Soft, Pretty, Elegant Farmhouse Valentine Tablescape Idea

Decorating a table for Valentine’s Day can pack a big punch, if you don’t want to go all out in decorating. Come see how I did it, with lots of leanings towards spring!

Valentine’s Day Decorating for Festive Touch in Winter

I wasn’t a big decorator for Valentine’s Day until I had my sons. Truth be told, our first home was really tiny, I was busy teaching, and I neglected our living space. A lot.

Once I had my sons and I was home more often, my inspiration for decorating took off. Every holiday became more fun with them around, so decorating took on a whole new life.

I’ve done several different things with Valentine’s Day decorating (you can check out my easy, elegant neutral-inspired Valentine’s Day decor here and my spring-inspired Valentine’s Day vignettes here).

I have to say, mixing it with soft, pretty pinks as a foreshadowing of spring is probably one of my favorite themes. It’s the perfect way to cozy up the house while it’s still winter outside.

I’m not into cutesy too much, so I really try to keep it festive but understated.

Today, I’ll be sharing my Valentine’s Day tablescape that I created along with my spring-themed Valentine’s Day decor.

How Do You Set Up a Valentine’s Day Table?

When trying to figure out what a tablescape should include, there are definitely a few things to consider.

First, the term ‘tablescape’ is somewhat new, so just to be clear: A tablescape is the totality of your table’s place settings and centerpieces, along with decorations that may or may not run down the center of your table.

Before determining what you want to include, it is best to ask yourself this question:

Is your table a high traffic area that gets a lot of use, or is your table mostly for show and special occasion?

That will certainly impact your choice. {You can check out this post for more details on making sure your tablescape is functional and works for your lifestyle!}

When creating a tablescape, you can create it in this order, depending on your family’s lifestyle:

1| Start with a centerpiece or vignette (a runner underneath, if desired)

2| Add a tablescape (garland, candles, etc.) the length of the table (if desired)

3| Add place settings

4| Add extra seasonal embellishments, favors, or table scatter

If you’re decorating a table where your family does all the things, you may want to keep it simple and use a singular centerpiece.

Or if you want a little more festivity, you can use a tray, a wood board, or a riser as an anchor and build a vignette as your centerpiece.

The idea is to have something that either doesn’t take up too much space or is mobile and easy to move.

If you have more flexibility, you can create a full tablescape that uses the length of the entire table. There, you can include more decorations like candles, garland, vases, etc.

If this area is primarily for show, you can create place settings – or put out place settings for your special Valentine’s Day gathering.

For your place settings, you can build up in this order:

Table runner (if desired)

Centerpiece and/or vignette

Place mats and/or chargers, dishes, bowls, linen napkins, glassware and silverware (optional)

Embellishment, table scatter, favors

How to Add Valentine’s Day Elements to a Table

Personally, your own taste will drive this. I’m a lazy decorator, and I try to use multi-functional decor as much as possible.

In other words, what can I include that is somewhat neutral and can be kept up after Valentine’s Day?

In this case, I created a flower centerpiece on a riser made of faux pink peonies – that is something I can keep up as spring decor as well.

To create the tablescape, I used a neutral grey-and-creme toned table runner, along with silver dollar eucalyptus garland, chunky white candle holders, wood vases with faux pink flowers.

For a table runner, think out of the box. You can use fabric, scarves, thin blankets, or even a festive kitchen towel underneath your centerpiece.

Again, this is something that I can keep around once the holiday has passed.

I also used jute chargers and white plates – again, these are neutral. The linen napkins (well, it was really a dish towel that I cut up to create napkins) were a pink floral pattern, which also isn’t Valentine’s Day specific.

I placed these underneath the plate instead of on top. This way, you don’t need to have any kind of napkin rings.

Though the pictures show the completed tablescape, in reality up to this point, I’ve haven’t used one piece of Valentine’s Day decor. Everything has been spring-themed flowers in pink or neutral in color.

The way I added the Valentine’s Day touches were in the accent bowls, “favors” next to the place settings, and the heart candy sprinkled throughout the table as scatter.

I purchased some fun Valentine’s Day bowls with hearts on them from T.J. Maxx along with these heart marshmallow pops from Home Goods. The heart-shaped gummies were from Walmart.

All combined, this is a feminine, cheerful Valentine’s Day tablescape that can mostly stay right in place through the spring!

As with just about all of my decorating, I like to have a lot of neutral options (like plates, runners, placemats), and let the season dictate the pops of color that I add!

If you’d like to check out more Valentine’s Day table decorating ideas, head this way for 30 lovely options for all kinds of tables! And if you’re looking ahead for table ideas for spring, look here!