Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, often shown through gifts or spending time together. If you’re looking for something more personal than traditional roses and chocolate or more intimate than a restaurant dinner, these homemade ideas are a simple yet touching way to show your love this Valentine’s Day.

A gift on Valentine’s Day can remind loved ones how much you care about them. A romantic date night on Feb. 14 can be a time to reconnect amid busy schedules. But if a busy restaurant doesn’t match your vibe or commercialized gifts don’t have enough meaning, consider some DIY for Valentine’s Day instead. Homemade gifts, tasty treats, cozy touches to your space and thoughtful flourishes will make for your most memorable Valentine’s Day.

Why homemade makes all the ­difference

Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in different forms since Roman times. According to Real Simple, it was a Catholic feast day celebrating Saint Valentine, the patron saint of love. By the 1600s, the term “valentine” described a lover. The original Valentine cards and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates appeared in the mid-1800s. By the middle of the 1900s, card-makers like Hallmark were selling thousands of mass-produced cards, making Valentine’s Day into the holiday it is today.

For some, the commercialization of Valentine’s Day can feel like putting a price on love. Real Simple also notes that people spend over $26 billion on Valentine’s gifts and purchase over 250 million roses. This can make gift-giving on Valentine’s Day or expensive date nights seem like a distraction from the love you want to be celebrating.

A handmade gift can help you reconnect with your partner, best friend or whoever you love most. As well as the gift itself, the thought and time you put into making it means a more heartfelt present. Planning a night filled with special gestures offers something that can’t be replicated with a store-bought gift.

The homemade approach also lets you tailor Valentine’s Day to your partner’s unique tastes. Choose gifts with your partner’s favorite tastes, scents and colors. Create an evening with meaningful experiences that will bring you closer to your loved one.

Easy DIY gift ideas for all skill levels

Whether you love crafting or need a quick gift for Valentine’s Day, there are many DIY gift options to explore. Think about what your recipient likes most and customize the gift to their liking.

Edible Valentine’s gifts

Gifts of food are a welcome gift to almost everyone and they are generally easy to make. For a Valentine’s theme, bake heart-shaped cookies or a heart-shaped cake. Macarons, cupcakes or fudge are tasty treats. Red and pink frosting or sprinkles will keep things festive, or incorporate Sweethearts for a charming decoration.

You could also make your own chocolate-dipped strawberries or put together a charcuterie board for an edible gift you and your partner can enjoy together. Alternatively, pick your partner’s favorite meal or baked good and prepare it for them.

Homemade gifts from the garden

Roses are a Valentine’s Day standard, but there is no need to limit yourself to a simple bouquet. Dried rose petals can be an ingredient in a variety of gifts. Homemade bath bombs or soaps, rose tea or sachets filled with petals keep to the theme of the day but provide gifts that your recipients can enjoy after the day is over.

Other plants from your garden can make good gifts for friends and lovers. Dried herbs for friends who cook or potted plants for those with a green thumb are thoughtful gifts for Valentine’s Day.

DIY candles and soaps for Valentine’s Day

Homemade candles or soaps encourage your recipient to take some time for self-care. Melt-and-pour soaps are simple to make, as are container candles. Use essential oils with your partner’s favorite scents or decorate them with flower petals or other personalized additions.

These gifts can also be a luxurious addition to your date night. Make massage candles with soy wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil and your favorite scent. As the wax melts in the candle flame, it becomes a sensual massage oil for you and your partner to use together.

Adding special touches to your celebrations

In the end, Valentine’s Day is about more than gifts. Spending time with your loved one is an important part of the day. To make that time extra special, get thoughtful about your space and how you plan your activities.

Create a cozy space

Set the mood by making your home cozier. Cozy living tips like plush pillows and blankets, soft lighting and live plants will let you relax and focus on each other. You’ll also be able to enjoy many of these upgrades well after February.

Enjoy a romantic meal at home

If you want to skip a busy restaurant, make a meal at home. Pasta dishes, chicken dishes or even a savory stew can be easy to make yet fancy enough for a nice dinner. Prepare a dish as a surprise or make the meal together. For dessert, prepare something sweet or chocolatey. Serve it with homemade aphrodisiac tea for more Valentine’s Day fun.

Get outside with your partner

A walk at sunset, a stroll through nature or more adventurous activities can be an excellent bonding experience. Time to talk while exploring the outdoors creates a romantic atmosphere that can bring you closer together. If February is cold where you live, bundle up and bring hand warmers and a warm beverage to partake of together.

Show your love with handmade touches this Valentine’s Day

Make Valentine’s Day this year all about love and connection. Skip store-bought cards and generic gifts. Instead, create personalized surprises and heartfelt gifts that celebrate the unique facets of your love. With a little time, a few supplies and a touch of creativity, you can show your partner how much you care for them on Valentine’s Day and all year long.

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Kristen Wood is a photographer, recipe developer, writer and creator of Schisandra and Bergamot, a botanical blog. She is also the author of “Vegetarian Family Cookbook,” “Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook” and “Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners.” Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Healthline, Martha Stewart, Yoga Journal, Willow and Sage Magazine, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, NBC and more.