If your girlfriend is an introvert who hates public surprises, then you probably know proposing on the jumbotron is not the best idea. The Knot lists proposing in front of an audience as one of the top five mistakes men make when proposing. Over 50% of women said "proposing in public" and "proposing in front of friends or family" is the biggest blunder an aspiring fiancé could make. So to help you get that “yes,” here are three lighting ideas to create an intimate atmosphere for a romantic at-home proposal.

Twinkle Light Ceiling

The twinkle light ceiling will have the room looking magical. It is made of many sets of string lights and a way to mount them. Light clips with adhesive backing are an excellent way to mount your string lights without putting holes in the ceiling. You’ll need several sets of string lights (maybe in her favorite color), but be sure they’re the same type. Don’t mix LED string lights with incandescent, that way all of your lights will run on the same wattage and amps. Since this method isn’t easily hidden, you may also need a few friends to help. Evenly space out the light strings on the ceiling and secure them with the mounting clips. Then plug them in and admire your handiwork.  For more detailed instructions, check out our DIY post, How to Install a Twinkle Light Ceiling.

Rope Light Words

Are you easily tongue-tied or just can’t find the right words to say? Spell it out. This is a great way to pop the question without any awkward lead up. You’ll need several feet of 1/2 inch rope light, the accessories that go with it, and an accomplice to help. Plan out the phrase you want to use (we suggest “marry me”) on the floor and zip tie the letters together where they overlap. Then, with the aid of your accomplice, use rope light mounting clips to attach it to the wall. Check out our rope light word art DIY for a detailed step-by-step guide. Just make sure your girl can read cursive.

Marquee Lights

If you want to really grab your lady’s attention, build a custom marquee sign just for her. Since it’s just for one night, you may not want to make your marquee sign out of metal or wood. One solution involves constructing the letters from foam board, poster board, and a string of patio lights. We recently described this method in our marquee lights DIY post.

67% of women who rejected a proposal said it was because of an unromantic setting. Give yourself a better chance of hearing “yes” by creating a romantic and intimate proposal. Already got the girl? Share your proposal story with us in the comments.

Sources

• https://www.bustle.com/articles/46763-rejected-marriage-proposals-the-top-5-reasons-people-say-no-to-getting-engaged

• https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-proposals-5-biggest-proposal-mistake