Planning out the perfect date can be stressful, but creating the right atmosphere is half the battle. A date night at home complete with dinner and a movie is great, but going the extra mile by changing up your lighting will make it even better. So, if you’re planning a low-key, romantic evening in with your significant other this Valentine’s Day, these simple lighting pointers will help you set the mood.

Light Strings

For some of us, having a nice dinner out on the patio might seem a little implausible this time of year. But why not bring that same outdoor bistro feeling indoors? Commercial light stringers fitted with decorative globe lights will create a warm, romantic glow in your dining room or kitchen. The low-wattage globe bulbs will give off the type of dim light that you typically see in softly lit restaurants. You can also use these outdoors when the weather finally does warm up.

Do you have any leftover holiday decorations? It might be time to break them out. A similar and more inexpensive lighting option to patio lights is using Christmas light strings. The color you use is up to you, but using warm white light strings will create a more relaxing atmosphere that doesn’t feel like you’re just decorating for a holiday party. They may not be as sophisticated as outdoor patio lights, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

Turn Down the Lights

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a romantic restaurant that uses bright interior lighting. Even if they do exist, would you prefer to spend a special evening with your significant other under harsh, bright light or soft, low light? If you prefer the latter, installing a dimmer switch to control your lighting fixtures is the best way to accomplish dim mood lighting. If installing a dimmer for your overhead lights seems like a bit of a hassle, or you want a quicker dimming solution, try a plug-in dimmer switch. Just plug your table lamp into the dimmer, and use a sliding switch to adjust the light levels any way you want.

Colored Lighting

For a more unique approach to accent lighting, replace existing light bulbs around your house with colored bulbs. Studies have shown that color affects mood, with red being a color used to evoke excitement and passion. However, be careful about going overboard. If you want your colored lighting to be a bit more subtle, don’t replace any overhead lights with colored bulbs. Placing red or pink party light bulbs in a few table lamps here and there will produce a more subdued, but still unique effect.

Candlelight

You can never go wrong with the soft glow of candlelight. For the same effect without the possible fire hazard, try wax LED candles. Made from real wax, these flameless candles have a battery-operated LED light that produces a dim flickering flame effect that will provide relaxing illumination in any area of your home. At least if you forget to turn them off, the worst thing that can happen is a dead battery or two.

Do you have any lighting tricks that you use for your date nights? Let us know in the comments below, or share them with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Pinterest!