FESTIVE VIBRANCE FOR YOUR HOME
Try these tips to deck up your house for festive celebrations, and the warm ambience will surely impress your family and guests
There’s a pleasant nip in the air and everyone is in a festive mood. This is the perfect time to add some liveliness and cheer to your surroundings to attract positive energies. And you don’t even need to shell out big money to jazz up your living spaces! Simple yet creative ideas can help you revamp your abode and make you the neighbours’ envy.
LIGHT IT UP
Lights are a staple of Indian festivities and can be used creatively to amp up your decor. “Use lights to highlight your favourite feature of a room. Mixing up lighting textures can make your space interesting. Choose lighting that makes a statement as a centerpiece to your foyer. Use hanging pendant lights on either side of the bed, instead of table lamps, to switch it up,” says Jenny Pinto, interior designer from Oorjaa. She points out that warm illumination is more welcoming than white glaring lights, and also hides imperfections in the space.
Want to give your home a regal yet understated look? Place Moroccan lamps and golden lanterns around your seating arrangements. “Create an air of stately elegance with a candle holder on a dinner table, or place it on the mantel or bookshelf. You can choose the right size as per your decor space,” says Nihal Kalra, founder, The Décor Kart.
GO SUSTAINABLE
Right from using bright paper flowers to repurposing old diyas, there are multiple ways to take the sustainability route in your decor. Tanvi Aggarwal, founder, House of Ekam, asserts that every discarded item can be repurposed. “Not just for decor, sustainability can be adopted in gifting as well. Make use of your scrap fabrics to wrap gifts in the Japanese way of furoshiki. It looks great and is light on the pocket, too,” suggests Aggarwal. Another way to adopt sustainability is reusing old toys as quirky planters.
FLOWERS FOR A FRESH LOOK
A favourite at Indian homes, flowers can uplift the interior instantly. “You can use marigold, tulips, gerberas, lilies, hydrangeas, roses, etc. to jazz up your home. Drape garlands on the edges of the curtains for a cheerful look. The ceiling can be decorated with chandeliers made of flowers and foliage. You can even hang them from the corners, on light fixtures, and even from fans,” says Anil Sharma, COO, FNP retail and franchise.
A DASH OF OLDWORLD CHARM
Try sprucing up your terrace with thoughtful furniture choices and winter plants. “Opt for classic cast iron furniture and metal or cane lanterns to create a warm and ambient alfresco setting. Add classics of the plant world such as monsteras, caladiums, and palms, alongside a few interesting flowering plants, like a bougainvillea or two that come in a range of hues. Introduce a traditional and earthen touch with terracotta diyas or pots — a budget-friendly and effortless way to accentuate your space,” says Solomon Dillon, creative director, Beruru.
A VIBRANT PUJA ROOM
An aesthetic mix of the old and new can make your puja space stand out. Sharma suggests, “Buy lantern-style vases with a handle for a modern touch. Pick up fresh fragrant flowers and arrange them creatively around your home temple.” Meanwhile, interior designer, Madhuri Grover recommends using earthen diyas and rangoli to decorate the mandir. She adds, “A decorative bell and bandhanwar in red beads and floral arrangements can add more colour to the festive mood in the house.”