How to Create a Romantic Dinner at Home for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and that likely means one of two things. It may mean the rosy-cheeked cherub, Cupid, has his sights on your crush with an arrow at the ready. It may also mean you're about to spend the next few weeks racking your brain trying to find a fun and unique idea to surprise your significant other with. As you probably already know from V-Days past, the latter oftentimes requires a great deal of thought and imagination; but it doesn't have to. A romantic meal at home can be a much more intimate and memorable gesture than making a reservation at a noisy, crowded bistro. Lucky for you, we've compiled a list of tips to help you, the helpless romantic, create the most romantic stay-at-home Valentine's Day you've had.

Remember -- Valentine's Day is a time to put aside the stresses of your daily lives to connect and celebrate your love with your significant other. Choosing a night in over going out is a great way to heighten the evening's intimacy.

How to Plan a Romantic Valentine's Dinner at Home

It's critical to keep in mind that key to  romance is all in  the gesture. Showing your partner that you've gone to great lengths to make the night special is sure to melt anyone's heart. With that in mind, there are a number of additional steps you can take to make sure it's a night to remember. 

• Make sure you have the place to yourself. Translation: any kids are dropped off at the sitter's, and any roommates have made themselves scarce.
• Decide on the meal. If you like to cook, spare some time before the big night to find a new recipe, or learn to make their favourite meal. If you decide to order in, avoid placing a last-minute order as restaurants tend to be very busy. Doing so will ensure you get your meal when you expect to, giving you enough time to reheat and plate your dish.
• Learn how to set the table. There's no better occasion for you to bring out your high-end dinnerware. Long stem wine glasses, rose petals, and a couple well-placed candles will create a romantic ambiance that will rival most restaurants.

Tips on Transforming Your Dining Room Table

Unfortunately, a home cooked meal lovingly prepared will only take the evening so far, particularly if it's served on a card table or TV trays. A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but a fancy dinner served on an ill-appointed dining room table is admittedly less romantic. When looking at furniture, take the time to shop for dining tables and dining chairs that increase the room's elegance rather than take away from it. Once you've got the right furniture in place, spring for a properly fitted table cloth and add a personal touch to the place setting like a love note, a small sentimental gift, or a photo of the two of you taken at a special place or time in your lives (reminiscing about your lives together is a great conversation topic for a candlelight dinner).

Romantic Dinners You Can Make at Home

When people decide to cook a romantic meal, they often make the mistake of making it too complicated, or they choose something that is perhaps beyond their skill level. Ask any reputable chef and they'd say that less is more, meaning that you can create a sophisticated, elegant dish by using surprisingly few ingredients. Remember that you can never go wrong with fresh, seasonal ingredients paired with the right wine. Seafood, for example, pairs excellently with a Sauvignon Blanc. If you're less experienced in the kitchen and the thought of overcooking a fillet isn't a real possibility, bring out your slow cooker to help you prepare a perfectly done pot roast dinner or hearty soup.

After Dinner - How to Transform Your Living Room Area for Valentine's Day

With the meal done, it's time to transition to the living room to continue the intimate evening. Like the dining room, a living room of mismatched furniture and decor may not kill the mood (entirely), but it might not do much to enhance it. A red sofa or loveseat will surely ramp up the romantic vibe of the room, but barring that, just about any new sofa or seating arrangement can be made more romantic with the addition of sensual blankets and chic pillows. Be sure to have a bottle of wine on ice on one of your matching end tables, so that neither of you will need to leave the room.. Add that last touch with some, Wall art and decor to make the space more romantic.