October marks the beginning of the festive season for Indians. Naturally, all of us will be looking for occasions, to celebrate in ways never done before. This year is bound to be different. Amid the gloom cast by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also an opportunity for family members to converge and spend a warm time together. This presents a good reason to explore new décor ideas and give your home an affordable makeover.

Are you ready for some cool décor tips to last you from Dussehra to Christmas? Avoid the strenuous task of planning the décor, through some simple hacks and tricks.

Opt for handcrafted decorations

There are plenty of choices available in the market, in varying shapes, designs, materials, colour tones and placements. Palash Agrawal, founder and director at Vedas Exports, suggests that one can choose wall-mounted, classic T- shaped light holders in the design of a ‘mashaal’ (wooden torch in medieval design) or golden hued animal/bird-shaped T-holders designed like an elephant, horse or other such animals.

Image courtesy: Vedas Exports

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Also, one can opt for flower vases or pan-shaped T-lights or lamp holders. Indian handicraft makers specialise in creating ornate and intrinsic designs, with golden plating or screen work that can aesthetically diffuse the light in myriad ways. Contemporary designs include cylindrical, bottle-shaped or Arabian Surahi style light holders, which are bound to impress everyone with their finesse.

Image courtesy: Vedas Exports

These can be used as gifting options too. These elegant and classy gifts or home lighting options, for festivals like Dussehra and Diwali, will not burn a hole into your pocket with their cost.

Home lighting options for the festive season

Fairy lights can be used in the living room. They can be placed along the windowsill or put up against the wall. Another great way to light up your home is with glowing candles. Candles make a great décor item.  All the better, if they are scented, as a wonderful aroma will engulf your space, says Jessica Fernandes, senior designer, Design Cafe.

Diyas can also add to the glamour of your home. Lighting a diya also has a deeper meaning attached to it. They are said to represent the transformation from darkness into the light. For Diwali, you can arrange diyas in a unique way and let them float in a bowl filled with water and pretty flower petals. If you have an unused large copper or ceramic bowl it is time to put it to use, by giving it a makeover with petals and diyas.

Image courtesy: Vedas Exports

How to spruce up the coffee table

Rather than accumulating new things, put old things to use in a new way. Clay diyas placed on your coffee Table can transform the entire vibe of the living room. You can place the diyas on the dining table too, if you want to add a bit of drama to your festive dinner, says Fernandes. Along with all the scrumptious sweets and savouries on the table, you can add some table candles and oil lamps, to enhance your dining experience. To deck up your dining table or coffee table even more, you can add coloured napkins and silver cutlery. Be sure to add a lovely table cloth, as it can change the entire look of your dining area. You can use satin tablecloths if a rich look is what you desire.

Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels

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Festive season colours for the home

Do you want to add a splash of colour to your home this Diwali? Are you fond of streamers and lanterns? Diwali is the best time of the year to display them in your living room. Fernandes suggests using handmade lanterns in green, purple-red and blue colours, neatly hung from a string, right across a wall, as a simple hack for the living room. From the centre of the ceiling, you can also install a beautiful handmade chandelier, made with different coloured crepe paper and shiny streamers that will add to the beautiful and colourful Diwali theme.

“Talking about colours, how can we miss out on the rangoli? Rangoli is an ancient Hindu floor art, where patterns are created using coloured rice, coloured sand and flower petals. This Diwali, create art of your own with a hand-drawn rangoli to depict a traditional floor mat. You can extend the theme of colours and patterns to your balcony by putting up plate art and origami, to bring out a festive vibe,” adds Fernandes.

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