Here’s how you can elevate the ambience of your home during this festive season with our expert tips and add a touch of cultural charm to your celebrations
In India, the festive season is truly a magical time when homes come alive with vibrant colours, shimmering lights, and an air of pure joy. With our rich heritage and cultural diversity, each festival brings unique charm and traditions. So, in this article let me highlight some tips on how you can elevate the ambience of your home this festive season.
Utilise the power of lighting
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of lighting in festive décor. It helps set the mood, highlights key areas, and adds warmth to your home. Consider investing in beautiful candle holders as their soft, flickering glow can create a calming atmosphere, perfect for intimate gatherings, especially on special occasions like Diwali. Strategically placing candles throughout the house at different levels will set the mood for the space. You can also use large floor lanterns in dark corners or walkways as a means of wayfinding. Additionally, placing string lights on balconies infuses an air of magic and mysticism into your homes.
Embrace colours and patterns
India is known for its rich colours and bold patterns. Colour is the thread that binds the vast country together, and regardless of the festival or the region, incorporating bright colours such as deep reds, royal blues, and vibrant greens into your textiles and décor items creates a visually stunning space. Textiles are also a huge part of our heritage and identity. Indian textiles are sought after for their intricate patterns and bold colours. These celebrated hand-made textiles even survived the threat of industrialisation. So, whether it’s a hand-block printed place mat or a throw cushion with Chikankari embroidery, these textiles add a layer of authenticity to your festive décor.
It’s all in the centrepiece
Whether it’s a beautifully adorned Christmas tree, an exquisite rangoli for Diwali, or an elegant floral arrangement for Eid, a captivating centrepiece is the heart of any festive décor. Find a location with a clear vision line from most gathering areas, such as the living and dining rooms. For Diwali, choose a traditional rangoli made from colourful powders, rice, or flower petals. For Christmas, let your tree shine as the focal point. Decorate it with a cohesive colour scheme, and don’t forget the lights! Adding personal touches like handmade ornaments or family heirlooms can make it even more special.
Keep it fresh
Celebrate the festive spirit by bringing outdoors in with floral arrangements. Whether it’s filling the air with the aroma of fresh lilies or decorating entryways with bright marigold torans, sprucing up your home with fresh flowers completely enhances the vibe of the place. Additionally, adding baby-breath or lotuses in small vases in various places add small pockets of joy throughout the house. You can also place urlis with floating candles and flowers outside the house to welcome family and friends with warmth and elegance.
Personalise your celebration
One of the most beautiful aspects of festive décor is the opportunity to infuse your personality and heritage into the design. Display family heirlooms, handmade crafts, or art pieces that reflect your cultural background. Hand-painted diyas, handwoven textiles, or traditional art can add a personal touch to your festive décor. Personalisation can extend to your table settings as well. Use your best dinnerware, incorporate family recipes into your festive feast, and create a memorable dining experience for your loved ones.
Use decorating as a way to clean up
While buying new décor items and sprucing up your space can be exciting, an overcrowded space is not the best suited for hosting parties during festivals. Use festivals as opportunities to declutter, donate or repurpose some old items. You can also make a list of small home improvements that have been long pending, like a doorknob that needs to be replaced, the corner of a wall that needs a little touch-up or a new napkin holder you need. Making this a habit before every festival largely improves your quality of life and is of the same importance as adding decor items.
In conclusion, festive décor is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate traditions and culture by embracing lighting, colours, patterns, personalisation, and a touch of nature. You can create an elegant and enchanting ambience that leaves a lasting impression on your guests and fills your home with the spirit of celebration. So, let this festive season be a time of joy, creativity, and meaningful decor that reflects your unique style and heritage.
- The author is the founder and CEO of Designtales, an interior design studio based out of Hyderabad.
- The views of the author in this article are personal and do not constitute professional advice of Times Property.
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Picture used for representational purposes only