(Updated in October ’22 with the latest designs) This post is a compilation of over 15 colouring ideas to decorate your earthen / clay/ terracotta diyas this Diwali in festive colours, some offbeat ones and some usual, bright ones. If you don’t have the time, you can click the link to buy. Last year, I asked my son to paint a terracotta urn. I let the glazing colors and his imagination flow uninhibited. True to my expectations, it was a riot of colors. We filled the urn as a centerpiece for diyas at the entrance, filled with water and floated some candles and flowers. It was amazing and every time someone commented it was beautiful, he beamed with joy. Then this summer, got him a dozen diyas and asked him to paint and decorate. The painted diyas will get lit up this Diwali. I’m sure you’ve tried it. If not,…
[Updated in 2019 for relevancy] All that glitters is gold. In the festive season. Here’s a list of things you can shop online at Home Center if you don’t want to step out and brave the crowds. Last weekend, we dropped by at the new Home Centre outlet that opened up in the neighborhood. The store looked every bit festive, more than usual, with its colorful votives, glitzy lanterns, gilded vases, chrome platters, and shimmering candles. It’s a common practice among employers to give gift vouchers during the festive season. I saw two ladies at the counter wondering how to make the best use of their Rs.3000 Home Centre gift vouchers. They had picked up laundry basket, tray among other things and were doubting if this was the right choice. So, how do you spend it – on regular household stuff like bed sheets and cutlery, something festive, or a…
I’m going to be honest. That assorted chocolate gift pack, the quartet of dry fruits, a box of Soan papdi or a dabba of motichoor laddu does get boring after a while. For years, we have been gifting/receiving neighbors and family these tried-and-tested standard gifts. Why not step out of the comfort zone, put some thought and love in to what you buy this year for the festive season? I’ve spent hours combing through various sites to put together this list for you to wish your friends and family this Diwali – they are budget-friendly with all of them under Rs. 1000. The one thing that strings these gifts together is the thought of wellness, the importance to feel good about oneself, and make the home a haven one would look forward to come to. Good Mood Gift Hamper This hamper consists of special ayurvedic tea variants and one dosha…
Tired of the old way of decorating home, searching hard but still not feeling elated? If hassle-free home makeover is your idea to breathe easy during this time, then, find out about a seamless way to decorate the beautiful abode. In other words, discover the beautiful world of Tangerine. Say yes! to the festive home feat in bright colour displays, fabric layovers to set the right tone and pace for season makeovers. You don’t need to think hard to be festive-ready this time. There is plenty to appear different this Diwali! There is so much on display in the malls or the beautiful home décor stores that it often makes us wonder, how will I be an exception this festive season around. Well, there is always a new way to spell the O.R.D.I.N.A.R.Y with Tangerine to an instant rescue. With home décor ideas getting a rejuvenation of sorts, with…
Are you loving the lights, colors, and the frenzy all around for Diwali? The street corners are lined with intricate diyas and the malls are glittering in bright colors. The choices as a consumer are endless to dress our homes this season. In case, you were caught up in cleaning and shopping for clothes and didn’t get around to shopping for the home, I have put together a few essentials that will instantly bring in the much-needed glitz and glamour to your home. Most of them are priced below Rs.600. Let’s get shopping! Hurricane candle holder for Rs.1,149. Purple glass lucilla candle holder for Rs. 699 Hanging Lotus tea light holder for Rs. 499 Pillar candle for Rs.399 Set of 2 Lotus cushion covers for Rs.499 Jacquard cushion cover for Rs. 999 Table runner for Rs.727 Golden synthetic table runner Set of 5 brocade cushion covers for Rs.449 Set of 100 tealight…
