21 Heartfelt Ways to Show Someone You Care & Make Them Feel Loved

In relationships, sometimes it’s not always easy to know how to show someone you care. But don’t worry, we have 21 different ways you can say “I love you.”

In today’s world, saying something is no longer good enough, you need to know how to show someone you care. As the cheesy old songs go, you need more than words to let someone truly know and understand that you care for them.

Let’s talk about a little tale that can happen.

Imagine that you are the kind of person who constantly quips “I love you” for everything and anything. You end messages with XOXO and say “I love you” to almost anyone you come into contact with. Everyone from your fiancé to your regular delivery lady has been at the receiving end of your “I love you” spiels.

And now imagine that your fiancé isn’t the jealous type, but all your “I love you” professions to random acquaintances make them think that you don’t truly mean it every time you said it to them.

On the other hand, you might constantly berate your partner for always leaving you hanging and for not saying “I love you” enough.

One day, they might take you by the hand, look you in the eye and say, “Honey, if you overuse those three words, it loses its meaning.” Then they may go into this whole thing about supply and demand that leaves you reeling. They may tell you that saying “I love you” is not all it takes to show someone you care and make them feel loved. They want to see more actions and gestures instead.

Although you may scoff at them, it gets you thinking long and hard about the true meaning of “I love you.” That’s when you might decide that saying it wasn’t going to cut it, and you have to show it. If you do that, your relationship might grow stronger than ever.

[Read: 23 real ways to love someone and show them you genuinely love them]

Just like this scenario, sometimes, saying the words doesn’t mean much. Your gestures are what it takes to show someone you really care about them!

People make empty promises all the time, say things that they don’t mean, lie and exaggerate. Nowadays you have to offer hard-hitting proof that you really care about the one you love.

We all know that no matter how vehemently you deny it because it’s childish, pointless, or a complete waste of time, deep down inside, you also want your partner to prove just how much they love you with more than just words. How about getting the ball rolling and showing your appreciation to them first?

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” He probably meant standing up against colonial and economic oppression, but there’s no reason why you can’t use his saying in a relationship context.

[Read: How to prove you love someone – 15 honest and genuine things every lover MUST do]

How to show someone you care for them and love them with more than just words

Love isn’t just one grand gesture that gets you high for days on end. It’s the little, seemingly inconsequential things that build up and create a loving atmosphere.

If you want to show someone how much you care about them and love them, and appreciate having them in your life, here are all the ways you can do that.

1. Touch more

Don’t turn your nose up at public displays of affection. Sometimes, a little PDA is all that your lover needs to know for sure that you love them. Holding hands, slinging your arm around them, kissing and hugging are all wonderful expressions of love. 

Don’t just save it for public excursions, either. The sweetest forms of affection take place behind closed doors, so don’t be shy to get touchy-feely with your partner. [Read: 16 non-sexual touches to make you feel loved and connected]

2. Laugh and play

Don’t be serious and uptight all the time. Sure, it may just be who you are, but there’s no reason why you should forgo laughing and playing with your partner on a regular basis.

The whole point of being in a relationship is to be able to do silly things together and be as expressive as you want.

Playtime is very important, and we don’t just mean between the sheets. Turn everyday chores into something fun. You could play hide and seek at the grocery store, tag team on cleaning days and get into irrelevant yet super fun tickle fights. 

It doesn’t matter what you categorize as fun, but so long as you show someone you love your care, and make them smile in the process, your job is done. Remember that you’re never too “adult” to indulge in playtime with your lover.

3. Give gifts 

Everyone loves gifts, and your partner is no different. You don’t have to head out to Tiffany’s and overpay for bling bling, although that won’t hurt one bit. But you can also spend a dollar on the gift, so long as it’s meaningful.

Most of the time, the sweetest gifts are the ones that cost nothing, so if you have the time to make something with your own two hands, go for it. If you want to show someone you care and truly love them, whether it’s a pressed flower bookmark or a playlist of your favorite tunes, it’s really the thought that counts. 

