With Valentine’s Day on its way, there’s no better time to layer some romance into your rooms. Click through for 25 decorating ideas pulled from the pages of House & Home. While some require a bit of commitment (for a pretty look that lasts), most are simple — but just as sweet!
1. Fill a vase with sculptural branches. In Genevieve Makinson’s dining room, branches studded with blossoms are a refreshingly contemporary alternative to the usual floral arrangement.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2017
2. Frame a pretty botanical sketch. An artful sketch — leaned casually on a mantel or tabletop — is another fresh spin on traditional flowers (bonus: no trimming or watering required!).
Photographer: Chris Tubbs
Source: House & Home October 2014
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
3. Bring life to your ensuite. Nestle inexpensive, fresh-cut blooms in with your prettiest toiletries and candles to turn an everyday space into a spa-like destination.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home June 2016
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
4. Layer in plush velvet. This living room, designed by H&H favorite Anne Hepfer, shows how just a few colorful velvet pillows can add instant romance to a neutral space.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2014
Designer: Anne Hepfer
5. Set up a glam bar. Turn a console into a romantic spot to prep post-dinner cocktails with a pretty metallic tray and edited selection of barware.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: Best Decorating Special Issue 2012
Designer: Joel Bray
6. Mix up your place settings. Contrasting elements such as deep rose water glasses are all you need to elevate neutral dishes and linens on a Valentine’s Day dinner table.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Silvana D’Addazio
7. Work in some sculpture. Whether you hang a photo of a period sculpture or invest in a contemporary piece, you’ll find lifelike art never fails to add allure to a room.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2015
Designer: Sloan Mauran
8. Paint your ceiling a romantic hue. To create a soft, inviting envelope — that lasts long after Valentine’s Day has passed — roll on a couple coats of barely-there blush.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2013
Designer: Stacey Smithers and Sarah Hartill
9. Layer lilac on lilac. If pink skews too saccharine for your taste, consider a Valentine’s table dressed with dishes, glassware and linens in varying shades of moody lilac.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home May 2014
Designer: Stacey Smithers
10. Install delicate-colored tile. Break free from the comfort of all-white, and go for lavender tile in the bathroom for a lasting look that’s equal parts romantic and refreshing.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2014
Designer: Silvana D’Addazio
11. Hang a pretty, yet powerful canvas. A floral painting rendered in bold, abstract strokes — such as this piece by artist Bobbie Burgers — makes a romantic, yet thoroughly modern statement.
Photographer: Nathan Schroder
Source: House & Home November 2016
Designer: Michelle Lloyd-Bermann and Christine Ralphs
12. Embrace a plum palette. Deep purple walls lend an undeniably rich feel to rooms. Not prepared to roll on such an intense hue? Set out a few plum throw pillows and accessories instead.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2012
Designer: Joel Bray
13. Add drama with black candles. While crisp white tapers are a timeless pick, we love the dramatic, unexpected look of inky black candles on a dinner-for-two tablescape.
Photographer: Chris Tubbs
Source: House & Home October 2014
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
14. Showcase nature’s beauty. Hang a series of vintage botanical studies or pressed dried flowers over a headboard for a touch of subtle, all-season romance.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Scott Yetman
15. Cover a bench in botanical fabric. Revive a ho-hum seat with a bucolic print. (Our advice? Consider patterns from high-end textile brands, since this project won’t require a lot of fabric.)
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2016
Designer: Rachel Fox
16. Mount a no-sew canopy. With a swath of patterned fabric, and a bit of elbow grease, its simple to turn a basic bedroom into a whimsical escape. (Click here for detailed instructions.)
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home July 2016
Designer: Stacey Smithers
17. Frame the view. Another way to layer romantic pattern into a room is with drapery; a branch-and-berry print will look beautiful all year long.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home June 2016
Designer: Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal
18. Create a rosy glow. Soft, blush-tinted sheers — like the ones in this elegant space by Katherine Newman — cast a warm, flattering glow that’s perfect for a dining room or bedroom.
Photographer: Tony Soluri
Source: House & Home April 2013
Designer: Katherine Newman
19. Add a luxe feature wall. A panel of nature-inspired wallpaper or hand-painted mural will transform your bathroom into an end-of-day escape.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home February 2013
Designer: Theresa Casey
20. Hang an antique mirror. Swap out a standard mirror for a handsome metallic version — such as this romantic, bird-topped piece — to set off a powder room.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal
21. Pick up some plush floor pillows. Channel this sitting room’s luxurious look with a set of generous floor pillows that beckon guests to linger after dinner.
Photographer: Chris Tubbs
Source: House & Home October 2014
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
22. Toss on some faux fur. A manmade fur throw adds an extra layer of coziness and a shot of rich texture to a bedroom.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Sam Sacks
23. Commit to saturated color. Ready to take the plunge? Paint out walls, trim and panelling in a bold, boudoir-esque hue, such as Farrow & Ball’s Porphyry Pink (49).
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2014
Designer: Stacey Smithers and Joel Bray
24. Mount movable “wallpaper”. Get inspired by senior design editor Stacey Smithers, and use sheets of pretty wrapping paper to create a wall of lower-commitment color.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2013
Designer: Stacey Smithers
25. DIY a pretty screen. Clad pre-made bifold doors with wallpaper to create a romantic room divider you can pack away after Valentine’s Day is over or enjoy all year.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home September 2013
Designer: Stacey Smithers