Decorating & Design
February 6, 2018
25 Romantic Decorating Ideas To Try This Valentine’s Day
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.
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!).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.