Alternative Valentine Display

Happy Valentine’s Day you gorgeous creature! Well that came around a bit quick, didn’t it? One minute we’re knee-deep in tinsel and the next…

Before you know it, I’ll be rolling out the Halloween decor. (She says, hyperventilating.)

If you’ve been following the goings on in my world for a while, you’ll know how much I love putting together a seasonal mantel. But this year, I decided not to do a mantel for Valentine’s Day.

What’s that you say? NO mantel for Valentine’s Day?! But Sue, you did a Valentine mantel last year AND the year before AND the year before that! What do you MEAN you’re not doing one this year? Call yourself a seasonal home styler?

But wait!

I haven’t done a Valentine mantel, because this year…

I’ve created an installation!

A window display if you will.

Only without the window.

At least, not the kind of window it deserves.

Like the window that inspired my Valentine’s Day installation.

I do like it when businesses style their shop windows with the seasons, don’t you? It makes me want to wander in and spend all my pennies.

Beloved might say I don’t need much encouragement.

Inspired by said window, I created a display of my own called “Symbols of Love”. It incorporates all the things that say “love” to me.

The infinite and often tangled web of emotions, sometimes dark, sometimes soft, sometimes red hot.

Hearts. Diamonds. Roses.

The Dress.

The Bag.

The Shoes.

A touch of drama.

The fantastical whimsy of Alice, the balance of light and dark.

The Beauty and the Beast of life and love.

Skulls (naturally), dark furniture, DIY, crafts, and (of course) a little bit of magic.

Because let’s face it whether you’re in love, out of love, over love, or looking for love; who couldn’t use a little magic in their lives?

In addition to the hearts and other Valentine’s Day decor from previous years, I “borrowed” the jewelled mannequin from the dining room and the love potions from my curiosity cabinet, where my witch’s apothecary lives the other 365 days of the year.

So as you can see, I didn’t do a Valentine mantel this year owing to the rather in-your-face celebration of love in the hallway! But I did add one more touch of Valentine’s Day elsewhere.

A little dining room romance on the console bar in the shape of some loved-up Crystal Head Vodka.

Faux roses from The Range, plus a few diamantés (held temporarily in place with… wait for it… white tack!) and a couple of books that I pimped up with gold spray paint and black lace et voilà! Another Pinterest hack.

I just can’t help myself.

So what do you think? Granted, it’s a little different from previous years and might not be something you fancy recreating in your home, but I hope you find something that piques your interest and you enjoy this year’s alternative take on Valentine’s Day Decor.

A hui hou,