Expert advice for making a festive home this Diwali

Diwali is a time for redecoration and festivities welcoming goddess Lakshmi into our homes. Zee Media speaks to expert interior designer Aastha Wadhwa for some tips to ready your home before the festival of lights.

How can we redecorate a home with a small budget this Diwali?

Changing soft furnishings are the best changes you can bring to your home. New curtains and bedcovers can bring a world of change into your home. If a drastic redesign is not possible, this little change can completely transform the look and feel of your home.

For Diwali, pick bright, festive colours like red, yellow and orange.

Diwali is a time for changing how your home looks. Give us some ideas as to how we can make some simple changes to give the house a festive look.

Traditional ideas are the best way to go to add the tinge of festive spirit.

• Diyas & Lights

There is nothing prettier than an earthen diya with sarso ka tel and baati. In todays modern times, lack of time and interest has led to people using candles or t-lites in place of this traditional diya. This diya has many benefits, the most important of which is its cleansing properties, of the energy and environment. Nowadays, a variety of stands are available for setting up diyas.

• Rangoli

Rangoli can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Using flowers, gulal, daal, rice, haldi, mehendi etc. makes it natural.

There are moulds which are available for ease of pattern making.

The most important feature of the festival is worshipping of Lord Ganesha, Vighnaharta and the foremost of all Hindu Gods, and Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning, Goddess Mahakali, the Goddess of Power and Energy, and performing Poojas to seek their divine blessings.

What are some traditional items/symbols according to Vastu that we can add to our homes to bring in prosperity this Diwali?

You could follow these Vastu tips to welcome health, wealth, peace and prosperity to your home, and thereby in your life.

• Set your Pooja room correctly

The North-East corner of a house is perfectly suitable for a Pooja Ghar. Therefore, if possible, set the Pooja Ghar in this particular direction, if not, you may place it in the East. It is advisable that you avoid using colour black in the interiors of this sacred place. Keep a new and clean piece of cloth aside for the purpose of cleaning the photos and idols. Do not use this cloth for any other purpose. Avoid wearing black and dark colours while performing Pooja.

• Place the idols right

The Northern portion of a home is associated with wealth. Hence, ideally, the Lakshmi pooja should be conducted in that location. However, do not keep two idols of the same god in the pooja ghar. Lord Ganesha should be kept on the left side of the Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati should be placed on the right side of Goddess Lakshmi. Idols of all of these God and Goddess should be in sitting form. Place idols in the North-East direction and pictures of water and ‘Kalash’ in the east or north of the pooja room. While you put idols and images of gods, make sure that they are not put in a way that they would face the door of the pooja room or one another.

• Get rid of waste and clutter

Before the festival of Diwali , Ganesha says, throw away all unwanted and useless items that have been lying around in the house and create some space for the new. As per the Vastu Shastra, the front door is related to opportunities. Therefore, make sure that the front door of your home opens fully and no clutter is stored behind it, otherwise the divine energies and opportunities may not enter your home. The main hall is the place where you primarily connect with the external world so it should always be neat, beautiful and welcoming. Don’t keep unnecessary and old stuff in this room, for they don’t generate positive vibes.

According to the legends, these powerful and holy spirits enter only those houses which are well-decorated, clean and properly arranged. It is, therefore, necessary to do everything right to invite the Gods and Goddess to your home. Welcome Goddess Lakshmi to your home by stamping small footprints at the entrance of your home. These footprints bring prosperity and happiness.

What are some of the common decorating mistakes made by homeowners?

Mistakes would be to over decorate. Too many colours of lights, too much rangoli etc. You could simply avoid overdoing it to add elegance to your homes.

Tell us something about yourself and Design Studio

I graduated from the Faculty of Design, CEPT Ahmedabad. I founded my design firm, ‘AWDS’ in New Delhi in 2011. Starting with a strong passion for everything design, I believe in providing my clientele with simple yet classy solutions to all their design needs. AWDS is your window into everything ‘Design’! From furniture and furnishings to interiors of homes, retail and hospitality spaces and offices, AWDS strives to provide everyone a unique experience.