Lights & a dash of sparkle! 5 ways to spruce up your home decor this Diwali

With Diwali right around the corner, it is the season to be more conscious of our holiday habits. To make this Diwali an eco-friendly celebration, upcycling existing items can be a great way to spruce up your home decor.

With a deep appreciation of craft, the secret to a well-designed gathering lies in upcycling items at your home that have been passed down from your parents and grandparents and pairing them with a few new accessories to create your own beautiful and meaningful festive soirees.

Here are some easy tips to decorate your home this Diwali:

Diwali is the festival of lights, so add a touch of sparkle and buy hand-crafted terracotta clay diyas to give a simple yet traditional touch to brighten up your home. A touch of brass tea lights, oil lamps along with brass urlis filled with water and rose petals create a breath of fresh air.

Rethink gift wrap this festive season. The best gifts come in small packages, especially if they are presented in a sustainable fashion. Rather than spending more on additional rolls of wrapping paper, wrap gifts in repurposed packaging.

Some things remain classics for a reason, and you can’t go wrong with traditional Diwali decorations. Take inspiration from these timeless motifs as you build your own unique Diwali decor. Torans, a decorative door hanging made from fresh flowers create a warm welcoming greeting. Diyas add a beautiful warmth to the surrounding. Rangoli adds to the celebration of rich patterns and colour to complete the look.

Let your home reflect the festive vibes with flower garlands. They bring freshness and Diwali cheer and are one of the easiest ways to uplift your home décor. My favourite is the marigold garlands.

Reinvent Diwali traditions to be more eco-friendly. A big part of the festivities is the traditional sweets - mithais. Instead of taking the easy way out and buying packaged goodies, stick to homemade snacks this time around. Not only are you taking care of your health by doing this, you’re also avoiding all the unnecessary packaging that can harm the environment

Look for unique tea sets, coffee mugs and tableware made of ceramic, stone, brass and other materials that are not hostile to environmental health. Not only are these materials interestingly tactile and long-lasting, they are also friends of nature.

And lastly, no one can truly describe the joy of giving. Donate your clothes, blankets, and bed sheets that are in good condition to people or organisations in need.

This Diwali season, if we can all be mindful of the environment and celebrate in a respectful and responsible way, the world will be a better place.

The author Dipali Patwa is the Group Head of Brand and Community at FabIndia.