DIY Diwali Decoration Items Made At Home. Get Ready To Celebrate The Festival Of Lights

One of the first images that crop up in the mind of every person, be it, parents and kids, alike, when the Indian festival of Diwali is mentioned is that of decorations. Colorful, glitzy, interesting, and unique decorations will transform your house into an exquisite work of art that can bedazzle visitors and Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity, herself.

Sounds wonderful and interesting, doesn't it? So, how do you go about it? With the current situation that necessitates people staying indoors due to the pandemic still not showing signs of slowing down (wholly), it is a great opportunity to do away with market-bought decorations to a certain extent and instead, decorate your home yourself. Time for some DIY decorations to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity in style.

Diwali is here, and how. While the pandemic-induced situation has resulted in big celebrations being tossed aside in favor of somewhat toned-down festivities, nevertheless, it is the time for sweets, new clothes, crackers, and decorations.

Diwali and decorations

For what is the 'Festival of Lights' without some extraordinary and vibrant decorations? It is a given that Diwali and decorations go hand-in-hand. A time when every house is cleaned and spruced up beautifully to welcome the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi.

When it comes to decorating the house, the possibilities are endless - diyas, candles, flower decorations, string lights, rangolis, idols of the worshipping deity, and others. But, while you are gearing up to decorate the house, how about preparing decorations from scratch? Yes, we are talking about investing your time and effort in sustainable dcor.

Importance of sustainable dcor

This year, why don't you try your hand at sustainable decor? Not only is this type of decor a wonderful outlet for your creativity but it is a greener, more economical, and fun activity for both you and your kids. Sustainable decor is low on environmental impact, helps lower pollution, consumes less energy, consists of items that can be reused next year, and is, in all essence, kind to the planet. A 'standout' feature of sustainable decor is that you are involved in the making process from point zero so, you will be able to make items with safe and eco-friendly materials.

Ramalakshmi Nagarajan, an interior designer, based in Mumbai, says keeping the concept of sustainable decor in mind while decorating one's house during Diwali is "A wonderful idea that will give your house a different look from the previous years' decorations as you will be making everything in scratch keeping in mind your requirements. However, do keep practicality in mind as well and do not go overboard with the DIY decorations as they can backfire as well and lend an air of 'loudness' to the setting."

Tips and Ideas for decorating your house on Diwali

Diwali is all about decorating your house in the best way possible. We, at Parent Circle, bring you some ideas for decoration that is sure to make this Diwali a memorable one for the whole family. From store-bought ones like paper lampshades to DIY paper diyas, go ahead and deck up your house.

1. Paper lampshades

Apart from giving your house a festive look, paper lampshades are preferred by many for their 'oriental' look and feel. They are readily available in the market, relatively inexpensive, and come in amazing patterns and colors. Additionally, they come in different shapes and sizes giving you endless ways to decorate the house.

Upasana Lepcha, a citizen of Nepal, where Diwali is celebrated with much fervor says, "Initially, I was against using lampshades as I felt they are made to serve as decorative pieces for oriental restaurants. I was never so wrong as I realized that using a few paper lampshades, especially in shades of red and gold, adds to the charm of Diwali."

2. Glass jar lanterns

Glass jar lanterns are the ideal example of a non-messy craft idea for Diwali that will illuminate the entire house beautifully. All you require is some old glass jars (cleaned) to turn into lanterns. Take the glass jars and channel your inner Picasso to paint them in a variety of colors for a perfect Diwali decoration. When dusk sets in, these lanterns will not only give out light but will look beautiful too. A must-have accessory to decorate the house.

3. DIY toran

Torans, a decorative hanging, is a wonderful way to decorate the door to your house. This decorative piece is adorned with marigolds and mango leaves (or other leaves depending on the availability). You can even take the help of a string and tie it to the door with flowers on it. Make your very own colorful toran this festive season and add to the cheer and merry-making.

DIY toran for Diwali

To begin, decide on a color or theme for your toran, pick your choice of flowers, and start working.

Step 1: Cut the flaps for the toran

• Take a corrugated box flap of a corrugated sheet
• Draw two rectangles measuring 5 X 6 inches and 4 X 5 inches in size
• In the rectangles, draw two pentagons
• Cut the pentagon flaps. Make sure to keep one of the flaps a little bigger than the other.
• Make six such flaps

Step 2: Paint the design

• Take the small flap and paint it with a color of your choice
• Take an A4 white paper and draw a flower design that will fit in the small flap
• Trace the same design on the painted flap with the help of carbon paper
• Paint the mandala and then paint the outline of the design

Step 3: Make the tassels

• Take the other flap of the corrugated sheet and paint the textured line side of the flap
• Let it dry for a few minutes
• Take the golden thread and needle and pass through colorful beads to make bead strands
• Make similar bead strands (around six in number) for the toran

Step 4: Assembling the toran

• Take the painted mandala flap and stick it on the textured flap
• This should be done along with the beaded tassel
• Sandwich the lace between the two
• Glue them together and leave them to dry

Your very own toran is ready to use.

Note: Most Hindu households believe that torans are used to attract the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, into their homes.

4. Paper cup lights

One of the least inexpensive and easiest decorations to do is paper cup lights. The fact that this decoration gives your house a complete makeover makes it a must-have decor idea for Diwali. As the name suggests, all that you require is a number of paper cups, a string of lights, and colorful crayons and you are ready to have a bright Diwali where every corner of the house is lit up in colorful paper cup lights. Additionally, give these cups a vibrant touch by painting or coloring them and cutting them into different shapes.

