds can range from hot + orangey to cool + bluish. Your red might be rustic and earthy with a brownish cast or opulently and luxuriously purple. It might take on a gilded glow, or just a transparent blush of pink. Whether your valentine red is iridescent, opaque, shimmery or matte, quiet or bold…have a wonderful red-letter day!

Do you have any ideas for me? Please share on the Joan Asks You page.