Bring home your love
This Valentine's Day, ditch the fancy restaurants; instead, surprise your love with a lavish home-cooked spread at your pad. But a sumptuous meal will not suffice for a great romantic dinner.
This Valentine's Day, ditch the fancy restaurants; instead, surprise your love with a lavish home-cooked spread at your pad. But a sumptuous meal will not suffice for a great romantic dinner. You will also need an attractive dinner table setting to get the ambience just right. From the traditional red-and-white decor to an expensive crystal setting, there are options for everyone to explore.
“Valentine’s Day is an intimate occasion, so use the free space on your table to complement the romantic atmosphere,” says Faiza Seth of Casa Forma, a decor brand. If you are running on a tight budget then get some flowers, balloons and go for an easily achievable red and white setting for your table. But if you have saved ample to spend on the night, then opt for fancy crystal ware and candelabras. And if you are on a mood to splurge, then pick up oyster shells, crystals and feathers.
Under R 2,000
If you are tight on your budget this Valentine’s, then don’t fret. Besides balloons and red roses, there are other inexpensive things with which you can pep up your dinner table for the evening. Interior designer Anita Hirani says, “Work around the theme of red, white and silver. It is not very difficult to achieve this within a stipulated budget. Go for a spotless lacy white tablecloth and pep it up by throwing in a red runner. Get some matching red cutlery; it could be in melamine, which are readily available in the market at reasonable prices." Place balloons or red rose bouquets strategically around the room, but do not overdo this. Hang a wind chime in red and silver over the table. It can be bought from any local gift store within R100. Spend a
little extra on red napkins with silver embellishments to add some bling. Hirani adds, “Place a bright light in one corner and scented candles in the other. Even ferry lights can be used to do up a corner.”
Under R 10,000
Do away with the traditional red table linen and neutral-coloured crockery this Valentine’s Day. Seth says, “Get a bolder table setting by mixing deep mauves, reds and blues with a touch of gold or silver. Use candelabras of various heights to complement the lighting scheme.” Light up scented candles before the dinner is served to bring in fresh aromas. She adds, “Small bowls with floating candles can also enhance the romantic atmosphere and light up the low level area of the table, where the plates are laid.”
Above R 10,000
If money is not a constraint, then plan for a lavish romantic dinner. Interior designer Kunal Shah says, “Go for a silk or satin table cloth for a luxe feel. A crystal centrepiece will add elegance. Choose between polished silverware or vintage cutlery.” He adds, “Get your table napkins with personalised messages done for this day.” Decor stylist, Swati Pandya Sood says, “Red is garish. Set up your table in ivory colour. Plan for an outdoor dinner in your garden instead of a candlelit meal in your room.”
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