It’s that time of year again… the time of celebrating love, buying little gifts for the hubby and kids, passing out valentines, and pulling out your box labeled “V-day decor” and feeling uninspired to decorating the house using the same old things… Just me?
Now I don’t about you, but I kinda like to switch it up when it comes to decorating for Valentines Day. But “switching it up” usually leads me to Pinterest, which leads me into Target, which leads me to spending a lot of money on new decor, and it always adds up so quickly! Can I get an A-MEN?!
So this Valentines Day I was determined to switch up my decor, while saving money and making it look good.
But before I tell how much I spent on everything, you should know one of my biggest secrets is to mix and match the new stuff with what you already have on hand, then it almost looks like it’s all brand new stuff. #winwin
How to do Valentine’s Day Decor on a budget
Step 1 – Reduce
It’s important to remember that you really don’t need a whole lot to transform a space. That why I like to use the principle of “Reducing”—sometimes less is more. Don’t feel like you need to decorate every square inch of your house to make it feel festive. Literally adding a little pop here or there is all you need to do the trick.
Step 2 – Reuse
When you go to buy something new, consider if you can reuse it again in the future. Buy things that would be easy to reuse year after year, and that you’re sure you’ll still love. Obviously, it’s okay to buy a trend, but try to build up your classic pieces first: Stemware, dishes, chargers, linens, etc.
You can start to build your collection and you will save money by investing in items that you plan to use again and again. The best part is you don’t even need to invest that much when you shop for deals at places like the Dollar Store.
I’ve found all kinds of items at the Dollar Store (from glass stemware, real plates and bowls). The Target dollar section can also have some cute finds, but keep in mind, you mind find similar items for less at the Dollar Store.
For seasonal decor, Hobby Lobby (and using coupons) is always a great way to save, especially when you hit the store on a day when that item isn’t already on sale.
Another great place to find a deal on items like the “Love” balloon is on Amazon (found on Amazon and came with 21 other balloons for only $8! ). But just be aware that you aren’t always getting the best deal… (but how can you beat that two-day shipping!?) so make sure to check prices before you add them to your cart.
Step 3 – Recycle
I’ll always recommend to first try using the stuff you already have on hand, for me that’s reusing my dishes, linens, chargers, cloth napkins, cutlery and stemware. I find that by “recycling” these items over and over I save more than if I were to go the paper/plastic route and throwing them away each time.
Recycling is one of my biggest tricks to saving money, but part of being good at this involves making good choices in step 2.
Designing Your Valentine’s Day Tablescape
One of the easiest ways for me to feel “fancy” even after a long day with work and the kids to to put a little effort into a romantic tablescape for two. It’s also a great way to save a few dollars by eating a meal in, and not needing to spend as much on food and a babysitter.
My only rule for this less-traditional Valentines Day decor spread was that I didn’t want to use red… so mission accomplished there.
Now the only things I didn’t have on hand to create this layout were actually the rose gold/copper utensils (which I found at Walmart for only $29.97 for a set of 20!) and the plastic lips used on the plate as a small “favor”, which we’re in the clearance section of Walmart for $1.50!
But it goes to show that once you build up little collection of pieces, you’ll be able to create stunning tablescapes anytime you’d like. In total, I spent less than $50 to make this fresh new look that I’m quite obsessed with.
By using the neutral tones of the black and white it really allowed the rose gold and pink florals to pop.
As you decorate for Valentines Day remember to:
Reduce: Less is more. You don’t need very much for it to look beautiful and awesome.
Reuse: Choose items that would be easy to use again and again.
Recycle: Shop your house first, what do you already have on hand that you could use for decor or your tablescape? What could you do to make it feel new and fresh?
What tips from this post are you going to use in your Valentine’s Day decor? Let me know in the comments below!