Valentine’s Day has never been the most exciting celebration, especially when compared to the holiday season just-passed (and after all, it often wavers year-to-year depending on romantic status), but it does bridge the gap between January blues and the promise of Spring. As a kid, my mom made Valentine's Day baskets for us: mine with pink nail polish and mini boxes of Nerds, my brother’s with red socks and heart-shaped Reese’s cups. As an adult, I usually have a glass of wine (or two) and screen Call Me By Your Name on my couch, but I feel like there must be a middle ground between the two..
So this year, I propose we all give Valentine’s Day its due. Whether you’re celebrating Gal-entine’s Day (my personal favorite iteration of the holiday), a long-term love, or a new flame—go all out with some DIY decor. Decor for Valentine’s Day, you ask? Why yes, because the only sure-fire way to get in the mood for a lovey-dovey day is to set the mood for a lovey-dovey day. Plus, we all need something to do and look forward to, right?
1. Macrame Hearts
These pretty little tasseled hearts fit right in with any boho-inspired decor, and would look stinkin’ cute on a Christmas tree as well.
2. Cane Weave Backdrop
Truly I cannot imagine a more adorable photo backdrop for any Gal-entine’s gathering. The neon pink construction of this cane-webbed masterpiece is a perfect fit for February, but also how stunning would this be in a natural tone for a wedding or birthday? Love.
3. Pom Pom Heart Branches
If you’re one of those super-cool people that keeps beautiful branches gathered on their table (I sadly have limited access in NYC), this is the perfect DIY to spruce (ha!) up existing decor.
4. Giant Floral Heart
This big old heart gives me Bloomingdale’s window vibes, and is easily recreated with stems of grocery-store roses or carnations. Carnations are cool again, in case you didn’t hear.
5. Yarn Heart Wreath
While the base of this wreath can be stretched from Christmas onwards (doesn’t it look like fluffy little snowballs?), all it needs to be V-day appropriate is a few little yarn hearts strung up together.
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6. Better-Than-Ever Balloon Arch
Yes, we’ve seen balloon arches in many different capacities, but this one feels somehow very chic. The stems of eucalyptus throughout give the balloons a berry-like effect, and almost makes the quintessential latex party decor feel… organic?
7. Paper Topiary Heart
Put away your watering can and break out the scissors and cardstock for this one—a plant that absolutely refuses to wilt. A good omen for you and your Valentine, I think!
8. Geometric Heart Art
I can’t put my finger on it, but this ruffly (yet refined) heart might be the stylish version of a Minecraft-themed Valentine’s Day… is that a thing? It is now.
9. Comme Des Garçons Giant Valentine
This one’s for the fashion-minded among us, and makes both a great piece of wall art or an oversized Valentine. Think about how much room you’d have to write a love letter on the back…
10. Furry Heart Pillow
Valentine’s Day but make it hygge! This little guy fits en-theme but would look right at home on the couch all year long.
11. Love(ly) Photo Banner
Feeling sentimental this Valentine’s Day? This sweet banner is a great option for those who lean towards graphic design over scissors and glue sticks, and might just make your loved one tear up (in a good way!).
12. Giant Candygram
Are you sensing an oversized theme here? Something about making regular things giant seems like the move for Valentine’s Day, and we’re here for it.
13. Fresh Floral Napkin Rings
Who says a quarantine Valentine’s Day can’t be fancy? Absolutely no one, that’s who. Go big with fresh flowers on linen napkins, you deserve it.
14. Bean Mosaic Coasters
I know you’ve got the supplies for this at home (dried beans, cardboard, a little bit of paint), so there’s no excuse not to make these. I love them so much, I want to glue dried beans to everything (except they’ll likely go in this).
15. Book Page Banner
Okay, okay, if you’re a book purist and hate the sight of book pages taken from their spine, you might want to look away. But if, by chance, you’ve got an old volume kicking around that you can part with, this is an adorable banner for the readerly among us.
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16. Wine Cork Hearts
Spend two weeks in winter quarantine collecting wine corks, and you’ve got a good base for this little DIY. Small dowels or skewers hold accordian-folded paper hearts, which would amount to an adorable little mantle display.
17. Deck of Cards Wreath
Everyone knows that a deck of cards with one or two missing is basically useless. Don’t let all that plastic-coated paper go to waste, though: make a wreath instead!
18. Pom Pom Door Hanger
I don’t know, it must just be that Valentine’s Day goes hand-in-hand with pom-poms? Because here’s another fluffy creation—this time to hang from a door handle to signal that ~love lives here.~ Gross! Fun!
19. Simple Heart Canvases
This one is ridiculously easy—just glue anything you’ve got to a bunch of canvases in the shape of hearts. Here, they use glitter and pom poms and doilies, but you could also use beans or confetti or spare paper—go nuts!
20. Conversation Heart Piñatas
Nothing is more quintessentially Valentine’s Day than conversation hearts, and these do double-duty by housing all manner of candy, and being a really adorable little activity (both to create and destroy).
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21. XOXO
Speaking of conversation hearts, how adorable are these? Sure, they won't last forever but they're sure to put a smile on your face for this year's holiday.
22. Heart Sachets
These sachets do double duty as gifts for loved ones (find our tutorial here) and little pockets of scent for all the drawers in your own home.
23. Fluffy Bunny Tail Wreath
If your front door has been feeling a bit bare after the holiday season, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to outfit it with decor again.
24. Wood Beaded Heart
This minimal heart can be easily whipped up in an afternoon, and minus the bow, would be happy to stick around with your usual decor.
25. Cupid's Arrows
What's Valentine's Day without a love spell cast by a little baby with wings, am I right? Well, instead of a gummy window decal of the aforementioned baby, these DIY arrows pay homage and look great in a vase.
