Stitched with Love: 5 Sustainable Upcycled DIY Embroidered Valentine’s Décor Ideas

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast: if you’re looking for some unique sustainable crafts to decorate your home, you’ve come to the right place. One of the best, most eco-friendly tools to decorate your home for date night is embroidery. Materials are relatively cheap--all you need is a needle, thread, and some fabric, preferably fabric you already have around the house. Embroidery creates very little waste—and if you ever get tired of the design you make, it’s easy to rip out and make something new. No waste, no fuss. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to embroider, here are some easy DIY ideas to turn your love nest into a charming Valentine’s Day retreat:

1)     Fabric table runner

A table runner made of appliqued and embroidered hearts pieced together. Image credit: Amazon

Do you have a table runner you want to gussy up, or a home textile that’s getting a little fuzzy and worn? These are perfect candidates for a Valentine’s makeover. The possibilities are endless: you can cut out squares and patch them together, or simply stitch a design on your fabric. Why not follow your passions and make a multimedia masterpiece with paint, beads, and applique?

2)     Embroidered Heart Garland

Image of a garland of embroidered felt hearts in beige, light pink, pink, and red, strung together and hung on a wall. Image: Etsy/ Iris and Athena Co

 Paper and felt are great bases for embroidery, bonus points if you already have some lying around the house that you can use. Cut out some hearts (if you are using paper, you can paint the hearts first), then, stitch away with cotton floss or wool thread. If you do not wish to use the garland again, it is completely biodegradable.

3)     Custom Napkins

Small linen cocktail napkins embroidered with red and pink hearts, placed on beaded white placemats. Image: Etsy / Paddock Threads

Make date night a little more special with custom embroidered fabric napkins. Second hand stores are teeming with vintage linens or you can go out and buy a new set (linen is one of the most sustainable fabric fibers out there). These napkins are blank slates for yours and your partner’s initials, flowers, hearts, or really anything else.

4)     Wall Art

Embroidered hoop featuring white, gold, and lilac flowers and vines on pink fabric.

Give your walls a romantic refresh with some embroidered wall art. Check out out our seasonal pink and white floral wreath, available at our Etsy store (link opens in new window). This project is quick and easy in case you’re starting your Valentine’s decorating late!

5)     Custom Embroidered Throw

An ivory herringbone blanket thrown over a grey wing chair, embroidered with the monogram “AMH.” Image: Gifts.com

 Make Netflix and Chill time a little more cozy with a custom embroidered throw for your couch! The design can be as simple as your initials in a heart, or some images of your favorite things. No one else can add that personal touch, so just think about something special that will make you both laugh and cuddle.

Let us know what some of your favorite Valentine’s crafts are!