Tweaking your home for Valentine’s Day | Happy everything

Valentine’s Day isn’t anywhere near the top of my holiday love list – Ryan and I are not particularly romantic. Or, you know, at all romantic.

But, while I may not be booking fancy dinner reservations or creating elaborate displays of affection, I do like to give my home and family a little love around this time of year. It’s a low-key way to ease into holiday decorating.

And I pretty much believe in celebrating all the things.

So. Flowers here. Red and pink there.

As a mom and home-decor lover, I think there’s something special about tweaking your home throughout the year for holidays and other occasions.

It may be a bit kitschy, but I’m cool with kitsch. I can embrace the kitsch, my friends.

(And if you aren’t into it. No judgement. You do you.)

When I was a kid, my mom pretty much rocked out the holiday front – she would always make them special for us. Nothing extravagant, but special. A new red top to wear to school. A box of candy. (Always candy.)

So, now I get the duty and honor of creating special holiday memories for my son. Which always starts with candy and a new outfit. Tradition.

And, as a bonus – Valentine’s Day gives me an excuse to buy fresh flowers for myself and bring out all my red stuff (which, spoiler: is my signature color).

Do you know what else I love? The markers on the table in a vase. Because my kid draws all day long and I was tired of putting the markers away all the time. I think it looks kind of adorable. It’s Valentine’s Day – the perfect time to fill your home with things you love.

You don’t have to spend much (or anything) to get your home Valentine’s Day-ready.

The only thing I bought this year was the flowers. (My favorite local florist now has cut bouquets and it may become a problem.)

When it comes to storing holiday stuff, I have a bin stored in the basement with my favorite holiday stuff – one of them holds everything for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Spring/Easter.

Makes it easy. (And it gives me a limited amount of space to store away, which helps keep it under control.)

You can use what you’ve got.

And even if you don’t have anything Valentine’s Day related – you can pull out anything red or pink and call it decor. Or create a simple craft – like the “Love you More” heart sign I made last year (free cut file included), or a simple Valentine’s advent calendar, or DIY Valentine’s fabric hoops.

Otherwise, you’ll see many of the same decorative items all year. If I love something, it can be worked in throughout almost all the holidays.

I think the key is finding items you really love and can integrate into your decor all year.

For example – this “Happy Everything” vase – a gift from my mother-in-law that’s also one of my favorite decorative pieces. Because, it can literally work for any holiday. Happy Valentine’s Day. Happy Holidays. Happy Fall. It doesn’t matter, because it celebrates happy everything. Fill it with fresh or faux flowers or greenery and it works.

I kept my kitchen shelves similar, but added a few touches of love there. I even relocated my red ceramic Christmas tree here. Because, it’s red. So, it’s basically a Valentine’s Day tree now.

Happy everything, my friends!

Do you tweak your home for the smaller holidays throughout the year?

 

(P.S. I’ll be back later to share our mantel – it’s looking positively love-like, too. Check out a sneak peek on Instagram.)