From last-minute decoration and cleaning up ideas to do it yourself creativity, Prasoon Shrivastava lets you in on some inspiring, instant home decorating tips that can lift up the look for you this Diwali

Make it bright & beautiful

bring in a new life

Whether natural or artificial, greenery adds a breath of fresh air to any decor. Plants and flowers instantly change the atmosphere and add the right kick a decor needs to stand out and feel complete. While artificial ones add a magical element in the milieu of a space, house plants can help with everything from cleaner air to noise control. Classic vases, pots and planters are the decorative accessories that hold the tender and gorgeous gifts of nature as well as embellish the space by their own beauty.

Drapes so good

Turning an ordinary room into a really special place is what the best curtain treatment does. From choosing the right colour, length, material and type to considering the purpose, each of the things needs to be kept in mind while buying curtains for homes to give the room warmth and great look.

Decorative cushions

The pillows and cushions are an easy and interesting way to add colours, patterns and textures to a room. Be it a living room or a bedroom, a sofa or a chair, they are a stylish component to spark up the home.

Rearrange furniture

The way a room is decorated and the stuff is arranged defines the overall look of the space. With simple rearrangement and repositioning of unnecessary furniture pieces, a room space can breathe a new life.

Eliminate clutter

Mess gathered in a room spoils the mood as well as takes the personality out of it. Finding perfect storage spaces for stuff like papers, toys and other items will banish the clutter and bring an organised feel.

Hang photos or mirror

The frames that are more ornate add decorative flair along with warmth in the ambience. Other than the pictures and artwork, mirrors hung on the walls reflect an interesting architectural element and bring intrigue, light and conversation into the space. From those with wooden frames to the ones with metal frames and from simple decorative mirrors to those featuring highly ornate designs, decorative mirrors can dress up bare walls in an interesting manner.

Do it yourself

With so many people trying to do their best with Diwali decorations, Do It Yourself ideas can be helpful to create a unique decor. Easily found items like bangles, tins, balloons, thread and a basic stationary and tool kit can come in handy for the weekend projects.

Customised candles

Use a mason jar, thin jute rope, glue and flower petals to create charming candles that can accentuate the look of the house. Simply spread some glue on the inside of the mason jar using a sponge brush and stick the flower petals or weathered leaves. let it dry for a couple of hours, place a tea light candle and ignite it to see the decor lighten up. Alternatively, aromatic candles can also be used to add a pleasing aura to the house.

Hula Hoop chandelier

Diwali is a festival of lights and getting the right amount of it in the best budget is a challenge. Chandeliers make for a great decorating idea, but can burn a hole in the pocket. To find creative and beautiful lighting without spending a massive amount of money, some petty things easily available at a home can be helpful. lace, hula hoop, string lights and glue can be used to create a baroque chandelier. Using glue and decorate the hula-hoop with some ornate laces. Pick colourful laces to match the decor of the living room. Wrap string lights all over the hoop and secure it with tape. Hang it in the living room or porch to make a statement.

let’s clean up

 De-clutter the wardrobe: Cleaning the storage cabinets isn’t a tough task and hardly takes time. Throw away the torn and old clothes without giving it a second thought and arrange the daily wear clothes together. Small clothes like socks, undergarments and handkerchiefs can be stowed on the sides or in a drawer to keep them organised separately.

 Tidy up the bed boxes: To avoid marks and damages on the wood of the bed boxes, cleaning them with a dry piece of cloth is the ideal solution. Using a torch light will help to see the corners of the box that may not be visible otherwise. A dry moping rod comes in handy while cleaning such hard to reach spaces.

 Clean the bigger things: Clean fans and lights with a dry cloth to prevent getting an electric shock. Clean windows, doors etc with a soapy solution and wipe them with a dry cloth. Make sure to avoid the soapy solution on wodden materials which are not water-resistant.

 Clean the kitchen: With so many cabinets, boxes, slabs, a gas stove, utensils and exhaust fan, this place requires a lot of patience to clean and get prepped for Diwali. This isn’t a task to do in one day, so divide it in two or more days.

 Dust the upholstery: Clean curtains and sofa covers should be done at the end to give a finishing touch to the house. Put them to wash on a gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent. Make sure that the covers are zipped closed so that they don’t come out in the form of a tangled mess!

(The writer is founder and CEO www.helpmebuild.com)