Check out these five tips for using neutral colors for Valentine’s Day decor. Help make your home a sweet haven as we celebrate this fun and cozy holiday in simple and elegant ways that aren’t cheesy!

Actually, I am not sure why I haven’t always decorated for Valentine’s Day at home.  It could be that I’ve been a room mom at my children’s school for years.  Then, technically, I’ve been doing a lot of decorating with traditional and neutral colors for Valentine’s Day decor!  Just not at home!

I do love this fun holiday and we always try to do something special with our kiddos too.  Family is so important and more than ever, I’ll take every opportunity to celebrate us!

Of course, my husband knows that my ideal Valentine’s Date won’t be a pricey restaurant.  Instead, I’ll take a day of antiquing over any expensive gift or meal!  Who’s with me on that?!

A couple of years ago, I decided that I was going to look for some ways to incorporate Valentine’s Day décor in simple, budget-friendly ways.  After all, this décor will only be up for a couple of weeks before I start making some transitions to early spring.

At the same time, I don’t see any reason to break the bank for a holiday that is celebrated with hearts, flowers, chocolate, and candles!

What are the three colors of Valentine’s Day?

Even though Valentine’s Day is traditionally decorated with red, pink, and white, those colors really just don’t go with the aesthetic of our home.  In fact, other than some blush pink accessories in my girls’ room and red accents in Harrison’s room, we just really don’t use those colors at all!

White, however, is my favorite.  Since it is still one of the Valentine’s Day colors, I try to capitalize on that and use it as a base for neutral Valentine’s Day decor.

I also wanted to make my touches, using neutral colors for Valentine’s Day, with subtle things that would complement our home’s décor, rather than requiring full-scale redecorating!  (Especially since Valentine’s Day is kind of a one-day or maybe week-long holiday rather than a whole season.)

Since I have a neutral color palette throughout our home, I decided to take on the challenge of using neutral colors for Valentine’s Day décor.  That being said, I think you could use these same ideas and tweak them to include the traditional reds and pinks for fun!

How to Decorate with Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor

How do you decorate for Valentine’s Day?

Here are five ways I incorporated simple, neutral colors for Valentine’s Day décor into our home:

Using Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor #1: Easy DIY

How to make simple Valentine decorations?

Even though hearts may seem like a really obvious decor choice for Valentine’s Day, I just had to include it!  I love the instant touch of Valentine’s Day that a garland of hearts brings!  Check out these three different garlands we created.  All of these are ideas that you can easily turn into a fun and simple DIY project for the Valentine’s holiday.

At the same time, you may love using the traditional Valentine’s colors.  If so, you could easily substitute those for the neutral colors I decorated with.

Neutral colored vintage grain sack hearts from Penny and Ivy

Emily is so incredibly talented!  You may remember the miniature stockings I had in our entryway at Christmas that I purchased from Penny and Ivy!  Her work is impeccable.  I especially love how this heart garland adds such a classy touch to our vintage living room!

At the same time, the neutral colors complement our home while still being festive.  Plus, the vintage French postal bag fabric is the perfect addition to our vintage home decor pieces!

You could create your own fabric hearts by taking vintage fabric (maybe even a grain sack!), cutting out simple heart shapes, and gluing or sewing them to twine.  They are so easy and such a pretty way to decorate with neutral colors for Valentine’s Day!

DIY Kraft paper sweetheart notes garland

What can I do for Valentine’s Day cheap?

You can find the tutorial for this garland here.  My kids love to do arts and crafts so this was a fun way to incorporate them into the process.  I smile every time I walk past their sweet notes.  Each child wrote something they love about each member of our family and we strung them together on the mantel!

Also, you could create a similar idea for friends, a significant other, or additional family members that you want to celebrate.

This simple DIY costs almost nothing.  You can either cut your own hearts out of paper or purchase this pack of pre-cut, pre-hole punched hearts HERE for very inexpensive.  However, the kind and loving thoughts are priceless!

By using neutral colored pencils, we kept a simple look.  At the same time, there is no doubt that this mantel is ready for Valentine’s Day!

DIY White Yarn Heart Garland

You can find the tutorial for this garland here!  I hung this DIY Valentine’s Day garland across the large mirror in our music room, mixed with my winter greenery.

