Diwali Decorations: 3 Last-Minute, Inexpensive Home Decorating Ideas

By Deepanjolie Figg

If you’re a busy mom who’s had no time to get the house decorated in time for your Diwali guests, don’t panic. We’ll show you how to throw together some unique and last-minute Diwali decorations that make your home a welcoming place for your visitors.

Most Indian homes have access to some yardage – old saris too pretty to throw away and sentimental value stuff that doesn’t go too well with today’s homes designed with contemporary décor principles in mind.

Well, all this can be put to good use at Diwali time, an occasion for reviving traditions and old-fashioned ideals – and that too, without spending a lot of time or money!

3 Unique Diwali Decorating Ideas To Greet Your Guests

• Floating Diyas And Flowers

You can use existing brass and copper ‘handis’ (miniature cauldrons) that are brightly polished as a corner decoration in your bedroom, living room, at the base of a staircase or even in the pooja room.

Simply fill these with water, toss in flower petals and float a tea-light or diya in the center of each pot when dusk falls: a great alternative to artificial light that gives a soft glow to your home and enchants guests too!

Sprinkle in some silver or gold dust available in vials to jazz up the floating flowers, if you like against a backdrop of a brocade sari piece mounted on the wall or made into a window screen, for added ethnic charm.

Flowers and floating candles make a beautiful and welcoming centerpiece

• Bells Or Wind Chimes

Ring in the Diwali cheer with bells! Both conventional and modern bells (some diya and multi-layered diya stands also come fitted with bells now) can be used at different heights to give an interesting effect – or even announce the presence of a visitor when hung in foyers and entrances. Wind chimes with bells are a popular alternative that gives soft music too.

Wind chimes are a cheap and attractive home decor accessory

• Get Creative With Knick-Knacks

Visit the numerous Diwali melas, local NGO’s and charities for festive sales and special products you can pick up at a fraction of the market cost (lamps, colored, scented and floating candles, wall-hangings, paper lanterns, decorated platters for serving snacks etc.)

Use inexpensive urns you can decorate yourself: simple techniques include dyeing a thick rope of any color you want, applying some adhesive and wrapping that around the earthen pot till it’s fully covered.

Combine various sizes under mood lighting (dim/two-toned bulbs) and set them against a traditional painting or on a brightly colored rug or footstool for an elegant, earthy look!

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Additional resources:

Interior Decorating For Everybody – Decorating your home doesn’t have to be expensive. Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and at a low price, if you have a feeling for line and color, or for either. Learn to create a tastefully decorated home and obtain a perfect balance, with infinite grace and winning charm.
Book of Inspirational Interiors – Have you often mulled over how to fix unused spaces in the house or frowned at an empty corner? Tired of thinking about ways to spruce up a room? Wish you had some go-to-place to get some ideas? This list of 250+ inspirational rooms, spanning a variety of styles, is sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Fun Kids Crafts – Learn how to make unique kids crafts & art projects in no time at all with templates, pictures & easy-to-follow instructions for 700 unique fun kids crafts. Studies have shown that craft activities can increase problem solving skills, boost self esteem when successfully finishing a project and radically improves creativity, concentration & perseverance in a child, up to 40%.