I love the idea of Valentine’s Day being a day of love so here are a few simple things you can do to make your home ready for romance from dawn to dusk. 

Breakfast in bed

Who doesn’t dream of someone bringing them breakfast in bed as a romantic surprise?  Start with a perfect tray to carry mugs, milk and a teapot all together. A simple wooden tray with two legs that fold out to create a standing tray that will sit on a bed is perfect. Serve tea from a proper teapot in a beautiful mug and use a little jug to hold milk and a heart shaped ramekin for butter and jam. 

Create a spa-like bathroom

Start the day with a romantic soak in the bath. Make your bathroom a luxurious and romantic sanctuarylike the to-die-for ensuites you find in boutique hotels. To create a “spathroom”, it’s all about the right accessories. Think designer mirrors, clever storage to minimise clutter, lots of greenery and immaculate white towels resting on a wooden stool.

Say it with flowers

A bunch of beautiful flowers will instantly add a touch of romance to your home.  It is estimated that 250 million stems of flowers are sold for Valentine’s Day globally – one-third roses, one-third tulips and one-third other flowers. There are so many beautiful shades and varieties of bloom to choose from to set the mood for romance. Visit a local florist like Pulteney Bridge Flowers, Larkhall Flowers or Crescent Flowers for some great flowers.

Dim the lights

To create a romantic atmosphere, you need ambient lighting that you can dim to create a low-lit calm space. Pink is incredibly flattering on skin tones which is why it’s often used for bedrooms and dressing rooms.  Pink lighting is everywhere. I love the rose-coloured iconic EOS lamp shade made from all-natural goose feathers. Find it in Graham and Green.

Create a cosy living room

Romance isn’t exclusive to the bedroom; your sitting room can be a relaxing place to relax and unwind together after a long day. Layer up throws and blankets on your sofa to create a cosy space to read a book or cuddle up and watch a romantic film together. 

Scent the room

I love scented candles – they really add a delicious extra layer to your space. For Valentine’s Day choose traditionally romantic or sexy scents – patchouli and oud fragrances are known for their aphrodisiac effectand traditional romantic scents are jasmine, honeysuckle, or roses.

 Make a romantic toast

Start the evening with a glass of champagne or a cocktail. I love to find interesting wines and spirits from independent wine merchants like Independent Spirits in Bath, who sell local botanical gins and interesting vodkas. Serve your Valentine’s Day drinks in pretty champagne glasses – Anthropologie sell some gorgeous multi-coloured delicate coupes.  

Dress the table

Cover your table with a crisp tablecloth and get out your best placemats and napkins. You can’t go wrong with linen and there are lots of beautifully coloured tablecloths as well as traditional white ones available on the high street. Try a pretty faded pink tablecloth from The Linen Works for your Valentine’s evening meal. Arrange plenty of candles on the table to create a lovely soft light. Mix tall silver candlesticks with glass votives to throw light all around the room. For an extra special touch serve your food in heart shaped bowls and dishes. The White Company have a great selection.

And so to bed..

Make your bedroom romantic by layering up the bed with blankets and throws. Turn the lights down low and light a scented candle. A luxury bedspread and some pretty velvet cushions will really elevate your bed to boutique hotel style. Stick to pretty pale blues, blush pinks and pale greys for a romantic look.

A few simple tweaks will turn your home from every day to romantic.