Designing a romantic space is about the perfect balance of all five senses; smell, touch, sight, taste and sound. No matter whether you're single or coupled up, creating a space which is intimate in nature will connect us with our humanistic sensitive side. Romance isn't just for the gooey hearted 'rom-com' lovers. Deep down, we all have our sensitive side - it is just a bit deeper in some of us! With Valentine's Day only around the corner, we sat down with our Designers to discuss what makes a space romantic and how we can achieve this feeling not just on Valentine's Day, but all year round.
Mood Lighting
Lighting is probably the most essential component to creating an intimate space. Ideally, you will want a soft warm light source like candles. You can also replace candles with a couple of lamps. Keep in mind that harsh and overly bright lighting does not help, so, use soft lighting solutions for the best results. When buying bulbs, opt for a low voltage Edison warm light, not only does it look really cool in your lamps, but it also provides the perfect lighting for a romantic space.
Check out our table lamps for sale on our online store.
Curtains
Adding curtains to your space will assist with softening the overall harshness of the room. Imagine coming home to a bedroom taken straight from the set of a timeless romantic film. Sheer curtains achieve exactly that. With their soft appeal, they instantly add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any room of your home, without being overpowering. Particularly in the bedrooms, sheers use their minimalist style to wholly refresh the look of your space. But it’s not all about the looks when it comes to sheer curtains, they also offer some very practical benefits. Due to the durable yet lightweight material, these curtains allow sunlight to shine into your home, provide daytime privacy and brighten your spaces and create a warm atmosphere. Sheer curtains provide a perfect blend of light and privacy, meaning you don’t need to choose between the two. Of course, when it comes to needing that little more privacy (wink, wink), you will need to pair your sheers up with a block-out option, such as a lined or block out curtain or a simple roller blind.
Soft Furnishings
Soften your space with layers. Think rugs, cushions, throws and decorator items. You can create warmth to your space by adding these items to a room. Now if we speak directly about a bedroom, it is important to note that good quality bed sheets are a must. Now, not all bedding is created equal and building a great bedding look is all about knowing your materials, mixing textures, working in a cohesive colour palette and layering for extra warmth and dimension. Adding layers to your bedding is what gives it that cozy, hotel-like feeling. We love incorporating throws at the end of the bed draped or folded to soften the look and add a new element of texture. When choosing bedding, look for throws in luxurious materials like cashmere or heavy knits to elevate any bedding combination.
Scents
"It is scientifically proven that scented candles can play an essential role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, working capacity, and overall mental health," Chryssa Chalkia, (Clinical Integrative Psychotherapist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist). In short, certain scents can be attractive to you because of the memories you have in association with them. But some scents trigger the same hormones over and over again in many different people, making them widely popular in creating a romantic environment. Keep an eye out for our 'Love Candle' in the Arendal Collection which will be released in Autumn.
Music
We are all aware that music and "atmosphere" go together. Music is one of the most obvious and best ways to create a romantic atmosphere. Jazz , soul and classical music are always good for creating that passionate ambiance.
Taste
We always promote to have meals with your loved ones, despite it being a special occasion or not, because lets be honest a good meal without good company is nil void. With Valentines Day creeping up at a pretty fast pace, why not plan a special home date with your love one. Plan a nice simple meal, take out the nice plates (the ones we keep for when the Queen decides to make a stop over), add some beautiful linen napkins to take it a step up from normal day to day dinners, and light some candles. Finish off the night by surprising your loved one with Champagne and Strawberries.
