Some skeptics refer to Valentine’s Day as the “Hallmark Holiday” – just a way for the card and candy companies to make a quick buck. For most people, it is more than gifts but a feeling of romance and thoughtfulness not usually seen throughout the rest of the year.
I recall a Valentine’s Day many years ago when a young boy of 7 wrote on a scrap of paper “I Lov Yo”. He handed it to me with a look of extreme nervousness intermingled with a little bit of hope. I was still in the “boys have cooties phase” of my childhood and immediately made a show of walking to the nearest garbage can and tossing in the note. To this day, I still recall his look of hurt and confusion, as if his little heart had been broken. It taught me an important lesson. Affection does not always have to be mutual, but certainly an admirer should be treated with kindness and respect.
Guests in your home are a lot like admirers. They arrive with open arms and hope to be welcomed with warmth and friendliness.
One way to show visitors you care is by how you present your home. If you are expecting company, most of the time you will do more than throw on an old robe and set out a few crackers in anticipation for the visitor. Decorating for Valentines Day is an easy way to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere in your space. You don’t have to go to extravagant lengths to impress. It is fairly easy to incorporate items into your existing décor.
Something as simple as a heart shaped box of chocolates or a plate of pink frosted cookies on the coffee table can bring back fond memories of Valentine’s long ago. Having a fire going and soft music playing will warm any guest on a cold February day.
If you were sentimental enough to have saved one or two love letters or valentines from years past, framing or displaying them on a side table with a few scattered rose petals would be very sweet. A few red pillows tossed on the couch is an easy way to add instant cheer.
Planning a Valentine’s dinner party? Dress the table in white lace and use a large hurricane glass with a red candle in the center of the table. Encircle it with red rose petals. Scatter conversation hearts around each plate for that extra romantic touch. Another fun idea would be to create a Valentines box wrapped in tinfoil, like the ones from childhood. Place it by the door and as the guests arrive have them write a funny memory or message and drop it in. Before dinner, place one note by each guest’s plate to be read out loud.
If you want an unexpected way to put a smile on every guests face, use red lipstick and draw a few xoxos in one corner of the mirror in the guest bath. Add red towels and heart-shaped soap to top off the look.
If your guest happens to be staying overnight, why not dress the guest bed from head to foot in white linens and toss one red rose in the center of the bed, as a dramatic final touch. A cozy red throw and a book of poems by a chair would make any guest feel special.
Valentine’s Day is about showing those around you how special they are. Decorating your home to reflect your feelings of admiration toward others is a great way to celebrate the holiday.
©2007 Heather Durren, ASP, IAHSP
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Recently I was contacted to stage a loft style condo in Troy. It had been on the market for more than seven months by then without a sale. The property was vacant and not the only one listed in the complex.