My 10-Minute, $10 DIY Makes Actually Chic Valentine’s Decor

Mina Lisanin
·2 min read
A lounge chair next to a large mirror in a living room.

Finding cheap Valentine’s Day decor that doesn’t look cheap can be a challenge, but I did a $10 DIY that looks totally sophisticated — not to mention it’s customizable for any personalized Valentine’s Day message (or any holiday, really!).

In fact, I actually did this project for a rooftop at a holiday event called Holiday House NYC, where interior designers showcase their own work in each room of an Upper East Side penthouse.  I was selected to decorate an outdoor dining space, and I wanted to give the mirrors I featured a little something extra.

Decals on mirrors in outdoor dining space.
Credit: Alan Barry Credit: Alan Barry

I started this project with full-length arched mirrors — the IKEA LYNDBIN and Target’s arch-shaped Threshold mirror are both good matches, but you can use any mirror you already have. Then I added vinyl lettering to spell out “P.S. I love you” and stuck those on the mirrors. That’s it!

For that lettering, I used vinyl stickers from Lettering.com, which offered a variety of fonts and sizes (I selected a scripty “Rage Italic” font in the 6-inch size). I liked this option because it offered total customization, a quick production time, and free shipping, but you can also shop Amazon and Etsy for ready-made or custom vinyl stickers. And if you own a Cricut craft cutting machine, you could even DIY this at home start to finish.

Someone putting decal on mirror.
Credit: Mina Lisanin Credit: Mina Lisanin

Applying the stickers was straightforward (and even easier than peel-and-stick wallpaper). I used a tape measure for precision as I was positioning the stickers, and once the stickers were on, I ironed out any air bubbles using a shower squeegee.

I love you decal on mirror.
Credit: Ana Lisanin Credit: Ana Lisanin

In just 10 minutes, the statement mirror was complete — consider it my love letter to NYC — but you could make it a last-minute Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day surprise for your roomie, romantic partner, or your kiddos. And you could make it totally personal, too: Add an inside joke, a sweet nothing, nicknames, or initials to make it really special.

Looking for more ideas for short-and-sweet messaging that’ll fit on a mirror? Well, for that I’d recommend popping open a box of Valentine’s Day candy hearts for a snack and prose inspo all in one.