Let love bloom in your home

This Valentine’s Day, there is no place like home. Ruth Dsouza Prabhu offers some simple, yet exciting ideas to transform your humble abode into a love nest.

In the hurried pace of life, most of us forget to relish special moments of love. But change that this Valentine’s Day. And what luck, the day falls on a weekend!

But how can you make this Valentine’s Day truly special? Candle light dinners in fancy restaurants, expensive gifts and romantic getaways are all done and dusted. What can you do this year that will make for some happy memories? Well, for starters, you can consider spending Valentine’s Day at home.

Yes, your home can be the perfect venue for a really special day. Here are some ideas on how you can convert your space into the perfect venue to display all the love and cheesiness the day brings with it:

Where the heart is

Passionate love is well characterised by the colour red. Give your home a mini-makeover and bring in some element of red in every room. Little red aromatherapy candles on your side tables would make for a great start.

Alternately, you could think of placing small candles inside red glass holders to create some lovely play of light. Switch to red drapes for an added effect. Light the candles, switch off all other lights and indulge in some ‘we’ time.

Table for two

Plan on having a candle-light dinner indoors. Move your candles from the hall onto the dining table, and if hearts are your thing, set them in a heart shape between the two of you. Bring out the fancy dinnerware and setup a romantic table for two.

Spread a few rose petals on the table for that extra splash of love. Open up a bottle of red wine and share a delicious meal together. We promise you, it will be a meal to remember. 

Watch them together

There is something really romantic about cuddling up and watching some of your favourite movies together. Give yourself a movie theatre experience right at home.

Take two bean bags - preferably red in colour - and place them next to each other. Remember the bean bags should give you enough space to stretch your legs out. If you don’t have red bean bags, consider throwing a soft, red rug over them. Share a warm blanket and keep the remotes handy. 

Instead of the usual teas and coffees, opt for some strawberry milkshake. After all, these little berries are in season and go in sync with the theme. Feast on strawberries and chocolates, and spend a night watching some romantic flicks.

Take things outdoors

The one thing that most urban folk tend to miss out on is the great outdoors. Living in apartments does not give you much scope for enjoying the stars and the breeze.

This Valentine’s Day, make full use of your terrace or balcony. If either of the spaces allow it, set up two cosy corners – one for you to lounge and the other for a romantic dinner, perhaps. This will take some work, but is totally worth the effort. For a cosy corner, pull out a carpet and place it in a corner of your terrace.

Grab all the cushions and pillows around the house and then, just strew them around the carpet. Place some candles around to give you a great ambience. Don’t forget to light a mosquito coil or two before you settle in here. Get hold of some of your favourite snacks and enjoy the romantic experience.

As the evening gets chilly, grab a blanket, turn off all the lights and gaze at the stars above. Even if you live in the middle of all the urban hustle and bustle, you will get access to some beautiful stars in the sky. 

Invest in a few strips of tiny LED lights. Pull out old glass jars and stuff them with these lights. Line the jars close to each other and switch on the lights. The effect will mesmerise you. Place your dinner table close to these lights and voila! you have a beautiful set-up. Dress up fancy and enjoy the classy experience. 

The other little things

There are several other small decor changes you can make in your home to celebrate this day of love. Make little paper hearts in a gradient of colours from pink to red to purple and string them up over the doors, around your bed and across your windows.

Make a fancy centrepiece of strawberries for your dining table by skewering them on a dozen sticks and placing them in a vase. This is pure edible art, which is simple to make. Alternately, take a few tall glasses and fill them with red, pink and white candy for an easy element of Valentine decor. 

It is the season to let your imagination run riot. Use happy memories of your time with your significant other to come up with some interesting ideas for your decor. And transform them into a beautiful reality this weekend. After all, the day is just an excuse to fall in love again.