A beautiful dinner is made even lovelier with a floral centrepiece. It adds a touch of colour to the setup, not to mention an added perfume it all. We highly recommend getting fresh flowers from a florist (or even your own garden!), though other creative setups will be just as appreciated. Paper, cotton, sateen or dried flowers can be just as lovely and may be reused for future events. 

Just because you're staying in doesn't mean you can't dine out! A dinner setup at home can be made even more exciting with an outdoor location. If your home has a garden, veranda, patio, or lanai, consider utilising it by setting up your planned dinner outside. Always be sure to check the weather of course, and be mindful of necessary precautions such as mosquito repellant and or candles. When done correctly, it makes for a lovely al fresco experience under the stars. 

The right lighting can add a touch of romance to any event! Perhaps the most popular way this is done is through fairy lights, where strings of bulbs are hung around a dinner set up or even just on the ground. If there's little time to prepare that, a beautiful candle and candleholder will do an equally good job! 

Read more: 7 Unique Lamps To Light Up Your Home

Who doesn't love a good show with dinner? Of course, when you're dining at home, a live band is rarely an option. Instead, we suggest a simple playlist of soft, melodic tunes. Consider bossa nova or instrumentals: these genres of music are less likely to distract from the meaningful conversation and will put the focus on listening to your date while also providing laidback ambience. 

Make your date feel special by providing personalised notecards on his or her plate. Talented calligraphists are often eager to do this, or you can simply print one on scented notecards. An accompanying menu will make everything feel much more exciting too! 

If your partner's love language is gift-giving, then they're sure to appreciate receiving one from you during dinner. It doesn't have to be anything too expensive: flowers, chocolates, or a handmade gift is simply an added bonus to an already exciting dinner date ahead. 

See also: Asian Chocolate: Meet 17 Of Asia’s Best Chocolate Producers

As with any event, good food is always a must! If you're confident in your culinary skills, by all means, impress your date with it. If you, however, a little less experienced (much like myself), I suggest calling restaurants in advance to book an order. Plenty of eateries offer delicious take-out food that can be plated beautifully when at home. Avoid leaving packaging such as styrofoam or plastic containers nearby. Leave these in the kitchen and use that special china to entice your date to a delicious meal. 

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