You can also give your lover experiences like a holiday, scuba diving course, powerboat license, or anything else that you think they’d enjoy. [Read: 23 gift ideas for your boyfriend he’ll love more than you know!]

4. Send love notes

Instead of verbally expressing your love, put it down on paper, or e-paper for that matter. From post-its to memes, there are countless ways for you to show your appreciation in love.

You can leave little surprise notes in your partner’s suitcase every time they have to go off on a business trip.

You’ll be surprised at just how meaningful these little scraps of paper can be to someone who is homesick and missing their lover. It reminds them that no matter how far away they are, they have someone waiting for them at home. [Read: How to write a sweet little love note like a true romantic]

5. Pay attention

Another way to show someone you care is to always pay attention to what they say and do. Some people are less expressive than others, and if your sweetheart is like this, you have to learn to read between the lines.

They may not always show and express just how stressed, tired, or upset they are, so it’s your job to figure it out.

For example, you might not have any idea just how much pressure your partner is under at work, until one of their colleagues blab it to you when you run into him at a café. 

It might hit you hard, and you might feel so guilty for not paying attention to the little signs that your lover was sending out on a daily basis. So, you need to learn to focus. Listening and paying attention are very important when it comes to showing care and appreciation in love. [Read: 19 ways to be a much better listener in a relationship]

6. Give thanks

Show appreciation to your lover by being grateful, and be sure that you verbalize it every time if you want to show them you care.

Even the little things deserve recognition. From making dinner to taking out the trash, be thankful that your partner does these things, not because it’s expected of them, but because they want to do it.

7. Plan surprises

Ah, the power of surprises! Everyone loves a good surprise, so why not make the effort to plan a little something for your sweetheart?

From the big stuff like organizing a getaway to surprising them with dinner reservations at their favorite ribs joint, make the effort to be lovingly adorable.

Even the simple stuff counts as a surprise. Stuff like setting up a candlelit bubble bath for your girlfriend after she gets home from a long day at work to treat your husband to a sexy oil massage, don’t underestimate the power of these surprise gestures to show someone you care about them. [Read: The 52 sweetest romantic gestures for everyday life]

8. Give your time

You can also show appreciation in love by giving your time to your loved one. Let them know how important they are by setting aside all distractions the next time you spend quality time together. 

Put your phone away, and turn off all your little gadgets. Make it all about the two of you, and indulge in endless conversations about anything that tickles your fancy.

You and your partner might practice “nothing night” on a regular basis. Make sure that there’s nothing around to distract you from one another. 

Just shut the world out and sit alone at home chatting, laughing, and just reveling in being together. You should make it a point to do this every so often to intimately reconnect and show them you care about them and enjoy every minute with them. [Read: The 25 best relationship topics to talk about if you want to be happy in love]

9. Give praise

Another way to show appreciation is to give praise. Positivity is extremely important in a relationship, and one way to project this is to let your lover know just how great they are. 

Praise your boyfriend’s cooking, tell your wife she looks stunning, whisper to your lover how great they smell, and so on. There are myriad ways that you can praise someone, so be sure to do it often.

10. Take care of things

Show your partner how much you appreciate them by taking care of things. We don’t mean it in a Scarface sort of way, where you shower their enemies with cocaine and AK-47 them to death. We mean helping them take a load off their shoulders.

Do something nice and meaningful for your partner, especially when they’re feeling down or stressed out.

Little gestures like washing their car, grooming the dog, putting the kids to bed, grabbing takeout on the way home, and other little everyday gestures will be sure to please them. The less they have to worry about, the more they will know just how much you love them.

11. Change for the better

One of the best ways to prove your love is to be a better person for your partner. Sure, people always preach about never changing for anyone, but to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with making a change for the better.

Stop being so grumpy, quit smoking, come home early from work more often, and plan more family trips.