It is just another fun way to add some neutral colors for Valentine’s Day to a space for a simple look!  I love the texture of the yarn and how the white hearts go with the white furniture and chunky white throw pillows in this room.

Again, you could tweak either of these simple DIY heart garlands to make it fit the colors you want to use in your own decorating!

Using Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor #2: Flowers

What is the most popular gift on Valentine’s Day?  Flowers, of course!

No matter the season, flower are one of my favorite ways to quickly freshen up any space.  One quick trip to my Trader Joe’s and about $20 gave me enough flowers to sprinkle through our living spaces.  I really enjoy them during these weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day!

Keeping with the neutral colors for Valentine’s Day, I chose white stock flowers that will last all week, some white tulips, eucalyptus greenery, and little filler flowers.

I made several small arrangements that I can add to our living room, kitchen, music room, and my nightstand!

You can also try some beautiful and very realistic faux flowers to use neutral colors for Valentine’s Day decor.  I love THIS soft colored bouquet.  THESE tulips look so realistic and are my favorite to use throughout our home through the entire spring and summer seasons!

A small jar of flowers adds instant life to a room and speaks of your thoughtful way to make the holiday special for the most important people in your world…your family!

How to decorate a table for Valentine’s Day?

Another fun thing about creating several small arrangements is that I can move them around and even bring them all to the dining room for a  quick and easy Valentine’s Day tablescape!

You can find easy ideas for a sweet Valentine’s Day breakfast table on THIS POST.

On THIS POST, there are 7 ideas for some pretty Valentine’s Day tablescapes too!

What can I do for Valentine’s Day cheap?

If over-priced flowers aren’t in the budget, no worries!  A sweet plant in a pretty pot will save you some money but it definitely won’t lack an expression of love!

This is also a great time to invest in a new fresh plant or two and add to your kitchen sink or table!  It’s a simple, thoughtful touch that adds a bright, fresh look to your space.  I like to put my fresh plants in vintage containers for a little extra character!

What are cute ideas for Valentine’s Day?

I think a sweet, little plant is a perfect idea for Valentine’s Day because it will last long past the one week mark.  Also, a gift that someone can enjoy nurturing and brings life to their space is always a great idea, right?!  Consider a cute plant for a co-worker, teacher, employee/er, or friend!

You could also buy a pretty vase (THIS one is my go-to vase at home) and add inexpensive grocery store flowers for a friend.  Then, they can continue using the vase all year long after the flowers have wilted.

Using Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor #3: Cute Signs!

One particular Valentine’s Day season, I was particularly lucky!  My husband surprised me with this incredible vintage Whitman’s Chocolates sign that I admired at an antiques show we visited.

I am not an easy one to surprise, so he really got me!  However, I love the way the green pops against my woods and whites, while still blending in with the neutral décor.

A vintage sign for Valentine’s Day may not be something you can just snap your fingers and find.  However, you can add it to your vintage hunting list and look throughout the year!

Vintage chocolates boxes and little vintage candy signs can be spotted around flea markets, both in person and online, so keep your eyes open!

What are cute ideas for Valentine’s Day?

Little signs are another fun and cute idea, both to decorate with and also to give as a gift for Valentine’s Day.  You can often find sweet signs about love, family, or Scripture.

Consider picking up a small one to add to a favorite Valentine’s vignette!  You could also take card stock and print one online or try your hand at writing your favorite verse in calligraphy!

Here are a few favorite verses that I love for the Valentine’s season:

• “Love is patient, love is kind.” I Corinthians 13:4
• “Love…it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  I Corinthians 13:7
• “We love because He first loved us.”  I John 4:19
• “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”  Jeremiah 31:3
• “There is no fear in love for perfect love casts out fear.”  I John 4:18

Using Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor #4: Sweet Treats

Bring out the chocolates!

You really can’t have Valentine’s Day without some candy, right?  I picked up a few bags of yummy chocolate, in neutral colored wrappers, of course.  Next, I added them to vintage bowls on the coffee table and in the kitchen!

This is proving to be tempting for our whole family.  However, we decided on a little rule that each person can have one a day for the week!  After all, a little chocolate is good for you, right?!

It is a simple way to add some fun and festivity to your home for the season.

Adding the chocolates to my vintage, wooden bowls makes them feel a little more special.  I love being able to actually use my vintage items.  Plus, my family is enjoying it too!

