Anita Lal, Creative Head of the lifestyle store, Good Earth tells you how to decorate your home with the time-honoured richness and charm of our very own heritage.
A fusion of the finest of silks, splendid lights and antique metals is the perfect way to beautify your home this year.
Colour Up
Courtesy: Good Earth
Do your home up with a spray of brilliant hues and an eclectic mix of traditional weaves and metal. "Silver, aubergine (a dark shade of purple), charcoal, lacquer red and smoked colours are in this season," says Anita Lal. Combine them with aqua marine and turquoise or lime green and amber.
Adorn that divan in the corner of your living room with long, slim cushions. Try a splash of bright orange with accents of deep purple. You could even try fuchsia pink cushions covers. Gold trimmings and embroidery will give your home that plush look.
Of Gems and Jewels
Diwali wouldn't be the same without the glitter. Go with glitzy mirror and heavy sequined work on cushion covers, quilts, bed covers and table cloths.
Ditch the regular free standing partition for a hanging one in coloured glass beads or crystals. Your home will be a sparkling beauty. You could even use these instead of regular curtains.
Fine Dining
Invite your family and friends over to feast on mouth-watering delights this season. Lay out the table with sparkling bronze dishware and handcrafted cutlery. "According to Ayurveda, Kansa (traditional bronze) is the perfect metal to eat out of," Anita Lal explains.
The peepul leaf which is very symbolic of Indian tradition can be incorporated as inlay in coasters, brass platters or even wooden furniture
Silver ice pales and wine trays can be very stylish. You could even have a beautiful silver stand for those tempting laddoos or dry fruit.
A brass bowl with pretty candles and water lilies set afloat in the centre of the table would complete the setting for the perfect dinner party.
If bling is not your thing, then try a minimal look. Use peaceful colours like deep aubergine and stick to one colour palette. You could combine it with another colour too.
Silver accents (hammered silverware, cutlery and even silver embroidery) will compliment this style well.
The Sleep of a King
Shades of aubergine and terracotta can give your bedroom a royal look and make you feel like queen of your palace. You could have cotton silk and pure silk bed covers with delicate embroidery or pretty Banaras brocades.
You could even have black and white bed covers with glittering sequins or a combination of fuchsia pink and turquoise with gold embroidery.
If you prefer bedcovers without embellishments, then try hand quilted cotton covers with block prints. They are comfortable for everyday use and give you a festive look too.
Liven Up with Lights
Courtesy: Good Earth
There is nothing like an elaborate garden party for friends and family to celebrate the festival of lights. String along lanterns and fairy lights across the terrace, balcony or around the house too.
Try an interesting combination of brass and glass. Anita Lal says that the classic clay diyas can be replaced with trendy river lights in reds, oranges, blues, greens and pinks.
A brass table diya or a unique ethnic candle chandelier would be the perfect way to grace a sprawling coffee table.
Don't forget to include the coloured, smoked lanterns to keep the spirit of the festival alive!
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