I love decorating for holidays, big and small. Valentine’s Day can sneak up on us because it’s right after the holiday trifecta of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Instead of worrying about decking out every corner of my house with new décor every time a holiday comes around, I try to abide by a few simple guidelines to make it fun, as it should be. Most of all, when it comes to rotating décor, I like to be consistent. Doing the same thing for every holiday makes it so easy to switch things out. Here’s how I am planning to decorate for Valentine’s Day:
One or Two Areas to Decorate
In my home, this means two shelves in my kitchen, and my fireplace mantle. For a smaller holiday like Valentine’s Day, keeping it to a couple of areas makes it simpler and easier to decorate quickly. A cute garland on the mantle, frames with festive printables, and a couple of small themed pieces make your home festive but also not cluttered with more stuff.
A Neutral Color Scheme
For the most part, sticking to neutral colors can help make switching holiday décor in and out seamless and a natural part of the look of your home. For Valentine’s Day, add a few heart-shaped or themed items around the house and add a coordinating message on a letter board. These additions are subtle but fun additions to the usual decor.
Photos from Past Holidays
Last year, I saw an idea to use photos from past holidays as decorations. Back before Halloween, I bought a few inexpensive frames from IKEA and I rotated pictures of my kids from past holidays. I can’t wait to go back and look at old Valentine’s photos. I love printing these photos in black and white to keep them neutral and blend in with the rest of the home.
Just Add Books
I love using books as a way to decorate for holidays. Admittedly, our Valentine’s book collection is small, so this might be the year to add a few more to our shelves. This is one of my favorite ways to decorate the playroom and other kid spaces in my home. And as a former teacher, anything that adds a little education is a bonus in my book!
Colorful Kid Spaces
I love to have a neutral, cohesive look in our home downstairs but I don’t want to deprive my kids of bright, colorful holiday décor. So I use the playroom upstairs as a way to find balance in that way. Art projects and other unique decor items can add a fun, festive feeling to the kids spaces. This year, I also hope to implement a new Valentine’s tradition and “heart attack” each other’s doors with notes of love and encouragement throughout the month.
These decorating “guidelines” help me easily decorate for holidays, maintain the vibe I like in my home, and find balance with the kind of décor that my kids like, too! Shake off the cold, long January doldrums and celebrate the holiday of love with a few fun decorations!
