Give Your Living Space Romantic Ambiance

After a long day at work, coming home to your own personal space should instantly calm you, helping to melt away the stress of the day. Make your home a place of refuge, relaxation and peace by clearing away clutter, softening the colors and fabrics and adding some accessories that will give the room a romantic ambiance.

The first step toward a more romantic space is getting rid of clutter. Many people have too many photos on the wall, knick knacks on every surface, mail scattered on various tables, or just plain too much junk laying around. Take a good hard look at what you have out - how much of it is really essential? To cut down on your decorative accents, take a cue from the Japanese - only keep out a handful of items. Put the rest in a closet, and switch them out occasionally for an instant update.

You can soften up the space without giving it a feminine feel. Some sheer drapery can counteract harsh lines. Limit the color palette to soft, relaxing tones. Avoid very bright and/or dark colors like red, orange, and black. Blues, greens, and soft neutral beiges or yellows set a relaxed mood. You don''t have to completely re-do the room's decor - you can accomplish this just by painting the walls and changing the bedspread, accent pillows, window hangings, and other fabrics in the room.

Candles, water fountains and small personal fireplaces can go along way toward introducing a little intimacy and romance into the space. Scented soy candles burn clean and have a subtle, natural scent that won''t overwhelm the room. Small tabletop or wall fountains provide the soothing sound of flowing water in a compact size. Place a 'personal fireplace', which is a portable indoor fire pit that runs on gel fuel, on a bedside table or on your dresser. Pictured above, left to right: Bluewick Anjoumint Soy Candle, Cascade Springs Stainless Steel Wall Fountain, and the Ledgerock Personal Fireplace.