Using Neutral Colors for Valentine’s Day Decor #5: Cozy Scents

Candles, of course!

Nothing sets a romantic, cozy atmosphere like candles!  I use battery-operated ones all through the winter.  It makes me feel cozy when they flicker on each day around dusk and we get to enjoy them during the long, winter evenings.

I also keep my favorite candles on hand and you can find one lit in our kitchen or on the coffee table most evenings!  This candle also makes a great gift for Valentine’s Day too!

For me, celebrating love and family is all about creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.  I want our family to feel like home is really a great, big, cozy hug.  No matter what is happening in the world, we have each other and our home is a haven.

What does that have to do with candles?  Well, it’s all about a cozy feeling and peaceful environment.  Candles are a simple, but impactful, way to get that in your home!

You can browse all of my favorite flameless candles in different shapes, colors, and sizes curated for you HERE!

Here are a few ways to add candles:

1. Add a jar candle to a dough bowl with a simple, green wreath or clips of fresh greenery from your yard.
2. Fill a bowl with small rocks or sand and add taper candles, like I did here! You can even use my favorite taper battery operated ones for something that just flickers on each evening and is a little more safe to have on all the time.  These pillar candles are a great price and look nice also!
3. Use a dough bowl or tray and add a few pillar candles. This makes a quick and simple centerpiece, or use it like I did on my coffee table!  I added a few little sprigs of faux greenery to soften the edges and give it more life.  You can find 3 winter centerpiece ideas over on this post!

Other favorite battery-operated, realistic candles on timers:

• Small pillar candles with wax finish
• Realistic tea light candles
• Tall taper candles
• Shop my favorite flameless candles HERE!

How do you decorate tastefully for Valentine’s Day?

Here are some cute options for neutral decor accents for Valentine’s Day home decor:

• Gray and white heart pom pom garland
• Neutral heart throw pillow
• “I love who you are” canvas wall hanging
• Neutral long, lumbar throw pillow, perfect for a sofa or bed
• Beautiful wooden heart bowl, use for food or decor
• Mercury glass candle holders
• Realistic battery-operated votive candles to go in mercury glass candle holders
• Kraft paper hearts–make garland, gift tags, or notes to hang on branches for a centerpiece
• Beautiful scallop rug; even though it’s not just for Valentine’s Day, it would look perfect for the holiday and enjoy all spring and summer too!
• Neutral raffia heart wreath for a great price
• THIS fresh bay leaf heart wreath is gorgeous
• White faux fur heart pillow, perfect to layer with your existing pillows
• Have a cozy Valentine’s with this cute and soft pillow!  Use it year round and especially through the fall and winter seasons!
• Browse my favorite ideas to decorate with neutral colors for Valentine’s Day decor curated for you HERE!

How can I decorate for Valentine’s Day in a way that isn’t really cheesy?

Try using neutral colors to decorate for Valentine’s Day!

Well, I hope this gives you a few more ideas that you can easily incorporate into your existing decor, using neutral colors for Valentine’s Day!  Even if you’re decorating at the last minute like I usually do, these simple ideas are budget-friendly and subtle.

To me, the key for Valentine’s Day decor that isn’t really cheesy is to keep it simple and subtle.  Gentle hints of the holiday will go a long way!

At the same time, you don’t have to spend a ton of time crafting, decorating, redecorating, and cleaning up afterward.  It really can be simple and elegant!

If you enjoyed neutral colors for Valentine’s Day decor, you may also enjoy these posts:

• How to Create a Simple, Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day Table
• How to Make Unique Flower Arrangements with Vintage Vessels
• How to Make Valentine’s Day Mini Bundt Cakes
• 27 Easy Ways to Use Old Vintage Books in Home Decor
• 3 Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts to Enjoy with Kids
• Friday Favorites-Neutral Cozy Winter Decor
• How to Beautifully Decorate a Coffee Table for Spring
• How to Use 10 Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor

So you can see that our Valentine’s Day décor isn’t flashy and we won’t be winning any party décor awards!  But it feels calm, peaceful, and loving…with a little splash of fun and festivity!

If you don’t usually decorate for Valentine’s Day, I hope this inspires you to pick up a bag of chocolates or bundle of flowers on your next grocery store run.  It takes the smallest, most simple things to create a thoughtful and loving home.

​

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,

​

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)