Diwali: Light Up Your Home with 10 Vastu Decor Ideas

Diwali, the festival of lights, goes beyond mere celebration, it has a cultural and spiritual significance. It symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and the triumph of goodness over malevolence. People have traditionally engaged in the practice of cleaning and decorating their households in preparation for Diwali, a custom that holds significance both culturally and spiritually. Vastu Shastra, an ancient architectural science originating from India, emphasizes that a clean and well-organized living space attracts positive energies and prosperity. People clean every corner meticulously to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance into their homes. Living spaces, including the decor that adheres to the principles of Vastu, enhance the positive energies within a space by ensuring that the home harmonizes effectively with the natural and spatial forces surrounding it.

Ganesha in Kadam Wood Carving by Om Prakash

Indian handicrafts provide an excellent opportunity to infuse your living space with the joyful spirit of celebration. Numerous traditional crafting techniques can be employed to celebrate Diwali in an auspicious manner, ranging from intricately crafted handmade torans, or decorative door hanging, to elegant brass artefacts. Here are ten ways to style your Diwali decor in accordance with the principles of Vastu Shastra, an ancient science that focuses on the constant flow of energy, which will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home but also align it with positive energy.

Dolon Kundu's Terracotta Mango Diya

Torans or Bandhanwars

You can hang a Toran (or Bandhanwar), a decorative door hanging, at the front door of the house to greet guests and protect good energy.

According to Vastu, it blocks bad energy, letting only good intentions into the house. Temporary torans can be made using marigold flowers or mango leaves that stand for freshness, wealth, and luck. Add a touch of Indian tradition by incorporating symbols from the traditional arts and crafts of the country. 

Sustainability Series: Upcycle Old newspapers into a Wall Toran with Warli Art

Decor Ideas:

• Pick torans made from earth-friendly materials like cotton or wool to be kind to nature.
• Go for old-school beadwork or stitched fabric torans to add some art to your space.

Rangoli or Mandana

Rangoli, Kolam or Mandana are different names for floor decorating traditions across India. It is a special art prepared by women of the house on the floor, near the entrance to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. According to Vastu, floor paintings clean the space and bring  good energy. The concentric circles, dots and lines create a universe in itself. 

Decor Ideas:

• While it is ideal to create your own floor painting, it is not feasible for many. Keeping this in mind, you can choose the floor paintings created by the Master Artists and keep them framed on the floor. This can later be used as a decor piece adorning the walls of your house. 

Here is the idea of Mandana's design showing Celestial Odyssey: Zodiac Signs and Planets and The Expression of Festivities by Master Artist Vidya Soni.

Celestial Odyssey: Zodiac Signs and Planets in Mandana by Vidya Soni

The Expression of Festivities: Mandana by Vidya Soni

Diyas and Lamps 

People light diyas, or earthen lamps, to depict the victory of light over darkness, or good over evil. Placing diyas in the right spot of your house as per vastu would remove the negative energy, and bring in the positive energy. The ideal place to place the earthen lamps is on the threshold of the houses, the windows, corners of the room, and the Brahmasthana, or the centre of the house. 

Decor Ideas:

• Apart from the normal earthen diyas, one can add unique lamps of blue pottery, block print, or stylised terracotta diyas. They would add a touch of cultural and artistic flair to your house and can be repurposed after the festivities. 
• Choosing tall accent lamps made out of brass or in Tholu Bommalata would brighten up the corners of your house. 

Celestial Love: Tholu Lamps of Radha and Krishna Amidst the Darkness by Kanday Anjanappa

Moment of Love: Radha and Krishna under a lush tree by Kanday Anjanappa

Brass Decor

Brass has been part of Indian culture since the Indus Valley Civilisation, with its significance rising with each consecutive civilisation. According to Vastu, similar to gold and silver, brass also attracts wealth and good energy. Brass items help energy flow better and hence make for great Diwali decor as well as gifting purposes. 

Decor Ideas:

• You can put statues of Lakshmi, Ganesha and Saraswati in your prayer room to attract abundance as you worship them. 
• Enhance any corner of your house by incorporating brass lamps, urlis and other objects. 

Maa Saraswati's depiction in Brass Work by Pannalal Soni

Pannalal Soni's inventive aesthetics and decoratory in Brass Work

Candle holders with lotus border in Moradabad Metal Craft by Mohd. Amir

Eco-Friendly Decor

Eco-friendly decor items are not only sustainable but also fit into the Vastu principles. According to it, Items made from eco-friendly materials such as Sikki grass, jute, or recycled paper bring elements of nature into the home, thus creating harmony and balance. These handicrafts are biodegradable and eco-friendly, making them an apt gift idea for your loved ones and the planet. 

Decor Ideas:

• Use Sikki grass baskets or wall hangings to add a rustic charm to your house.
• Incorporate jute runners or placemats in the dining area to add natural texture to your space.

Majestic Peacock in Sikki Grass work by Suraj Kumar Sahu

Add Auspicious Symbols on the entrance

According to Vastu Shastra, your house entrance is the most sensitive area since it invites energy into the house. Decorate this area with sacred symbols, like Om-Swastik, Shubh-Labh, and Riddhi-Siddhi, to ensure only positive energy enters while the negative energy stays at bay. These signs symbolise good luck, prosperity, and peace; hence, they are a must during Diwali celebrations. Since they are considered auspicious, they can also be used for gifting purposes. 

Decor Ideas:

• Add the auspicious symbols in authentic Tanjore style, made with 24K gold foil.

Om and Swastik : Tanjore Painting by Sanjay Tandekar