They say home is where the heart is. The longer my husband and I have been married, the more we find this to be true… especially on Valentine’s Day. When most couples are out on the town, braving the gridlock to go to a special dinner or concert, we’ve found ourselves heading the opposite direction. That means staying in when everyone else is heading out.

We all crave something special, and Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to share that something special with each other. Dinners and concerts are supposed to be special, and they can be. Lately, however, part of me doesn’t feel very special when I see legions of other people doing the exact same thing.

So here’s a proposal: why not stay in and show your home some love? The romance of a “Valentine’s night in” lies in privacy, in intimacy, in something unique that nobody else can share. Our homes are unique, and so are the lives we share within their four walls. Besides, I find there’s absolutely nothing romantic about traffic, so why deal with it at all when you can simply retreat into your own little world?

Last year, after moving and furnishing our home, the hubby and I were strapped for cash and so agreed to stay in on Valentine’s Day. But I didn’t see any reason why this night couldn’t be special. I gathered together some string, tape, red art paper, old magazine pages, and couple photos printed out on white paper—and created heart garlands (a.k.a. banderitas) that I strung up on the ceiling.

Mixing our photos with red paper hearts, and combined with a little candlelight, the garlands instantly transformed our kitchen into a romantic restaurant for two.

Everyone loves a surprise, and my husband was no different. The expression of joy and wonder on his face when he walked into our kitchen with the groceries was priceless. In return, he cooked me a delicious meal that we shared under the garlands. It was probably the best Valentine we ever had.

Ready to bring the romance home? Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas from around the web to inspire your Valentine’s night in.

Start your day of homemade romance with some home-cooked baon, packed in this clever lunch bag from The Sweetest Occasion. Just download the free template (link to: http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2012/01/diy-printable-valentines), slot a brown paper bag into your printer, and have fun filling in the blanks. Works not just for partners, but for kids, too!

Eat Drink Chic suggests a fun, romantic movie night at home. Set the mood with a sweet invitation that includes a popcorn box, movie tickets and some colorful confetti; thanks to these super-helpful instructions and free printable templates, it’s cute and easy.

Spring a sweet bedtime surprise the way Boston blogger Jenny Dixon of Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line did. Inspired by a photo she saw on Pinterest, this wife and mom set balloons afloat over the bed she shares with her husband of eight years—one for every year of their relationship, with a love letter tied to each balloon. Aww.

Homemade memories are among some of our most cherished ones. This Valentine’s Day, seize the opportunity to make some!

Freelance writer Deepa Paul-Plazo lives in Amsterdam with her husband and cat. She travels, dabbles in creative pursuits, and swings wildly between having way too much and not enough free time. Follow her Amsterdam adventures on her blog (currystrumpet.blogspot.com) or on Twitter (@currystrumpet).