Love Your Style - Valentine's Decor that makes your heart happy

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” I can certainly apply this quote to my decorating styles over the years.

When I was a young woman, I was influenced by my mother who was an avid antique collector in my decorating style. She loved early American and English furnishings. I followed suit but over the course of several years, I developed an appreciation for many other types of furnishings and not only for antiques. Now I’m drawn to more French and Italian pieces. For me, it’s the mixing of the rustic and the refined that makes a home not just interesting but inviting. The combination of a storied antique next to a rusty bucket, using fine china atop a farmhouse table, or leaving the linens a little wrinkled, all adds to the charm and comfortability of your home. Your dwelling place should be a reflection of your personality. Be IN LOVE with your style and if you don’t know what your decorating style is yet, experiment!

February is the month of love and so I use the red from Christmas in candles, floral picks, etc. and add to it with my Valentine collection. Since it's also still winter I also warm up my space with some of these ideas:

· Tea towels on my oven door or on my kitchen island always add warmth. If you are decorating for Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of tea towels on the market to choose from.

· Pillows are also my go-to accessory. Whether decorating for a holiday or not, pillows are an inexpensive way to add color and pizazz to your living environment.

· Use an old chalkboard or dry erase board to greet your guests. I have an old chalkboard that belonged to my grandmother. It sits in my kitchen greeting all who walk in. Today it says, “Happy Valentine’s Day” and last month it read, “Happy Birthday!” Whether you have an antique chalkboard or not, a chalkboard offers an area to display a personalized greeting, a market list or a list of reminders. A perfect decor piece to add to the space where the family gathers for meals and conversation.

· I have been spending whatever extra time I have, pruning my roses and preparing for spring. When decorating, don’t forget to add a wreath or a basket of flowers on the front door, architectural elements in planters and certainly bright colored flowers if the weather permits. Nice to come home to a beautiful front entrance.

· Bottles of all shapes and sizes appeal to me and are very popular in decorating. I love natural elements so branches, dried flowers, or even large ferns are beautifully displayed in these bottles. Look how much light and color bottles bring to any home.

And who can forget about dessert for Valentine’s Day? From chocolate covered strawberries, decorated sugar cookies, boxed chocolates or a Valentine Truffle, it doesn’t seem like Valentine’s Day without some sweets. Ultimately, the goal is to create an ambience that you can enjoy no matter what holiday you're celebrating. Make something special and enjoy the holiday!