Improving your joint lives will not be lost on your partner, and you can bet your bottom dollar that this is the ultimate form of showing them your appreciation. [Read: 9 ways you and your partner bring out the best in each other]

12. Be a good listener

If you ask anyone, they will probably say they are a good listener. But in reality, most people aren’t. And it’s not just about eye contact, you have to put down anything you’re doing, look at them, and show that you care about what they’re saying.

This involves rephrasing – or paraphrasing – what they are saying. For example, you can say something like, “Oh, what I hear you saying is that you are really upset that your co-worker took credit for your work. How can I help you?” It will really show that you care. [Read: 19 ways to be a better listener in a relationship]

13. Show affection in public

It’s one thing to cuddle with someone in private when you’re at home watching TV, and it’s another one to put it on display in public. 

When you hold hands, put your arms around each other, or lightly kiss them, it shows the world that you are proud of them. It is the equivalent of shouting from the mountain tops that you love this person. [Read: Public display of affection – How to do it, 26 PDA rules and laws and other must-knows]

14. Ask them how they are doing

When we say this, we are not saying the normal, “Hey, how are you?”… “I’m fine, how are you?” type of asking.

We are talking about really asking how they are doing. Ask them how work is going, how they are feeling about something, and what you can do to make things better.

When you really show that you care by asking them how they are doing, they will definitely appreciate it. Going beyond the normal pleasantries will really make them feel good. [Read: How to be more affectionate in a relationship and show them you care]

15. Make them their favorite dinner

As the saying goes, “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach!” Well, that might not be true of everyone, but who doesn’t like it when someone makes them a nice meal? 

It doesn’t even have to be a whole dinner. It could be cookies or simply bringing them a bottle of wine. But the more effort you put into making the food or drink, the more it will show that you care.

16. Ask for advice

This might sound like a strange one. But when you ask someone for their advice, it shows that you value their opinion. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be asking, right?

And when someone values your opinion, it makes you feel good. You think, “Wow, this person thinks I’m smart or wise and can really help them.” You feel like they look up to you and value you as a person. [Read: How to make a man feel loved – 23 ways to make him feel really desired]

17. Initiate sex

If you’re in a romantic relationship, don’t always wait and let your partner initiate physical intimacy. Everyone wants to feel wanted and sexy.

So, when you tell them how much you want them and lead them to the bedroom, then that’s a great way to show someone you care.

18. Call or text them regularly

When someone is important to us, we want to stay in contact with them. So that’s how you can show someone you care for them over text.

Think about it. If you went out on a few dates with someone but they never texted or called you in between, would you feel like they cared? Of course not. And the same is true for other people in our lives. [Read: 20 reasons why a good morning text is so important to make someone feel loved]

19. Kiss and hug them when you first see them

Don’t just walk in the door without acknowledging their presence. Look happy to see them, throw your arms around them with a hug, and give them a kiss on the cheek or lips.

Say hello and ask how they are doing or how their day was. Everyone feels good when someone else is happy to see them. [Read: How to be affectionate – 15 gestures that reveal your feelings best]

20. Ask if they need anything

Let’s say that you are hungry driving home from work and want to go through the drive-thru to get some food.

Well, don’t just get yourself the food, because that looks selfish.

Instead, text or call and see if they want anything too. Or, if you’re getting off the couch, ask them if they need anything while you’re up. Small things like that really show that you care about someone.

21. Make them a priority

When someone is important to us, we make time for them.

So, if they ask you to hang out or to do a favor for them, let them know that they are on top of your list of priorities. When you do that, they know that you care about them a lot and want to make them happy.

[Read: The right priority in your relationship – how to find and focus on it]

Now that you know how to show someone you care, go ahead and do these things for your parents, kids, friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, cleaning lady, and everyone else who plays a part in your life. In the same way, you would respond well to praise and meaningful gestures of love, they will too. Make it your mission to touch the lives of those around you, and show appreciation in love today.