How to Celebrate Valentine's Day at Home?

There is little doubt that Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular romantic holidays in the year. And yet conventional ways of celebrating the day may push up costs way beyond the reach of many couples. Also the hordes of people out in restaurants, gardens and movie halls may leave little scope for delicious intimacy on this most romantic of occasions. So here are a few ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home which are both affordable and romantic.

Have a picnic

Beat bad weather and the crowds this Valentine’s Day by having an indoor picnic. Set a place in front of window with a nice view or before a fireplace if you have one. On a checkered cloth, lay on goodies like cheese, French croissant and some tasty fried chicken. Bring out the best wine you have and raise a toast to your love this Valentine’s Day. If however you are lucky to have a garden, a patch of lawn or even a backyard, you and your partner can have a romantic night in the open, gazing at the stars or roasting marshmallows on a small bonfire. And should you happen to live in an apartment, make the most of your balcony or terrace. Put up a small tent there and switch off all your the lights. And then settle down with a glass of wine and gaze down at thousands of lights twinkling in the city below.

A Feast for the senses

This Valentine’s Day pamper your partner’s taste-buds by whipping up a decadent dessert or browning a succulent steak to perfection. If you are confident of your way in the kitchen you can conjure up an entire meal but try not to  attempting a five course spread which will leave you too tired and stressed out to enjoy. Rather make the main course the highlight of the menu and then pair it up with a great-looking salad and some fresh bread. Of course don’t forget to choose some nice wine and make sure that you have set the atmosphere with flickering candles, soft music in the background and your best table linen.

Movie Marathon

Movie halls are likely to be overbooked on Valentine’s Day which is why a great way of celebrating this occasion would be to arrange your own private screening. Invite your partner over for a movie at your place and make a date out of it. Arrange the furniture in the way of a movie hall and keep snacks and soda handy so that you both can munch away while watching the movie. To make the date especially relevant to the occasion, look for romantic movies which can range from classics like Casablanca and An Affair to Remember to modern rom-coms like There’s Something About Mary and He’s Just Not That Into You. You can also get soppy with blockbusters like Titanic or laugh at the best of British humor with Four Weddings and a Funeral. Finally you can rent DVDs of movies based on Valentine’s Day like Love Actually and The Roommate.

Night of sensuality

Set the stage for a sensual evening on Valentines’ Day at home. Light perfumed candles and play some soft music in the background. Run a warm bath and sprinkle a few drops of an aromatic oil or whip up bubbles. Blindfold your partner and lead up to the bath you have prepared but be sure to join him/her too. An equally delicious alternative would be to give each other a nice, sensual massage and then climb into the bath together. Both ideas would make for an intimate evening without requiring you to spend a bomb. The best part about this way of celebrating Valentine’s Day is that you can either let it end with a relaxing soak and a refreshing shower or take it further to an intimate encounter.

Get Creative

Make something by your own hands this Valentine’s Day to tell your loved one how special he/she is. Prepare a love scrapbook with letters, notes and photos of you and your partner from all your time spent together. Turn on your imagination full blast and present your partner with love coupons that you have made yourself. These could range from offering him/her something exotic like a sensual massage or a couple’s spa visit to something more basic like three bear hugs and one long smooch on the lips.

Share a hobby

Relationship experts point out that shared hobbies are one of the best ways to ensure that your romance survives in the long run. So for a different take on Valentine’s Day, why not plan to do something you both enjoy together. If you and your partner are fond of the written word, have each other read out passages from your favorite books or recite for each other lines from timeless love poems. Then again for classical music lovers, a session of Bach or Beethoven on the CD player while you both share nuggets of information on the great composers can provide for an amazing bonding between you both. If it is fast music you enjoy, put on some peppy dance numbers and get jiving with your partner. Not only will theses be intensely romantic experiences in themselves appropriate to Valentine’s Day, you will be glad to have done something you both thoroughly enjoy.

Build something together

For couples who are practical-minded, home improvement projects can make for a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. For one you need not spend a bomb on movie tickets and overpriced dinners and for other, you will have got a long-pending job done. Have a list of projects ready that you both can work on at your home, like for instance putting a new coat of paint in the study or making a set of new cabinets for the kitchen. Don’t include ideas that require a great deal of physical strength or might get too messy like plumbing jobs since such jobs might prove to be more of hard work than fun. The great thing about home improvement projects as a romantic Valentine’s Day idea is that the very notion of building something together can be hugely inspiring. Besides it is especially good for homebodies who like to potter about at home even when the weather is nice outside.