Diwali is a festival that brings a warm and fuzzy feeling, especially because of the beautifully lit-up homes on every street. After the deep-cleaning for Diwali, lighting is the next important thing to focus on. If you take your Diwali lighting seriously, you’re probably looking for the best lights to decorate your home this year.
To help you, we’ve compiled a list of 11 Diwali light decoration ideas that will sparkle your home this festive season.
1. Earthen Diyas
Diwali is one of the most cherished festivals, and one of the earliest memories we all have is the tradition of placing earthen diyas on our balconies and entryways. We used to roll the cotton wicks by hand and light them up to keep them glowing throughout the night. Despite the availability of electric lighting, earthen diyas continue to be a favourite, evoking nostalgia and a sense of tradition. This Diwali, make sure to purchase them from your local vendors and hand-paint them yourself to support small businesses. These little diyas make for a pretty Diwali light decoration.
2. Brass Lamps
If you thought brass oil lamps were only meant to be kept in the Pooja room, here’s an idea for you. Try going traditional with your lighting this Diwali and bring out those brass oil lamps from storage. Shine them up with salt and soaked tamarind before using, and they’ll look as good as new. You can also decorate them with flowers and place them on your home’s stairways, entryways, and corners to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
3. LED Strips
LED strips are one of the most innovative products to be introduced in recent years. We love them for their versatility. You can quickly line them along the inner corner of a false ceiling to create ambient lighting at no extra cost. You could even drape them along your curtain rods. Additionally, you can place them on your balcony railing to create lighting that’s much safer than an open flame. And if you have a garden, you can string them along the branches of your trees.
What’s more, there are variants available that can be switched on and off, and you can even switch colours via a mobile app.
4. Tea Light Candles
Candles have become a popular alternative to traditional diyas in recent years due to their convenience. Tea-light candles are especially easy to use. You can use beautiful lanterns and candle holders for outdoor lighting, while indoor centrepieces can be created by combining pillar candles and votives. However, it is essential to ensure adequate ventilation around these candles as they can produce soot after a few hours of burning.
5. Glass Bottle Lights
This Diwali, enhance your DIY skills by repurposing old glass bottles that may be lying around your home. First, ensure that you clean them thoroughly and then insert battery-operated string lights to create a warm and inviting tabletop light for your dining area. If you want to create a more elaborate display, you can use a longer piece of string light to illuminate multiple bottles simultaneously. Make sure to use either copper-wired or white-coloured lights so that they look aesthetically pleasing even when turned off. If you’d like to conceal the lights inside the bottles, you can paint them with acrylic or washable poster colours to create ambient lighting. This can be a unique idea for your Diwali light decoration.
6. Floating Candles/Diyas
Floating candles are one of the most beautiful and easy-to-set-up lighting ideas for Diwali at home. You just need a large brass container, some lights, loose flowers, and some floating diyas or candles to make the space light up. This decoration can be used at entryways and living rooms. You can also use orange peels instead of diyas to add a natural fragrance to your space. Using household waste can be a sustainable option for disposal.
Also Read: History, Celebration & Significance of Diwali
7. Battery Operated Candles
Battery-operated candles can be an excellent option for Diwali light decorations, especially if you have children at home or suffer from smoke allergies. They can easily replace traditional diyas and candles without any safety concerns. You can use them for indoor as well as outdoor displays. Some battery-operated candles can even be operated through a remote control. They are also long-lasting and can be used for the next Diwali.
8. String Lights
Diwali celebrations are incomplete without the tradition of hanging string lights or rice lights in every possible corner. If you are lighting up a larger space like an independent house, consider getting bigger, multi-coloured lights. For a smaller space like a balcony, smaller lights would work better. You could even create a beautiful canopy on your balcony/terrace using metal wires as a frame and then hang the lights from there. That would make for a beautiful Diwali light decoration outside the home option. It will create a warm and festive atmosphere, perfect for the occasion.
Also Read: Six Products for a Diwali Ready You!
9. Oil Lanterns
Glass oil lanterns have an old-school charm to them, especially when used outdoors. You can hang them on your balcony to give it a vintage look and feel. However, if you want to avoid the fuss of using oil as fuel, you can opt for candlelight holders that are shaped like oil lanterns. They can give you the same vintage vibe without the hassle. It’s best to use them outdoors as they tend to get pretty hot in just a couple of hours.
10. Traditional Diwali Lanterns
A great way to decorate your balcony for Diwali is to use traditional paper lanterns, which you can get from a local store. Simply insert a warm white light inside and watch it transform your balcony. This could be another Diwali light decoration outside the home option.
11. Festive Lamp Shades
If you usually decorate your home with floor and table lamps, you can make them more suitable for Diwali by changing the lampshades. You can visit a local haat or handicrafts market to find lampshades that showcase Indian craftsmanship. These lampshades are not only stunning, but they are also a wise investment, as they can be used for years to come. However, it is essential to balance solid and printed lampshades when using them for decoration.
Also Read: 7 Places for Your Diwali Shopping
These are some beautiful Diwali light decoration options for you. You could take a pick and use any of the ideas to decorate your home this Diwali!
What do you think?