Playful and Budget-Friendly DIY Valentine's Day Ideas!
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and I am excited to share some sweet and simple ways to bring love into your home! This may be a silly “holiday,” and we should celebrate love every day, but still, it is sometimes good to have a little extra fun and make something special!
So whether you’re planning a cozy date night with your partner, a fun Galentine’s gathering with your friends, or just a creative afternoon with your little one, I’ve got a few playful DIY and tablescape ideas for you.
Below, I’ll share a round-up of some of my budget-friendly ideas and tablescapes from the past few years to make your Valentine’s Day extra special. From DIY placemats and cute garlands to adorable table runners and homemade sugar scrubs!
cute garlands
Garlands are an excellent way to add a touch of playfulness to a room! One hanging above the table will add an extra whimsical touch to your decor, drawing the eyes up instead of just having the focus on the table. It just adds that extra little something!
I have made two very easy, inexpensive hanging garlands with simple everyday items like ribbon, paper, and doilies. That’s really all you need, friend! Well, and some twine or string ;-)
fun table runners
If you want a beautiful table runner but don’t necessarily want to buy one that matches your theme and color scheme, make your own one!
This activity was one Ava enjoyed a lot. I had some leftover brown paper from a previous art project, paint (cause who doesn’t have paint with kids in the home?!), and cardboard cores from kitchen paper towels ready to go to the recycle bin.
So, I made a fun DIY Valentine’s Table Runner with stamped hearts!
When your kid is too small to participate in an art project, or you want something a little more romantic or grown-up, why not create a runner made from large doilies?
This is really the easiest way to create something for the center. Simply place doilies all along the middle of the table, and you're ready! You could also add pages from old books and colorful cardboard to give it extra color and depth.
See how Ava and I made this fun brown paper table runner here!
easy placemats
Adding something personal or homemade to a tablescape notches up the personalized, intimate feeling. DIY placemats are the perfect way to do just that. And let’s be honest, if you want to buy placemats that fit your table decor every time, it will become very costly!
So, instead of buying new ones, I always first see what I can make from using things in the home.
You can use leftover fabric you already have or buy cheap fabric that matches your color scheme to make different fun placemats, cut in rectangle, square, or round shapes.
And don’t just use them for Valentine’s Day. Keep them for birthday parties, bridal showers, stork teas, or other holidays!
These canvas placemats stamped with colorful hearts made from potatoes were another DIY Ava loved!
inexpensive decor
Now it’s time to make it pretty and bring it all together (without breaking the budget!)
Flowers
I know flowers can get expensive, especially around Valentine’s Day. But flowers really do complete a table, right? However, that does not mean you have to get elaborate floral arrangements or two dozen red roses.
Wildflowers from your garden or the roadside can be just as beautiful! And don’t forget the greenery. I love picking foliage and branches from our farm to decorate the home and tables. Let your imagination run wild!
If you don’t have a garden or little to work with, buy a small bunch of cheaper flowers like daisies, gerberas, zinnias, or even some roses, and spread them out on the table in cute vases or placed on your napkins.
You could also make paper flowers! Although that would be a bit more laborious ;-) Even better and easier, use some brightly colored fruits like oranges, apples, or pomegranates for a pop of color!
Ribbons, twine, and pretty string
You can get the most beautiful ribbons with all kinds of colors and patterns, which can be used in so many ways. Twine also always adds a nice vintage, rustic touch!
Use ribbon, twine, or string to tie it around the cutlery, to make a fun bow around the stems of your glasses, or to make a pretty bow around napkins.
arts and crafts with paper
This is where you can really get creative and make things (if that’s your thing!) You can use inexpensive materials like paper, cardboard, doilies, old books or newspaper pages, or even gift wrapping to create many things. Think fun flat-lay shapes, origami, boxes for sweets, or cute name tags to add to your table!
Get more inspiration here:
diy gifts
Make Valentine’s extra special by spoiling your loved ones with DIY gifts!
I love to make things that are useful or delicious and that I know the receiver will remember me by.
A DIY gift is the perfect way to show your love and appreciation towards them. It shows that you really thought about the gift and took the time to make it especially for them.
Here are a few ideas you can make:
You could also spoil your loved ones with delicious treats!
Here are some of the most delicious recipes to spoil them with this Valentine’s Day!