by Nicole Nolan

Created on: February 06, 2009

The bedroom is one of the best places to focus attention on near Valentine's Day. Unlike so many other Valentine's Day traditions, it can be relatively affordable to make a few steamy changes to your bedroom.

There are a few initial things to consider when preparing your bedroom for romance. The main ones being taking precautions so that you will not have to worry about waking up the kids or being disturbed by pets. After you have thought of this, also consider your budget, whether you intend to keep the decor or not, and safe places for candles. Once you have considered your needs, its time to start.

1. Remove distractions. The kids aren't always the only distractions. Tvs, clocks, and other electronics should be stashed away or covered. Feel free to keep a well concealed cd player on hand for some atmospheric tunes. I prefer silence.

2. Consider a color scheme. Even if the changes are temporary, it is good to be coordinated. Try to make your small items coordinate with this. If you have alot of white bedding, a few dark red accents should be all you need. If your bedroom has more green in it, using a combination of purple and red looks great. My favorite is deep purple, with touches of bright red in the form of silk scarves and candles.

3. Drape romantic fabrics around the room. You can use a piece of deep burgundy silk stapled to the wall behind the headboard, or simple drape some beautiful silk scarves over the headboard and foot board. If you have a tv in the room, cover it too. Fabric for this can be found cheap at drapery stores (spare ends) and ask any custom upholstery or drapery stores if they have any free scraps.

4. Lighting is extremely important. It not be bright, but it should be bright enough for you to see your partner, and to be able to appreciate the room. If there is one tip to focus on, this is the one. Candles are great, but make sure you put them in a safe place away from flying clothes, fabrics and so on. I usually take a few bar stools from my kitchen to use as candle tables. Candle holders also save messy wax clean up. A few small paper lamps with low wattage bulbs can take place if you do not want to light candles. Even a little office lamp turned towards the wall can offer a soft glow.

5. Consider investing in satin sheets. They will spice up your bedroom all year round. Dark colors are good if you plan on bringing any chocolate into the bedroom. If sheets are not in the budget, settle for 2 satin pillow cases. They feel great and your hair and your partner's won't get as messy.

6. Consider scent. There are many options here: room diffusers, fresh flowers, incense, pot pourri and so on. My favorite scents to include are lavender with a touch of sandalwood or patchouli. Lavender is proven to increase sexual desire and arousal in both men and women. You can also spritz lavender water or diluted essential oil onto the sheets.

7. Be prepared. There is nothing more irritating than a bedroom ready for romance and no protection. Make sure you have some condoms, lube, and massage oil stashed near the bed.

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