Valentine’s Day is a busy time of year with all the running around.  For some, they’ve already picked the perfect outfit and bought the ingredients for delicious heart-shaped cupcakes, whereas others might still have no idea what to do and time is running out. 

Don’t panic Lifestyle readers! We have a fabulous way to show your significant other that you’ve put a lot of thought and sentimental value into this special day. Whether you have something planned or nothing at all, decorating your bedroom is a fantastic ending or beginning to a great Valentine’s Day. 

Setting the mood in your bedroom is extremely important. You want a décor to inspire, pamper and arouse – changing the ambiance of the room from ho-hum to va-va-voom! If you follow our steps, your bedroom won’t look tacky, but rather channel a chic, glam and definitely a romantic look.

Try to picture the following bedroom scene: a white 1500 tread count satin bed, sprinkled with red and pink rose petals with half a dozen deep rouge throw pillows underneath a canopy of white fabric. Lots of red, white and beige candles surround you, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Sounds utterly delicious. As you can tell white and red are the typical Valentine’s Day colours. Do not over-do one more than another, because you don’t want to swim in a sea of red satin and laces. Lavish fabrics will create a sensuous feel in your boudoir. It’s all about balancing colours by combining white and red to create a comfortable atmosphere rather than a lover’s battlefield.  Here’s the best approach to work with this colour palette and turn up the heat this year:

Soft to the Touch
White represents the purity of your feelings and incorporating it in your Valentine’s décor is essential. If you were waiting for an excuse to splurge on expensive linens, now would be the right time. Choose white sheets that feel good against your skin, like ones with a silkier texture and a high thread count. Lavish fabrics will create a sensuous feel and the experience of a satin duvet and the soft, high-thread-count cotton sheets under your skin is so plush and luxurious. Try pairing ivory-coloured Egyptian cotton sheets, which can have thread counts as high as 1,500, with a solid-white, satin, 1,000-thread-count duvet. They will not only look elegant, but feel wonderful as you sink into them on Valentine’s Day.

Whenever I think of what a romantic bedroom looks like – I automatically think of a canopy bed. Creating your own canopy bed may sound out of reach, but Ikea makes it really easy (we promise) and it will help add romance to your bedroom.  It will be a winter wonderland, in this room within a room. Ikea designs rods that hang on your ceiling, encompassing your bed. Their Skuggig curtain rod set in black is ready to mount on the wall or ceiling. They sell for $17.99 per rod, so you’d have to three – one for the front and two for each side of the bed. Hanging on them can be Ikea’s Wilma white, sheer pair of curtains for $16.99, which would drape to create an opulent and exotic feeling.

Fire Me Up
Once you’ve introduced the white, it’s all about the splashes of red. Red is vibrant, eye-catching and dominant. It’s a colour that energizes and arouses passion. It stands out against neutrals, which makes it the perfect contrast to white linens and drapery. However, too much red might be too stressful because its alternative meaning is a call to arms, a battle colour. Adding only jolts of rouge can certainly bring on the red-hot romance, warmth and visual oomph.

Red pillows – lots of them – will add contrast and depth to the white bedding. Red against the white is extremely harsh, but incorporating different shades and patterns of red can soften it up. Pier 1 Imports has a fabulous Red Plush Pillow for $19.95, which is especially soft, squishy and super snuggly. It is a deep crimson red and buying a couple would look great on the bed without a doubt. To add more dimension, the Ty Pennington Style Dots 16” Diam. red satin embroidery cushion has a cute pattern and is sold through Sears for $39.99.

Ambiance – it’s what’s going to complete the look and feel of the room. From the scent to the illumination of the room, lots of candles are essential for bringing on that romantic setting you’re going for. Candles and candle holders of different sizes are important because they bring dimension and set the mood lighting by reflecting the different angles of the room.  The three-Piece Oslo Crystal Candleholder Set from Crate&Barrel ($30.95) is a polished holder that bounces the light brilliantly throughout the room. Red candles are a must, especially Pier 1 Imports Red Unscented Candles (from $2 to $28).  They’re dark crimson, hand-poured red pillar candles that range in sizes and shapes. Scattered with these should be white candles, like Pottery Barn’s Caterer 32-Piece Candle Set for $49.99. Their vanilla scent is a warm fragrance and together, they create the most passionate and dreamy bedroom setting for Valentine’s Day.

The final item to purchase to complete the room would be flowers. Visit your local florist to pick them up and don’t be afraid to be adventurous. Yes, stay in the same colour scheme, but instead of going for traditional red, white and pink roses, choose orchids, tulips, calla lily or hyacinths. You can ask your florist what they suggest, but whatever compilation you end up choosing, flowers guarantee adding a natural fragrance and beauty to any bedroom. •