Valentine's Day has mysterious origins. Many debate when we started celebrating it, some saying that the holiday stems from the Pagan celebration of fertility.  

Regardless of its history, all agree that in current times, we use it as an opportunity to celebrate love.

If you're celebrating love this year, you may consider skipping the crowds and creating a private evening in your home.

Setting up a romantic atmosphere adds a very special touch to your Valentine’s Day, so keep reading to find out how to create some extra special settings throughout your home. 

Plan Your Romantic Settings

You may want to decorate your whole house. If so, kudos to you. We support it. Otherwise, you should think about the activities you want to share with your loved one. This will help you choose what areas of your home to create an ambiance.

Options for Valentine's Day activities include dining, gift exchanges, games and dancing, and intimacy.

Dining Room Decor

Set up a candlelit dinner with elegant tableware and soft, dim lighting to create an intimate atmosphere. Add a centerpiece of fresh flowers for a touch of natural beauty.

Add candles in suitable spaces around the room and think ahead of time about the dripping wax and fire hazards.

You might also consider hanging fairy lights around the walls, and delicate decorations from the ceiling such as floral garlands or whimsical paper lanterns, to draw the eyes upward and create a fairytale atmosphere.

The final touch for creating a mood is to curate music. Soft jazz or ambient music turned low is the best choice.

And for a very unique touch, incorporate antique items like a vintage gramophone to play the music, adding a nostalgic charm.

The Love Language of Food

To add to your dining experience, you may consider creating a colorful and flavorful home-cooked meal, or plan for delivery ahead of time.

If you want to keep things light, consider tapas, desserts, and nutritious beverages instead of a full-blown meal.

Maybe you can try to incorporate aphrodisiac foods, if it fits into your plans. Research shows that the following foods will do the trick: Fenugreek, Ginkgo biloba, Maca, Pistachios, Red ginseng, and Saffron.

Some of these ingredients can be made into a tea while others may be used to season your meal.

For a fun interactive food art experience, you might create an edible centerpiece like a sculpture made of chocolate or cheese (for both decoration and indulgence). Or set up a fondue or tapas station. These options encourage closeness and conversation.

Loosen Up With Games and Dancing

If you and your partner are playful (or you wish to be), consider initiating games and dancing during your time together.

There are over 30 fun Valentine's Day games for couples to connect on a deeper level. These may revolve around knowing each other, getting to know each other better, or foreplay.

You can play these after dining in the living room or in the bedroom, depending on what you choose.

For example, if the games are sensual or intimate in nature, you'll want to do them in your decorated bedroom.

For dancing and other games, utilize your living room and decorate the space accordingly.

Living Room Decor

Use candles, clear out clutter, and consider a balloon or two if that's your thing.

Be sure to cover up the television sets in your house with a cloth adorned with fairy lights to set the mood.

Think about installing a hidden projection screen for a movie night, adding a cinematic experience to your living room, and add plush pillows and soft throws to your couch for added comfort and warmth.

Bedroom Decor

The bedroom space is all about special quiet time and togetherness, regardless of your sexual desires and tendencies. So if a spicy sexual night isn't your thing, don't feel any pressure.

Instead, you can make the room into your own spa-retreat with an essential oil diffuser, eye warmers, ambient nature music, and some water or a warm tea kettle. 

If you're up for it, consider a temporary DIY bed canopy with string lights to create a soft and intimate atmosphere. You can even hang a canopy just using thumbtacks.

You may also want to adorn the bed with Valentine's Day-themed stuffed animals, and place flowers on the bedside table. Flower petals can go on your bed on top of fuzzy blankets or silk.

Showing Love Through Gifts

If you're unsure what to get your partner, consider their needs and consider if they would appreciate a material or experiential gift.

Gifts don't have to be expensive - it all depends on what you know your love will appreciate and enjoy.

You may want to look for something:

- Customized

- For everyday use

- Sentimental

- Symbolic

When in doubt, edibles such as chocolate and flowers never go wrong. And imagine presenting her with a Red Eternity Rose, a real rose that has been preserved to last a lifetime.

Where to Place Gifts

Rather than handing your partner their gift, it's nice to set it in a decorated place.

Depending on your plans for the night, this could be at the dining table, in the living room, or in the bedroom.

Sprinkle flower petals around the gift and choose a location that makes sense. For example, you might want to save massage oils for the bedroom rather than the dining room.

Things to Keep in Mind

With all of these suggestions, keep in mind that it depends on who you and your partner are.

Ultimately, you want to create a space that's different than normal.

Putting in the effort by making small adjustments, decorating your home, and carefully selecting gifts will express your love non-verbally.

There are no set rules on how you do that. The best choices will come from looking at what you and your partner enjoy and what makes you feel relaxed.

For example, if you have kids who will be home, you may consider including them in the celebration. You can do this by changing the mood from romantic to relaxing and loving.

No matter what, be sure to give your loved one(s) words of affirmation about how you feel. If you need to, you can write these down ahead of time.

That way, you're saying how much you value them as well as showing them.

Enjoy the Process

With these ideas for romantic settings, you can have fun and get creative with deciding how to spend your evening.

Use music, lighting, and decor to transform your home into a sanctuary. Offer gifts as a symbol of your appreciation.

Check out our gifts to find what's right for your love and keep reading our blog for more information surrounding love and partnership.