Wholesome Recipes

Simple tips for a romantic Valentine’s dinner at home

Foiled chocolates, doilies made into sweet hearts, and flowers, are all such sweet sentiment. Today I’m sharing a chocolatey Valentine’s Day treat and simple tips for a cozy dinner at home. With just a few items you can set a lovely table with romantic ambiance, cheese board, and chocolatey dessert for a cozy dinner at home.

Create ambiance

We have really simplified over the years and to honest, I really like it. Today I want to share a special Valentine’s Day treat and simple tips for a cozy dinner at home. It’s not only easier, it’s less expensive and less waste. So much decor is purchased and often tossed after the holiday so I’m trying to buy less and use what I have.

Light

Ambiance is probably one of the most important ways to creat a cozy dinner at home. Get in the mood with twinkling lights, votive, or taper candles. You can group together a dozen glass votives filled with tea lights of something as simple as a couple taper candles in ceramic containers. This year I went with hot pink tapers and these gorgeous twisted soft pink petal candles for Valentine’s Day.

Flowers for Valentine’s Day

This year I added dried daisies to my mix of flowers. I found a pale pink variety that was unique along with the traditional white daisies. Garden roses are my favorite and I got lucky and found a bunch at my local market.

Create a Romantic Playlist on Spotify or Pandora

I always have mood music on. In the morning it’s always something zen-like to create calm and get the creative juices going. While I’m cleaning and working around change it up with classical piano, and for weekends I might choose jazz, latin guitar, Bossa Nova, Frank Sinatra, or Michael Buble. There are so many options!

Cheese board

First off, buying a selection of cheeses for a cheese board can be pricey so I don’t over-buy. At a minimum I choose three types of cheese: goat cheese, Brie, and a blue cheese. To that I add olives, dried and/or fresh fruit and crackers or toasted bagette. That’s it. I received these gorgeous cheese knives from St. Frank and they look so pretty on my cheese board. If you haven’t visited St. Frank check the site out as there are lots of beautiful gift ideas along with inspiration for your home. Also, if you spend $250 at St. Frank, add code lemongrovelane50 at checkout to activate my $50 gift card towards your first purchase!

Linens

I found these hemstiched linens in pale pink and then added a dried daisy. So simple and pretty. The plates are ceramic and the table cloth is a Jenni Kayne purchase. I love the color and frayed edges. To care for my linens, I pretreat stains prior to washing, hang to dry, and do a light ironing prior to use. Linen isn’t meant to be perfect and wrinkle-free, at least in my house ;)

Vintage cards

I can’t think of anything cuter than vintage Valentine cards. These are small and would look sweet on a table set for Valentine’s Day. Best part is they are inexpensive compared to some of the storebought cards available.

Chocolate dessert

If you’d like to prepare a dessert other than traditional foiled chocolates, this cake is simple to make and tastes delicious. It’s made with cacao powder, honey, and olive oil (yes EVOO) and I promise, the cake is moist and delicious and there is no olive oil taste.