3 easy Diwali decor ideas to brighten up your space, plus 15 gifts that will make you the perfect guest

With the ongoing pandemic and social distancing guidelines in place, it’s safe to assume that this Diwali is going to be like none other. Zoom reunions, brocade masks, and greeting people while socially distancing yourself can seem like a lot, but it doesn’t mean you can’t go all out in decorating your space and get that festive vibe going. “With the pandemic changing the ways of the world, the trend this year is to turn inwards and be conscious of our choices and consumption,” says interior stylist and designer Rishika Jain. From lighting arrangements to beautiful floral decoration ideas, we got the expert decorator to break down how you can transform your space more this Diwali more mindfully this year.

1. Floral arrangements

Decorating with real flowers is always a good option, more so now as it can help support local vendors who might have been adversely affected because of the lockdown and pandemic restrictions. You can go the classic route and stick with jasmine, rajnigandha, roses, and carnations, or go a little extra and add a few lotus stems around the house. You can use these flowers to create rangoli patterns too, in lieu of using powdered pigments. Another alternative is to go DIY and create floral arrangements using paper and a little crafting skills. “They look just as good as the real ones, if done well, and can be sustainable too,” says Jain.

2. Lighting

It goes without saying that the most important part of the Festival of Lights is, well, the lights. There are many ways you can use different kinds of lights to set the festive mood this season. Locally sourced diyas are the best option to include in your decor. Not only will it help in supporting local artisans, you can also create a fun activity of painting and decorating the diyas with your friends or children, making them all the more special. Jain also suggests using tea lights to add to the party. Alternatively, you can use battery operated fairy lights to add whimsy to the decor. Use empty mason jars or beer glasses as lamps and keep the fairy lights in them, as a substitute to stringing them around your space.

3. Sustainable decor

Rishika emphasises on the importance of not being wasteful this year. She suggests ways you can repurpose stuff around your house (and wardrobe) to make for fun and interesting Diwali decor. “A really cool idea is to use colourful phulkari dupattas, or other handicraft fabric, as table runners,” she says, adding that “repurposing, reusing, and locally sourced material is the way to go this season.”

Home gifting ideas for your loved ones this Diwali

Now that you’re all sorted decor-wise, here's a quick gifting guide curated by Vogue India to help you out if you’re looking for unique gifting ideas this season.

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