5. Fairy lights in bottles

Why leave most of the decorations outside of the house? One decorative piece that can instantly liven up and transform a dull setting into a 'fairytale' one is the fairy lights in bottles. Most people use these to elevate the decor of their rooms or a particular section of the house all year round. Having said this, Diwali is one festival where you can make the best use of this item to decorate the house and tap into its full potential.

Here is how you can go about it and turn any dull glass bottle into a glowing center of attraction inside the house.

What you need:

• 5-6 glass bottles (preferably of good and sturdy quality glass)
• A battery-operated micro LED fairy light strand with 60 warm white bulbs

How to set up one:

• Clean the bottles and leave them to dry
• Carefully hand-cut the bottom of the bottles for inserting the lights
• Take the LED lights and start placing them on the bottles
• Ensure the lights are about the size of a grain and on flexible ultra-thin wire so that when you place them inside the bottle, they resemble fireflies

6. Candle holder

A candle holder is one of the easiest ways to decorate your house. All you need is a jar or some small glasses (Parent Circle recommends a jar). Decorate the glass jar using glitter, sequences, and acrylic paints before putting the candle inside. Take the jar and place it on one corner of the house for a lively effect.

7. DIY egg carton lights

If you are about to throw the egg carton away, hold on for a minute. It may be used to decorate the house during Diwali. But how is this possible? Well, try the unique DIY egg carton lights. Not only are these easy to make but they add to the festive cheer.

What you need:

• Empty egg carton
• Painting material
• A string of fairy lights
• How to go about it:

Take an empty egg carton and cut it into flower-shaped pieces. Next, paint the cartons with bright colors such as yellow and pink. Make small holes in the flower pieces. Take a string of fairy lights as discussed in the earlier point and attach it through the holes in the flower pieces and hang it in the living room or the entrance to the house.

8. Drape string lights in the curtains

Give your home interiors a dreamy makeover by draping string lights in the curtains. These look pretty with sheer fabric. If you do not have sheer curtains, no problem. Pull your solid curtains to the sides and hook them closely. Next, take any sheer fabric like a dupatta or a sari but choose one that matches the color of the curtains. Then, hang the sheer fabric from a curtain rod behind the solid curtains. Hang strings of lights behind the dupatta and you are good to go.

9. A bright wooden plank welcome sign

For those of you who can spare a wooden plank at home, this is a simple but attractive method to decorate the entry to your house. Take the wooden plank, glue fabric on it, and border it with lace. Next, add three to four motifs diagonally and place four to five diyas on both sides. A cost-friendly and effective option that looks wonderful at the front door.

10. A glass bowl with flowers

Perhaps, one of the simplest tips to decorate the house during Diwali, yet, the most effective and aesthetically pleasing is a round glass bowl with flowers. Simply fill a glass bowl with water and place flowers on the top to float. You can even keep a diya on the water.

11. Wall art

Wall art is a great way to decorate your living room or other spaces and enhance its appearance. All you need to take is some sparkles and washable paint that is designed to wash easily off walls and put your creativity to the test. Go for beautiful flower designs or try your hand at attractive diya designs. Put in the finishing touches with sparkles and your Diwali wall art is ready.

12. Rangoli

An essential feature of every festival is Rangoli - the art of drawing figures on the floor with the help of chalk, sawdust in different colors, and flour grain to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Try your hand at common themes for Diwali such as the Om, swastika, and mangal kalash. You can also place a lighted diya at the center of the rangoli and sprinkle glitter on the edges.

"My daughter loves to make rangolis and looks forward to making it every year. She loves experimenting with colors and the end results are beautiful indeed. It gives a festive look to the entire house. Plus, it makes us feel that we are at home," says Shweta Baraily, who lives in Dubai with her 13-year-old daughter and husband.

13. Decorate your diyas

Finally, the one decorative tip that completes the festival - diyas. If you decide not to buy the market diyas, simply use small waste cans or diyas made of brass. Using paint, draw beautiful patterns and symbols on the diyas to give them a festive look.

Diyas symbolize knowledge in Hinduism. Place them in and around the house to illuminate the entire house and get ready to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

We, at ParentCircle, spoke to a few parents about how they are planning to decorate their houses this Diwali. The responses were nothing short of enthusiastic. Read on...

Meghna Singhal, mother of two kids - a daughter and a son, is planning to decorate her house in a simple but tasteful manner.

"To begin, we are planning to get clay diyas and paint them in bright colors. This year, the kids want to decorate them with beads. Also, we will be getting fresh marigold flowers to make flower curtains to hang on the door and windows. Lastly, I am planning to paint rangoli outside the house using poster paints instead of dry colors. This makes the rangoli last a week."

This year, Shweta Baraily, who lives in Dubai, plans to do something unique for Diwali. She is planning to go eco-friendly.

"I want my children to understand the importance of caring for the environment from an early age, so I want to have an eco-friendly Diwali this year. We are making diyas from household materials and using old glass bottles to create lanterns. Also, we have decided not to burst crackers as they cause air pollution while my daughter is looking forward to creating her first rangoli."

Things to remember when painting or decorating a wall for Diwali

1. While painting or decorating a section of your house for Diwali may seem exciting, there are a few points to keep in mind.
2. Painting is a long process. Before starting, make sure to repair any wall imperfections such as filing cracks in the wall.
3. Check the surface for any dampness or water seepage.
4. Put on an additional coat of paint to ensure better visibility of the color and to ensure the color does not fall off easily.