Kristina Wolf Design

February is the month that makes hearts pitter-patter and you can take advantage of it by adding a little Valentine "love" into your modern interior design. Perhaps one of the best things about Valentine's Day (from an interior designer's perspective) is that it is the last of the full winter months and a time when a little burst from warm reds and pinks is most welcome. While you don't have to go crazy with hearts and flowers, there are plenty of ways to add Valentine warmth to your living spaces.

Styling shelves is a great way to give your unique items the attention they deserve. Framed photos, books, and decorative pieces that you might otherwise keep stored away find a place at the forefront of the room, where they catch the eye. Decorating marries style with substance. You can take something that seems purely practical and make it a stylish part of your room's design. Shelving makes it easy to create a striking atmosphere in a room. However, shoving everything you own onto some shelves doesn't always work.

If going outside doesn't satisfy your nature craving, decorating with houseplants brings the outdoors into your home. Houseplants also give you the opportunity to garden if you have limited space in your yard. The benefits of indoor plants aren't limited to keeping your hands busy. They can be great for your mind, too. Studies have found that when people are surrounded by plants, they become more creative and productive. Plus, the oxygen plants provide can reduce anxiety. You rarely find two different plants that are the exact same color, size, or shape.

Your garden is personal. It's an accumulation of hard work and daily effort to coax the contents of small, hard seeds into nutritious produce or vibrant flowers that almost sing with life. Despite your best efforts, you will, at some point, experience the effects of pests that threaten to undermine your months of hard work. You don't have to run to the nearest drug store or call an exterminator to deal with common garden pests. Most of the tools you need are already in your kitchen or easily accessible from a convenience store.