Romantic Decorating Touches

Crystal lamps with mod bases and streamlined drum shades lend glitz to handsome leather trunks used as side tables. A container of pretty flowers injects vitality and romance.

Turn small scraps of leftover fabric into an asset by creating pieced pillows to match your duvet. Tie it at the sides with poufed organdy bows. A decoupage flower and tucked edging trim the bedside lamp's striped shade in this guest room.

Elegantly draped valances at the window echo the soft lines of the gathered bed canopy, enfolding the room in one glorious print punctuated by checks and plaids.

Guests in this British bedroom might feel they've been transported to Sweden because of the crisp blue-and-white color scheme and Swedish country beds.

What could be more romantic than a breezy beach-style bedroom designed to take comfort seriously? The furniture and accessories are delightfully relaxed and inviting, from the floral pillow covers and chenille duvet cover to the prewashed bedding.

Surrounded in sheer white curtains, this bed feels cozy and airy at the same time. The panels are bordered in lengths of white satin, adding a bit of glamour and glow. Dark wood tones are the only other colors in the space, creating a serene getaway.

Do you love traditional furnishings? Then this bedroom with pale yellow walls may be your perfect romantic retreat. The windows on either side of the bed are small, but have been given a larger scale with draperies of cotton damask that extend on the sides.

The soft rhythm of colors gently changing creates a soothing sensation. A room where the color shifts only in slight shadings, like this glamourous blue bedroom, exudes a quiet, romantic elegance.

Even a contemporary bedroom can have canopy draperies for a romantic look. These are made of striped fabric hung from tabs in a soothing palette of neutrals that creates a restful room.

Create your own private mini-haven by arranging a bedside table with memories and flowers. On a pretty tableskirt sits a crystal lamp, glass globes, and silver frames to keep loved ones close.

Surround yourself in a color you adore. This sunny golden yellow sings happiness whether the day is clear or rainy. Your bedroom is your private space and you have the power to make it your own through color and decoration.

It's almost too obvious to mention: Flowers speak of love. Bundles of flowers -- from vases overflowing with blooms, to botanical prints hung on the wall, to fabrics strewn with a pattern of your favorite blossom -- easily set a romantic mood.

This just-too-plain fireplace was given a romantic touch with ironwork scrolls on the screen and wall hanging. These curving shapes have an open, airy look that allows the firelight to flicker and glow, clearly visible.

Give a room that certain glow by using the reflective power of mirrors, crystal, and baubles by every light source. And don't forget the candles. For a softer, frosty glimmer, use pearlized beads and etched glass pieces.

No gourmet cooking skills are needed to deliver a delicious breakfast in bed. Fresh fruit, croissants, jam, and coffee is the special of the day, and a sweet mini-meal to share with your best beau.

There's no need to confine romantic spaces to the indoors. A small patio retreat redolent of the Tuscan countryside is the perfect place for a private tete-a-tete. Here, even the posts are painted to look like ancient columns and extend the illusion.