Softening February
Romanticizing the everyday and finding beauty in the details
February is a month that can feel heavy. The light is slow to return, the days stretch cold and grey, and the excitement of a new year has softened into something quieter, less certain. I’ve always been a dreamer, someone who finds comfort in imaginary worlds, in details that bring a little more beauty into the everyday. It’s why my childhood was filled with playing dress-up and pretend, and why I still love to escape into the magic of a good book.
But in seasons where life doesn’t feel particularly easy—where the darkness outside might mirror something internal—there’s an even stronger pull to seek out the light. To not just wait for warmth, but to create it.
Valentine’s Day sits in the middle of this month, mere days away at this point, and often framed by grand gestures of love. But what if love wasn’t just something given or received? What if it could be a daily practice, a way of moving through the world? For me, the idea of romanticizing the everyday means to choose beauty and softness—in the way you dress, in the way you eat, in the way you frame even the most ordinary moments.
Here are some of my favourite ways to bring a little romance into the everyday:
Dress for how you want to feel—literally. Soft fabrics, natural fibers (silk, cotton, linen, cashmere), romantic, silhouettes—even if you’re just at home. There’s something effortlessly luxurious about slipping into something that not only makes you feel beautiful, but also feels wonderful against your skin.
Drink out of the fancy glassware. A simple glass of sparkling water feels different when sipped from delicate stemware or a vintage coupe. We tend to save the “good versions” for special occasions, but everyday can be one if you deem it so, and the ritual of pulling out a beautiful glass reminds you to celebrate the simplest of moments. Same goes for that expensive candle you’ve been saving or the perfume you barely wear. Why not now?
Set the table, even if it’s just for yourself. Light the candles, bring out the linen napkins, find a mood-setting playlist, plate your meal with care. Create the kind of atmosphere you’d love to walk into or experience at your favourite restaurant. I’ve started doing this with my daughter and it’s such a lovely way to make things feel a little more special.
Find beauty in the details. The way steam curls from your morning coffee, the way light filters through the lace curtains, the weight of a good book in your hands. Small moments, when noticed, become something more. Make a mental note (or snap a picture for a visual reminder), when they’re happening and anchor in how it it makes you feel in the moment.
Write love notes—to yourself. Keep a stack of pretty stationery or a notes app folder just for this. A little reminder of something beautiful you noticed, a love letter to a moment, or even a note to your future self. Who says romance has to be reserved for someone else? While we’re at it, let’s just make a promise to write love letters in general, ok?
Take the long way home. Whether it’s an extra five minutes walking through a more scenic neighbourhood, pausing to admire a sunset, or simply choosing to linger, there’s romance in slowing down when the world rushes around you.
For those who struggle to romanticize their days, know that it isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about shifting the way you see what’s already there. It’s not a chore, but an offering to yourself. You don’t need to start big; one candle, one song, one deep inhale of fresh air is enough. You don’t need an audience or a reason—you’re enough.
If February feels heavy, let this be a reminder: there is beauty here too. Not in spite of the grey days, but because of them. In the way we soften them, in the way we create warmth even when the world feels cold. Love, in all its forms, exists in the smallest of choices. The ones made just for you.