Twelve Diwali decoration ideas for the home, from diya arrangements to sculptural candle stands and pendant lights. Handcrafted ideas from a Jaipur studio.
Diwali Decoration Ideas for Your Home
DIY Diwali decorations often depend on the way the lighting is used rather than how many lamps are bought. A couple of well-placed things – a bunch of diyas, an artistic candle holder, and a light fixture hung in the proper position – will add to the room decor much more than three boxes full of fairy lights. This is how to use light to decorate your home this Diwali.
Doorway & Diya Arrangements
Begin at the door itself. The arrangement of rangoli, a toran hanging above, and a series of diyas on the doorsteps is the traditional arrangement because it is the first thing that the guests will see. Do not stick to one straight line inside the house either. Arrange the diyas in odd numbers, at different heights, in steps, windowsills, and small water trays. It is this lack of symmetry which makes the whole thing look arranged.
Candle Stands as Sculpture
In that regard, a candle stand would perform the task of a centrepiece on its own. The Qutub collection is made in aluminium and inspired by the outline of Qutub Minar. This collection comes in five different versions and is intended to create an array of candles placed at different heights in a linear manner to create a sort of architectural sequence. View our whole collection of candle stands or choose from our Dharohar candle stand collection if you want just one centrepiece.
Layered Lighting, Living Room to Dining Table
Good rooms always have three forms of lighting – ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting; and Diwali is a perfect occasion for completing the design of your room lighting with another form of lighting. For ambient lighting, you can use any kind of a floor lamp (Trayah). For dramatic lighting, pendants can be used. The pendant lights should be hung above the dining table at a height of 75 to 90 centimetres; beyond that, they will stop performing their role. Some tea lights on the table runner will add to the festive spirit of your room.
Puja Corner & Temple Bells
The puja corner should have its own lighting, independent from the rest of the room. The temple bell pendant provides both the sound element as well as the brass elements to the mandir, and is suitable when suspended slightly below the other pendants in the room.
Wall Light & Reflection
However, mirrors can help in accomplishing several tasks during Diwali; hang a mirror to reflect light from diya across the room instead of installing another light source. Just a few mirrors in a position opposite to the main source of light can help increase the brightness of a room without any additional installation.
Things to Keep Post-Diwali
The fairy lights fray and the plastic diyas get broken and end up in garbage bins after the festival of Diwali, but not the candle stand made of cast aluminium or brass pendant because they don’t have any of these problems at all and just become a part of the room. Something to ponder upon when buying.
FAQs
How early should I start decorating for Diwali?
A week or two out is plenty for lighting — start with fixed pieces like pendants and candle stands, and add diyas and rangoli in the final days.
How many diyas should I light?
There’s no fixed number — odd counts (5, 7, 11) are traditional and tend to look more natural than even rows.
What’s the safest way to use candles around children and pets?
Keep open flames on stable, raised surfaces out of tail-and-hand reach, and consider LED diyas for low areas like the floor or stairs.
