Sometimes there’s nothing more romantic than a quiet night in, especially on Valentine’s Day. Even during “precedented” times, getting a reservation could be stressful, restaurants were always busy, and the special menu was often overpriced. The pandemic just exacerbated these challenges.
Fortunately, you can recreate the restaurant experience with a VIP dining table at home. Here are some amazing table decoration ideas for Valentine’s Day to inspire you.
A Floral Arrangement
One of the best ways to set the tone for Valentine’s Day is to use a stunning floral arrangement as the centerpiece. When you order Valentine’s Day flowers, think outside the traditional rose bouquet and opt for something unique and special. Unless, of course, your significant other loves roses!
Change things up with a romantic bouquet of tulips and irises, or opt for a charming buttercream and pastel arrangement of country rustic petals. For an arrangement that’s truly special, create a custom arrangement that uses the flowers from your wedding or first date. Remember to choose a nice vase to put the arrangement in when it arrives.
A Macaron Tower
Macarons are more than a cookie; they’re a delicacy. It takes days to make macarons properly, and the process can go terribly wrong at any time. They’re a perfect balance between crunchy and chewy, with a smooth, creamy flavor and mouthfeel. These nuanced French desserts often boast luxurious flavors, like lavender and pistachio.
If you’re interested in channeling your inner Martha Stewart, you can try and make macarons yourself. However, if you want it done the right way without stress and chaos, it’s best to reach out to a skilled baker.
Once you get your macarons, stack them in a pyramid formation, with more on the bottom and fewer on top. You can affix them using a touch of frosting or a foam cone with toothpicks. If you don’t want to risk damaging your macarons, you can also purchase a tiered stand to display your delicious treats. Place some flowers and fairy lights around them for a stunning centerpiece.
A Photo Arrangement
What’s more romantic than snapshots of your favorite moments together? Displaying your favorite photo memories isn’t just sentimental; it’s novel. We live in the digital era, where photos only exist in the cloud and on social media. Putting together a decorative photo display means having to take the time to sort through and print the images before arranging them. The thought and effort involved speak volumes.
There are plenty of ways to artfully arrange your photos as decor during your meal. You can hang them using clips and twine or fishing line to create a hanging display or arrange them on the table. Alternatively, glue four cheap frames together with the backs removed and the photos facing outward. Then, place a faux tealight in the middle for atmospheric lighting that brings your display to life.
Macaron Tower
Lanterns
There’s something mysterious and whimsical about lanterns that makes them an elegant, unique valentines decor piece. For an antique feel, get a few oil lanterns to decorate your dining area. If you’re opting for specialty food, you can enhance the dining experience with lanterns that are reminiscent of their country of origin. For example, if you’re enjoying food from your favorite Japanese restaurant at home, hang paper lanterns. If you’re recreating your favorite Lebanese dishes, get a few Arabic-inspired lanterns.
Magic Floating Candles
If you’re trying to create a VIP stay-at-home celebration, you need candles to set the tone. Make this event magical by creating floating candles as your decor. If your partner is a Harry Potter fan, they’ll love this inspired look. If your partner isn’t a Harry Potter fan, they’ll still love how beautiful it makes the room.
To clarify, these candles will be floating in the air, not water.
To create magic floating candles, you’ll need clear tape, faux tealights, and fishing line. For a simple approach, tie the fishing line around the flame of your faux tealights and tape them to the ceiling. Cut the fishing line at varying heights to give it a playful, spontaneous look.
For a more classical look, you can upcycle paper towel and toilet paper rolls. Use a hot glue gun to add some drips along one end of the roll so that it looks like wax dripping when the roll is standing on end. Spraypaint the “candles” white. Then, use the hot glue to insert the faux tealight at one end of the roll, gluing it in place to replicate a taper candle. Repeat the same process for hanging the candles.
Custom Terrarium
If your partner is a plant lover, create a custom terrarium as your centerpiece for Valentine’s Dinner. Many florists also sell succulents, so you can create a custom piece that they can keep. To create a terrarium that will survive, add drainage by using river rocks and some moss for extra humidity.
Don’t hesitate to create a fairy garden-inspired scene in the terrarium using miniatures. You can recreate the place you met or get custom figurines to display on a dollhouse bench for a magical decor keepsake.
Ice Sculpture
Ice sculptures tend to be an ostentatious decor piece that’s only displayed at luxury hotels. What could be more fun than getting a small ice sculpture for your at-home pop-up restaurant for two?
You can have a local artist carve a custom ice sculpture or take a modern approach by ordering a mold from Amazon. Either way, this unique decor piece is sure to stun— especially if you decorate with candles as well.
Love Notes
For a unique, budget-friendly Valentine’s dinner decoration, create large, heart-shaped “confetti” in shades of red, white, and pink. Then, write small love notes on each one and scatter them on and around the table.
Get creative when writing these notes. Note your favorite memories, what you love about the person, and what you look forward to in the future. They don’t have to be elaborate or overstated— just speak from the heart.
With these beautiful decorations, you can create an intimate atmosphere to share Valentine’s dinner with the one you love.
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