The old saying is “Home is where the heart is.”
Well, how about home is where the hearts are?
This month, when St. Valentine’s Day puts the spotlight on all things romantic, is the perfect time to add a touch more “love” – in the form of heart-shaped accents and accessories – to your home.
The heart as an image can easily be spotted this time of year on tiles or rugs, linens or mirrors. Even artwork with a heart motif gets its moment in the sun.
Sure, you can go all out with the theme, but we suggest a lighter touch – an elegant addition of a vase, paperweight or platter as a subtle underscoring of the love that fills a home throughout the year.
Livia Marotta, the Manhattan-based director of communications for Swarovski, says the heart is a design theme that continues to captivate.
“Swarovski hearts are very popular both in the jewelry and the home decor collection,” she says.
While the company’s home line features everything from candleholders to vases, the hearts primarily are interpreted through paperweights.
“Hearts are very popular during Valentine’s Day because it’s a special occasion to remember people you love,” Marotta says, adding that items purchased now also serve as a reminder of those enduring sentiments long after the gifts are unwrapped.
Jaime Jiménez, the director of marketing and communications for Baccarat, which has a boutique in Greenwich, agrees that the heart is an enduring favorite when it comes to design motifs.
“I believe that the popularity of heart-shaped objects stems from the fact that in many cultures the heart represents life and love, while in others it represents intelligence and intuition.”
A gift that incorporates a heart design, then, carries a deeper meaning.
“When one offers a heart paperweight, or a heart pendant for example, one is symbolically offering the recipient love and life,” Jiménez says, via e-mail.
And the heart image is sought after no matter the season.
“Our crystal hearts are best-sellers throughout the year. However, we do see a spike in sales during special gift-giving occasions, not only for Valentine’s Day but also for Mother’s Day and the holiday season,” Jiménez says. “We have also found that our crystal hearts have been particularly popular with corporations who give them out to employees and customers as gifts.”
Nothing like sharing the love.
