If there’s ever a time to show you care about the loved one in your life, it’s Valentine’s Day. Sometimes coming up with Valentine's Day ideas can be a little tricky. Some opt for theatrical shows of affection, others expensive gifts, but when you break it down it’s all about spending some quality time with your other half! And, what better place to do it than snuggled up in the place where you feel most at ease, the comfort of your own home. What’s more, we’re also offering you the chance to win a Fortnum & Mason hamper full of delicious goodies!
[See below for details on how to enter our Valentine's Day competition]
Now, just because you’re at home it doesn’t mean you’re copping out of going that ‘extra mile’ to demonstrate your fondness. Instead, when creating the perfect night in, the effort comes from reimagining the space you live in and turning it into a new setting for an evening that’s all about the two of you. At Willow & Hall, we believe home is where the heart is, so here’s our view of the perfect Valentine’s Day night in…
DINNER
February’s weather doesn’t lend itself particularly well to picnics. But, who said they should be reserved exclusively for the outdoors? Instead, we think they’re a great way to do something totally different with your living room. Laying down a soft rug and tucking into some of your favourite foods, is a relaxing and comfortable way to enjoy a meal together. And, more appealing than battling for a reservation at an overpriced restaurant and hurrying through your allotted eating time. So, here’s a selection of recipes that we think are ideal for a romantic, homemade, indoor picnic.
Beef or Mushroom Wellington - this dish works well because it’s not only perfect for a special occasion, but it can easily be cut into slices and served for a picnic, cold or warm. And, although traditionally made with a beef fillet, mushrooms provide a great vegetarian substitute.
French Carrot Salad – a lovely sharp and flavoursome salad with a sweet crunch.
Scotch Eggs – a delicious little treat to have on the side. And, they taste so much better when home-made with fresh eggs.
Chocolate Tart with Salt Flakes - no Valentine’s Day should pass without some chocolate treats. So, here’s one dessert we think ticks all the boxes and more. It’s luxurious and the flakes provide a bit of edge.
THE AMBIENCE
At Willow & Hall, it’s no surprise that we have a particular interest in homes and interiors. Over the years, this has given us a good insight into how to combine certain elements to create an ambience in your home. And, this is something we echo when designing our pieces, which we hope helps our customers on the road to creating the perfect ambience in their homes. So, here’s how we would create a relaxed and romantic atmosphere for a Valentine’s Day night in.
Decorating the living room
There’s two colours we would recommend you use to accent areas of your living room on Valentine’s Day and that’s red or pink. A red or pink picnic rug, with a couple of well-placed red or pink candles will change the feel of your living room and give an immediate sense of romance.
Choosing the right music
Music preference is a very personal thing. But, there’s a time and a place for a romantic tune or two. You can have it playing in the background whilst you’re eating, or whilst enjoying a post-meal drink and chat. This is also the perfect time for that ‘our song’ moment. Here’s a couple of suggested playlists which we hope cover most music tastes, or perhaps inspire you to create your own:
Jazz is a great way to create a relaxed atmosphere to puts you and your partner at ease:
(includes songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday)
If you’re a fan of pop ballads, this one’s for you:
(includes songs by Ed Sheeran, Adele, and John Legend)
If you’re really looking to create a totally unique feeling in your home, then here are some romantic and relaxing songs you may not have heard before:
(includes songs by Billie Eilish, James Bay, Niall Horan)
WHEN THE EVENING IS DRAWING TO AN END...
Once the delicious meal has been eaten and the playlists have run their course, then we suggest winding down to watch a romantic movie. And, we think a romantic film is best enjoyed side-by-side. So, choose your comfiest piece of furniture and some nice warm blankets. For example, we think our love seat, aptly named for Valentine’s Day, would be the perfect sofa for the job.
Classics
Casablanca
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Titanic
Modern
Silver Linings Playbook
P.S. I Love You
The Shape of Water
Romantic Comedies
The Proposal
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The Holiday
Creating the perfect night in is all about the thought you put in. And, it takes creativity to completely reimagine the place where you spend most evenings. But, the effect you can create is one of novelty and total comfort and that’s why we think the home is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day with a loved one. So, create a space where you can be yourselves, relax, and enjoy your home in a new light.
COMPETITION
For your chance to win a Fortnum & Mason hamper, please tell us the answer to the following question:
"In the timeless rom-com, Notting Hill, Julia Roberts plays which character?”
1. Anna Scott
2. Henrietta Post
3. Rose DeWitt Bukater
Send your answer to [email protected] with the title "Valentine’s Competition" or share it on Facebook or Twitter with #WHVALENTINES by 11th February. The winner will be drawn at random and announced on Facebook and Twitter on 12th February.
Kind regards,
The Willow & Hall team