The favorite feature of my current home: floor-to-ceiling windows and wall-to-wall glass windows. This ~ translates to a flood of natural light. But, that also means tough deep cleaning once in a while. it’s quite a task to keep the shine on large glass windows. They looked the best the day professionals from MyBlueBottle cleaned the windows. Within weeks, dust and grime formed a layer on the tracks and the shine became muddy. I took it upon myself to periodically clean all the windows to keep the shine on until the next time they are deep cleaned.. What you’ll need to clean the tracks: Vaccum Old socks A sprayer filled with equal parts vinegar + water + two drops of liquid soap Old toothbrush Microfiber Old cloth How to clean the tracks: Loosen the dirt with a tooth brush first. Vacuum the tracks with a crevice attachment. I use an…
Some of the most dustiest places in a home are above our heads – places that are out of normal sight and reach. Ready to look upward? All the surfaces over your heads will get a shine! If you can spare a little over 30 minutes, it will be wonderful. What you’ll need: collect your supplies I’m getting a little inventive with this one after having tried a number of cleaning methods to see what fits best: A bucket to hold your cleaning essentials. 2 to 3 old pillow covers. Colin or any other surface cleaner. Microfiber cloth. Ladder. A pollution mask to cover your face and safety googles. A cloth to wrap your head Vacuum. Wipes How-to: If your house is a duplex, I prefer starting from the top floor and then going down. But, the choice is yours. If it is a single floor, start from the bed…
Ready for Day 1 of the 30-minute Diwali cleaning challenge? Today, we start with the master bedroom closet. Closets can be a pleasure to watch the day they are cleaned and a nightmare on days when they resemble a dump yard. Depending on how many clothes you have, how big your closet is and when was the last time you cleaned, this activity can either take 30 minutes or longer. If you can’t get to it all today, attend to the messiest part today; the rest will be a breeze. What you’ll need: Cleaning materials: A small cleaning bucket to carry around the cleaning stuff. A microfiber mitt or an old vest. Some cleaning solution like Colin or just plain water. Shelf liners. Vacuum cleaner if it is a sliding wardrobe. One huge plastic bag to give away items in good condition. One huge plastic bag to trash items of…
Every site, magazine, blog is teeming with incredibly beautiful images of flowers, colorful rooms, and lights. But, there’s a lot to be done backstage to get the house look so beautiful, isn’t it? And not everything is a pleasant or easy job as the person getting your home in order will vouch for. So, this post is dedicated to all the hard work that goes behind those pretty pictures and if yours is already not there, don’t fret about it, just enjoy the season. As always, let’s begin with a story.
Not so long ago, we lived in Pune in a rented bungalow in a lovely, quiet, lush-green, open neighborhood. The owners, a Marwari family, lived downstairs. There are so many simple things about life and relationships I learned from the beautiful lady who always smiled no matter how many house guests she had, the warmth with which she talked to people, and selflessness when it came to helping others. But, there is one other BIG thing I learned – lessons in housekeeping and how to keep a home clean. Not a spotless one, but clean. Every year, the Diwali cleaning akin to spring cleaning would start a month in advance in her house.
Now, having lived in the South for the better part of my life, this was new to me. The houses don’t turn upside down for Diwali or any festival for that matter – ok, maybe a bit for Pongal. I mean who takes down the fans and cleans the blades, rummages an organized cupboard to reorganize, and a time when every bottle in the kitchen counters shine. The first year I watched with astonishment and it repeated the next year. I’m not quite sure when the transformation turned from astonishment to something I started doing every Diwali. Well, not to that extreme as cleaning is a year round thing but it has become a ritual. You know what, it does feel good to see a shining home with fresh curtains, new bed linen, spotless bathroom floors yaada yaada.
The curtains, fans, floors take a shine now every year during Diwali. And to be honest, it not doesn’t take a month to do it. I have a small checklist for every room that I tick off once the job is done. So, if you’re game for some cleaning three days before Diwali, then now’s the time to get it done and let in some fresh scents and sights. Here’s my checklist that’ll come in three parts – today, tomorrow and Monday just in time.
I rely on my bucket of magic tools aka cleaners to get the job done. I’m not promoting any of these products just the ones I use. It takes me about an hour to run down the list and have divided them into bedroom, bathroom and finally kitchen.
