Thrifty Valentine's Day Tablescapes and Other Decorating

Valentine's Day: love it or dread it, it seems to sneak into our stores the moment Santa has turned those reindeer Pole-bound.

Yet, if you're looking for a little post-New Year's zip for your decorating, Valentine's Day tablescapes can be a cheery, inexpensive, and even non-commercial way of brightening the home with sweet sentiments.

As mentioned in a previous post, heavily-discounted Christmas reds can transform for Valentine's Day with no work at all-- and at a fraction of the cost of actual Valentine's Day decor. And for the decorator who plans ahead, thrift stores turn up some heart-warming finds.


This tablescape was done with vintage china in pinks and greens which I already had, plus a pink-and-red roses printed tablecloth from the Salvation Army thrift store...


The centerpiece bowl was a Christmas ruby glass from Target a few years ago. It's filled with silk flowers I'd had from some other projects, but you could fill it with fresh flowers, red marbles and a candle... even stacks of small Valentines.


The 50s aluminum tumblers were from the Goodwill at about a quarter a piece. The heart shaped placemats were my one brand-new splurge last year, but were an affordable price at Target.


Virtually everything on the coordinating mantle either came from a thrift store, or was bought post-Christmas at Target. The shimmering red tree in the center was one after Christmas sale find. Ironically, you'll see almost identical items now for Valentine's Day at four times the cost...


Here you'll see a couple of empty chocolate boxes picked up at thrift stores for just $0.99 off-season... Not as much fun as emptying them yourself, of course! But entirely too pretty to pass up.


A satin vintage pillow from the Christian Laymen thrift store, a pink china candlestick from a past decorating swap, and a few 50s Valentines I got as a $6 lot from Ohio's Pottery City antique mall help complete the effect ...


For fans of romantic decorating, decorating for Valentine's Day might be easier than you think. If fact, you mayhave the makings for a display without buying a single thing! Roses in any color-- but particularly pinks and reds-- are perfect for the holiday. Fresh, silk, or paper, gather 'em together and display them in anything from ruby glass, to crystal to inexpensive milk glass.

And what about photos of loved ones, alive or long passed? Combined with Valentine's colors, working them into a tablescape can be a nod of honor to the people who touch your life.


Have you saved Valentine cards over the years? Why not display them? It's a wonderful way to share cherished memories.


Try playing around with pinks, reds, purples and whites. Just because an item wasn't made specifically for Valentine's Day doesn't mean it won't work nicely for the holiday.


And if you don't feel you have enough to work with currently? Keep your eyes peeled at thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls and post-holiday retail. In the 40s-60s, for instance, holiday planters were popular for almost every occasion. Here you'll see a little girl dressed in hearts and a heart-shaped cupid planter...


By picking up things like this around the year, you'll have what you need for a cheerful display in no time!

• For folks who missed Wednesday's post, "Even More Brow-Furrowingly Funny Vintage Ads" click here.

And me, I'm going to pretend now we don't have all that white stuff falling outside and have a nice hot tea. Hope to see you this coming Wednesday, friends!