16 Romantic Valentine's Day Tablescapes to Set the Mood
Why go out when you could stay home?
Planning a romantic date for Valentine's Day is basically as fun as buying your significant other a V-Day present you know they'll really enjoy. There are so many options you can choose from: having dinner at a nice restaurant, getting a couple's massage, going to a museum. The list truly goes on. However, one of our favorite ways to spend the day of love is in the comfort of our own homes—and no, we don't just mean being snuggled up on the couch with a movie playing on the TV. (Although that is always lovely.)
If you're down to try something a little bit more personal this Valentine's Day, we'd recommend planning a romantic dinner at home as your date of choice. It's private, you can be as cheesy as you want, and you'll get to be in the comfort of your own home with your favorite person on the most romantic day of the year. Spend some time thinking about how you want the date to look—because you're of course going to decorate your home for the dinner date—and plan on a Valentine's Day tablescape that would rival your favorite restaurant's decor. Don't know where to start on creating such an eye-catching table? That's where we come in.
Below, you'll find 16 lovely tablescapes that'll help capture the romantic vibe and show your date that you went the extra mile to make it a special day. Set the mood with festive candles, flowers, and love notes, and get ready for a truly romantic evening.
Incorporate Large Candelabras
You know what they say: Go big or go home. In this case, follow in Kelley Nan's footsteps and craft a romantic tablescape with large candelabras that steal the show. There's nothing more romantic than lit candles, and a matching set of gold candelabras will add an elegant touch your date will have to appreciate.
Go With Elegance and Greenery
Pink and red always look beautiful, and are expected for Valentine's Day, but it's time to add another color into the mix—at least for your tablescape. Mantel and Table added plenty of greenery to their tabletop and surrounding decor, and it adds a welcome freshness to the setting in the cold month of February.
Choose Statement Dinnerware
Add unexpected color into your tablescape with statement plates, bowls, and saucers. Diary of a Debutante used blue and white dinnerware in her romantic table setting, creating a memorable and unique Valentine's Day meal with boho details.
Stay With a Classic Pastel Pink
You can't go wrong with simplicity and the color pink. This beautiful tablescape from Coco on Fifth incorporates glamorous touches alongside the baby pink napkins and matching place settings. Matching your silverware to your candelabras to your napkin rings really makes for an elegant table.
Make It Moody and Romantic
For a moody Valentine's Day centerpiece, incorporate rich purple flowers like morning glories or orchids. Then sprinkle in some black candles and set the table with gold flatware. Opt for a loose linen tablecloth as an effortlessly elegant and sexy backdrop.
Go Lush and Rustic
Live somewhere that's warm in the winter? Celebrate Valentine's Day outdoors and channel this tablescape. The contrast between these lush green plants and the sleek, geometric copper accents is super romantic.
Write Each Other Love Notes
Leave blank note cards on the table so you can write each other notes of appreciation in true Valentine's Day fashion. Place a sprig of rosemary at each place setting for a fresh scent and pop of green.
Incorporate Unexpected Accents
Dim the lights for a romantic ambiance and then introduce drama to your tablescape with dried cotton stems or cherry blossom branches. Then stagger some sheepskin throws on your dining chairs for a warm, intimate mood.
Keep It Sweet and Simple
You don't have to go bold with vibrant reds—keep a soft, pastel color palette for a more intimate dinner. Set the table with baby pink salad plates, opt for copper or rose gold candlestick holders, and use plenty of light pinks in your floral centerpiece for an understated Valentine's Day dinner.
Watercolor Your Name Cards
These watercolor place cards pop against the sky blue plate and loosely tied navy blue linen napkin. Add some dried blooms and gold flatware to take your Valentine's Day tablescape to the next level.
Set Up a Buffet
For a more casual Valentine's Day dinner or lunch, opt for a buffet-style meal. Then beautify the buffet table with gorgeous florals and eye-catching citrus fruit.
Add Angel Wings
Why stop at your table? Dress up your chairs with white angel wings—or you could just put them on your own chair since the real angel in the room is the one who prepared that gorgeous meal (wink-wink).
Pick a Theme That Reflects the Cuisine
Just because it's Valentine's Day doesn't mean you're limited to one theme. Allow your tabletop decor and centerpiece reflect the cuisine. For example, if you're having Mexican food, enhance things with colorful succulents and pom-poms. Tacos and margs on repeat, obvi.
Print Out the Menu
Print out the menu of your homemade meal to make the special occasion feel even more elevated. Plus, it gives your partner or dinner party guests something to keep and remember the night by.
Tie Velvet Bows
Even small details—like these gold utensils tied up with a red velvet ribbon—can make the whole table feel luxe.
Wire Napkin Rings
Wrap linens in wire matching your silverware for a cute holiday twist on a plain table setting.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Meghan is the assistant editor at House Beautiful where she writes about interior design, pop culture, and furniture.
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