Easy, Cheap and Elegant Valentine's Day Decorating

Home Lifestyle Holidays Valentine's Day Easy, Cheap and Elegant Valentine's Day Decorating

So you just got all the holiday decorations put away (or maybe you didn't!) and here comes another holiday, namely Valentine's Day! Never fear, I have some great budget-friendly ideas for quick and easy decorations you can use to dress up any room of your home and show all your loved ones how much you care.

Dress up your everyday dining area with heart shaped placemats. Pick up some large red or pink craft foam sheets from your craft store and trace and cut a large heart shape from each one with a pair of sharp scissors. Use a gold paint pen and write a one word romantic sentiment in the center of each one, just like the "message heart" candies of our youth. Edge the hearts with squiggles and swirls, or perhaps personalize each placemat with a name of a family member. These will wipe clean with a damp cloth, and add loving style to each meal!

Pick up four or six silk flowers and a small roll of wire edged ribbon (white, red, or pink) from your discount store and tie one flower each to the back of each of your dining chairs. Make the bow larger than you normally would for drama. The wire edge will allow you to shape the bow into a full, romantic style. Use leftover ribbon to add some romance to your front door wreath, your mailbox, or the headboard of your bed!

Buy an inexpensive floral bouquet from the supermarket and spilt it into two or three smaller bunches. Add some evergreen cuttings from the yard, and display it in pretty creamers, teacups, and bud vases. Flowers speak of love and family, but it doesn't need to be a $50 bouquet of roses to add romance to the room.

Take some time to set a romantic table for that special Valentine's Day dinner, not only for that special someone, but for all the loved ones in your life. You can do this with things you already own. Layer the table coverings with quilts, tablecloths and placemats. Layer your dishware as well with a large plate, saucer and bowl, and tuck napkins into your drinking glasses. Don't be afraid to mix and match your dinnerware. It adds style. Pick up a pack of paper doilies from the dollar shop and scatter them across the table. Get the kids in on the day by giving them some red or pink gift wrap, tissue paper, or construction paper and a couple of paper punches, and allow them to make confetti to sprinkle over the table.

Lastly, don't forget to add candles to your Valentine's home. They are inexpensive at any discount store or dollar shop and can be displayed in groups on old picture frames as trays or in front of mirrors to double your romantic style. Drop tealights into teacups or mason jars, and tie a ribbon around the outside.

Remember that romance is good for the soul, and it's easy to bring a little of it into our homes to show our love for those around us!

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For thousands of free budget home decorating ideas, visit her at TheBudgetDecorator.com. Don't forget to sign up for her free newsletter!

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• Romance is good for the soul, so bring a little into your home with these great budget-friendly ideas for quick and easy decorations. Dress up any room of your home and show all your loved ones how much you care
• For other great Valentine’s Day ideas, please click here.

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