8 Steps to a More Romantic Dinner

Last Friday was at the Campbell Furniture Gallery downtown. Interior Designer Richard Lane (who also regularly teaches during certain events at the gallery) gave tips and tricks for making Valentine's Day dinner more fresh, inspired and original.

During the event, sales consultant Adriana Soto said, "It's great to see so many people here." Many passers-by on the street were drawn in by player and mood-setter, Vincent Lars.

The event had complimentary wine and snacks as the women (and a few men) watched demonstrations on color coordination, unique ways to modernize glasses, lighting arrangements and opening up spaces.

"They had some really creative ideas," guest Cheryl Novak said after the last demonstration. "I enjoyed the presentation. I came because I wanted some new ideas for ."

An interior designer for more than 15 years, Lane had more than a few ideas for those in attendance."This is my passion," he said.

1. Pay attention to fashion mags. Lane explains how it takes two years for what goes down the runway to appear as patterns and fabrics in home decor. At the moment, many earthy tones such as teals, blues, browns and chocolates are common. Pink and green are also on the way.

2. Make a runner (that narrow fabric that goes lengthwise down the middle of your table). If a surprise guest pops by, and you don't have a runner to hold your table decorations, simply make your own by folding a tablecloth in half.

3. Create "valleys." Ideally, your eye should be moving up and down as it follows the train of table settings, candles and centerpieces. Mix up tall and short candles, big and small flowers, thin and fat ribbons. The more your eye has to move, the more interesting the decorations will appear.

4. Get creative with duct tape. Walmart, believe it or not, may be the key to livening up your glassware. The polka-dot, animal print, or hot-pink duct tape it carries can be wrapped around the mid-section of a drinking glass. Although it's only a temporary change, it can vastly effect the ambiance and character of your dining room—especially when the tape is also used on the corners of placemats, coasters and picture frames to match.

5. Use ribbon, tinsel and lights. Folding bits of wide ribbon into a centerpiece and hanging shreds of tinsel can bring an old arrangement to life. Putting subtle lights throughout the stems (especially if using dry flowers) can also make your dinner more romantic.

6. Change your table. Triangle tables and other irregular or modern-shaped furniture is a nice change. Sitting at more unusual angles while eating livens things up and also may open up the room, depending on how the rest of your furniture and lights are arranged.

7. Put fabric around your headboard. Granted, this is for beds and not dinner tables, but according to Lane, it's all the rage. "There isn't a movie or a television sitcom these days that doesn't have a fabric headboard," says Lane. "Just look for it, and you'll see."

8. Try to stay inexpensive. Do this, especially when giving men gifts or making changes around the house. This does more than just save you money; it also doesn't make your significant other uncomfortable. Most people, despite popular appearances, appreciate a low-key, intimate evening.