Diwali is an Indian festival that often feels incomplete without adorning one's home. However, before delving into brainstorming Diwali decoration ideas, there's a crucial first step – cleaning your house. Just as deep cleaning is a traditional part of Diwali preparations, so is the delightful act of decorating! Whether you reside in a multi-story house, a bungalow, or a rented apartment, there are countless ways to embellish your space, whether it's large or small, and infuse it with a festive and cozy ambiance.
Decorating your home for Diwali is a heartwarming activity that engages every member of the household. It's an opportunity to bond with your family and friends, creating cherished memories as you work together to prepare your home for the festival.
Even a task as mundane as cleaning can become a joyful activity when done in collaboration with your loved ones. The reason why there is so much emphasis on cleanliness is that the festival of lights is centered around Goddess Laxmi, and all the cleanliness and decorations are for her welcome. According to Hinduism, she only resides in a clean house. So, if you seek blessings of prosperity, it's of pivotal importance to clean and decorate your home with equal fervor.
Apartment Decoration Ideas for Diwali
If you live in a rented Apartment and feel that you might have to restrict yourself in terms of decorations, you couldn’t be more wrong. We have thus collected some foolproof ideas to decorate your Rented Apartment, depending on various budget limits.
Diwali Decoration Idea #1 - Gather Genda Phool
In Hindu culture, no Pooja, festival, or Hindu wedding is deemed truly complete without the inclusion of Genda Phool, also known as marigold flowers, as a fundamental element of decoration. These marigold flowers are often referred to as the 'herb of the sun' because of the belief that their fragrance possesses the unique ability to dispel stress and negativity, replacing them with a sense of optimism that uplifts one's mood. Additionally, marigolds play a significant role in Hindu events due to the auspicious symbolism associated with the vibrant colors of orange and yellow. These colors are believed to bestow blessings upon new beginnings and are thus an integral part of any Hindu celebration.
2. Beautify the Main Door for Diwali Decoration
A swift and effective method to instantly illuminate your space for Diwali is to focus on decorating your main entrance. Whether you opt for fairy lights or prefer the traditional charm of marigold flowers and mango leaves, there are numerous ways to make this entrance truly grand. Incorporate an array of elements like diyas, rangolis, and even floating candles to create a warm and inviting ambiance.
3. Use Indoor Plants - Diwali Decoration
Embracing eco-friendliness while decorating your home for Diwali can be beautifully achieved by incorporating indoor plants as a prominent accent. Begin by acquiring traditional earthen pots and enhancing their aesthetics with the application of geru, a natural color. Plant small ferns, bonsai, and money plants, and position them in your living room. Illuminate these green beauties with the soft glow of fairy lights to create a captivating and sustainable decor.
4. Invest in Some Paintings - Diwali Decoration Idea
Vastu Shastra, an ancient Indian architectural guide, recommends the inclusion of paintings as part of your Diwali decor. Opt for exquisite nature paintings featuring rivers, mountains, or lush forests, and position them as the focal point of your living room wall. These paintings have the power to enhance the aesthetics of your home with minimal effort, making them a valuable addition to your Diwali decorations.
Diwali Decoration Idea #5- Decorative Rugs are Decor
One particular interior decor item has the potential to entirely transform the appearance of your apartment. Considering the festive season, consider investing in vibrant rugs. Opt for a color that contrasts with your walls or furniture, as this can be an excellent choice. An effective contrast combination involves selecting a deeper or brighter colored rug if your walls are light, and conversely, a lighter shade if your walls are darker. This choice can revitalize the aesthetics of your space during the festivities.
6. Work with Drapes & Curtains
Once again, we come to a crucial element for revamping your apartment. Depending on your preferences, consider investing in curtains in either bright or light hues. The vast array of design options available ensures you'll never run short of choices. For Diwali, traditional colors like maroon, yellow, or mustard can be excellent choices for curtains.
Enhance the festive ambiance by adorning your curtains with fairy lights, either by hanging them along the curtain's length or placing them on the railings. This arrangement can significantly illuminate the corners of your room. An additional advantage of decorating your curtains with fairy lights is that it creates a visually appealing effect when viewed from the outside by passersby, adding to the charm of your house during Diwali.
7. Invest in Decorative Diyas
Diwali, the festival of lights, invites a grand celebration within your home, and it's an occasion where no effort should be spared to illuminate the interior. Diyas are an essential and timeless element of Diwali and home decoration during this festival. Diyas symbolize qualities such as purity, good fortune, strength, and righteousness. When you illuminate your home with diyas, it dispels negative energy and ushers in positive energy from the universe. Lighting your home with diyas symbolizes the enduring battle between good and evil. In accordance with Hindu mythology and beliefs, it's recommended to light 13 diyas and place them in various parts of your home.
To maintain the cultural essence, we recommend acquiring traditional earthen diyas. Place diyas in every nook and cranny of your home. Additionally, you can consider renting a decorative ladder and arrange diyas on each level of the shelves, creating a captivating and culturally rich Diwali decor.
