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The prospect of declaring your love for someone while cooped up in a noisy restaurant on Valentine's Day is the ultimate passion killer for many people, writes Sappho Lauder.

Sitting at tables crammed together like sardines with views obscured by “I Love You”

balloons will leave most couples turned off rather than turned on.

Elizabeth Carter, consultant editor for The Good Food Guide, agrees that going out for dinner on Valentine's Day can leave a sour taste in the mouth — but puts forward an alternative.

“Do you really want to sit with a load of other couples giving each other red roses?” she asks.

“Wouldn't it be much nicer to have a romantic environment at home where you can tap into your inner creativity and spend some quality time with each other?”

Elizabeth advises that to make up for the loss of what she calls the “theatrical element” of going out, special effort is required to create the right atmosphere at home.

“It is not just sitting down and having dinner, but creating the whole ambience and setting,”

she says.

“Make an effort to dress up, send out an invitation to make it extra-special, and try and make the setting as romantic as possible.

“You want your home to give you a big hug when you walk in. It has got to have a nice, warm welcoming feel to it, which is easy to create with candles, low lighting and flowers.

Give your glasses a polish so they sparkle when you light your candles.”

But she warns not to overstep the fine line between romantic and tacky.

“Do not go over the top with too many roses or sickly background music. Balloons, stuffed toys, hearts and glitter are awful!”

The benefits of staying at home for a Valentine's meal are obvious: you can be assured of a relaxing evening while eating food you love, and hopefully at a much lower cost.

But if you're worried your evening will just turn into another run-of-the-mill night, Elizabeth suggests rearranging the furniture.

“You can make an ordinary meal special just by putting a bit of effort into the presentation and setting,” she says.

“Some people tend to always eat in the kitchen, but for Valentine's Day why not put a table in the sitting room to be away from the harsh lights and the cooking smells?"

When it comes to choosing a menu, keep the food simple and make sure everything is meticulously planned.

“Do not open the door to your partner in your dressing gown looking harassed, it's a real faux pas. You want to glide to meet your partner with a glass of Prosecco in hand.

“It is a matter of thinking the whole evening through. The event should be planned from start to finish, with stage directions. And do not overstretch yourself on the cooking front, because you don't want to be hot and sweaty in the kitchen all night.”

For when things do get steamy later on, Elizabeth recommends some aphrodisiac foods to get your tastebuds (and each other) going.

“Oysters are the obvious choice but not everyone likes them. Instead, treat yourselves to some nice chocolates to have after your meal with coffee,” she says.

To further enhance the relaxing mood, choose alcohol to suit the romantic occasion.

Carter advises starting with a Kir Royale or a sparkling glass of Cava or Prosecco.

“It is worth paying an extra couple of pounds on a bottle of something special for the meal because, remember, you're saving money by eating at home,” she says.

And if that doesn't spice things up on the night, you can always add a few fun surprises into your cooking.

“Popping candy in a dessert works really well and so do edible flowers in a salad,” says Elizabeth. “Eating should be enjoyable and if it makes you laugh or something look pretty, then that is great. But don't opt for strong foods — and definitely avoid too much garlic!"