Diwali Decoration Idea #8- Sustainable Paper Decorations
Explore the local markets in your vicinity to find these types of decorations. They are not only cost-effective but also available in a variety of vibrant colors and can be reused. These decorations infuse a burst of much-needed color into an otherwise unadorned apartment. You can incorporate them in various spaces, including your living room, main entrance, or even on your balcony.
9. Set the Table for Diwali
No Diwali celebration is truly fulfilled without a sumptuous meal shared with friends and family. Enhance the charm by adorning your dining table with a vibrant tablecloth featuring intricate work. Opt for traditional and rustic cutlery to infuse an authentic touch. Elevate the dining experience by incorporating a centerpiece featuring a bowl of floating candles, adding to the festive ambiance.
10. Deck up Your Pooja Room for Diwali Decoration
In every household, there exists a sacred pooja room or a dedicated area for prayer. Enhance its aesthetics by adorning it with fresh flowers, diyas, and other traditional elements. Consider incorporating yellow or red cloth pieces as decorative accents. A thoughtfully decorated pooja room not only contributes to the overall Diwali decor but also adds a spiritual and serene touch to the festive ambiance.
11. Style Up Your Entrance Door with Dreamcatchers
Dreamcatchers are revered as auspicious home decorations. These ornamental pieces feature feathers that are believed to capture negative energies while emitting positive ones. Consequently, they are often hung on entrance doors to safeguard the home against malevolent energies and prevent their entry. Dreamcatchers are available in a variety of colors, each possessing its own protective qualities. Many individuals favor the white and blue dreamcatcher, symbolizing hope and purity. Additionally, colors like red, yellow, green, pink, purple, orange, and black are also chosen. Hanging a dreamcatcher at your entrance door, alongside traditional Diwali decor elements, can amplify the positivity and usher in a prosperous ambiance.
Some DIY Diwali Decoration for Home Tips
If you are on a tight budget this year or want to just be creative with what you have, engaging in do-it-yourself decorations, more commonly referred to as DIY is a great way to bond with your loved ones and get creative. Some DIY decor ideas you can adopt and execute are
- Paper cup garlands
- Toran for the wall made with multi-coloured crepe papers
- Tealight holders decorated with washi tape
- Putting candles inside glass jars
- Creating paper bag luminaries with battery-operated candles or diyas
- Hand painting your earthen diyas with acrylic colours
Vastu Tips to Light the Diyas
Diyas, or small oil lamps, are the essence of the festival of Diwali. However, there are some Vastu rules to light the diyas the right way. Learn below about them:
- Do not light diyas in the direction facing south since it is considered inauspicious.
- Use pure ghee to light diyas to bring home positivity and prosperity.
- Avoid using sunflower oil to light diyas.
- Keep the length of the diyas’ wicks long enough so that the fire doesn’t reach the centre of the diyas.
- Always light the diyas first in the pooja room.
- Place diyas on both sides of your home entrance to invite Lakshmi and Ganesha.
Vastu Dos and Don’ts for Diwali
Dos:
- Your main door should be new or repaired.
- The footprints of Goddess Lakshmi should always be pointing inwards.
- Always use a new cloth to clean the deities’ photos and idols.
Don’ts:
- The main door should not make any squeaky sound.
- The symbols like Om, Swastika, and rangoli directions should not be placed on the west and south walls or facing these directions.
- Avoid gifting antique items to your family and friends.
- Do not make Goddess Lakshmi or Lord Ganesha rangolis on the doorstep.
Summing Up Diwali Decoration Ideas for Apartment
If you still have reservations about creating a beautiful setup in your rented apartment, we hope this article has dispelled those misconceptions. Diwali decoration is a versatile endeavor that can be accomplished in any space, regardless of its size. The most crucial aspect is to carry it out with love and sincere devotion. Diwali is a magnificent festival that unites families. When you are surrounded by your loved ones, every moment becomes joyous and splendid. Implement any of these ideas to infuse your apartment with a warm, cozy, and inviting ambiance on Diwali eve, and revel in the festivities with your family and friends.
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Ans 1. As per Vaastu, you can pick colours like light yellow, orange, all white, light blue and green to paint your pooja room.
Ans 2. If you have limited space and want to really brighten up your rented apartment with minimal effort you can use a few colourful diyas. You can either do this by colouring the earthen ones yourself or purchasing readymade ones from the store. You can also consider diya lamps, rotating diyas and diya candles.
Ans 3. No, if you plan to use fairy lights to light up your entrance or your windows/curtains, you do not need to worry about installing switchboards separately. Some fairy lights come with adapter plug point systems and some with a USB port that you can power on with the help of a power bank.
Ans 4. Rangoli making is a fun exercise and you don't need to be a pro at home. You can simply make an outline and fill it in with flower petals. You can also consider looking up ready rangoli's available in the market.
Ans 5. If you lack time, some things you can do to make your home look festive are first, do some basic cleaning and tidying up, clean and get the pooja room ready. Then you can quickly place some diyas in all corners of the house, order or purchase a ready-made rangoli and get some festive-looking dishes out on your dining table with delectable food items.