Sunday, November 11, 2012

Prettify your home for the Festive Season


I'm doing a blogging marathon on the cooking blog. Today i tool a detour from all the festive cooking and wanted to share a few simple ideas about adding a little bling and cheer for the festival. I am a list maker, I try to be organised, I try my best to finish stuff on time. Most times I succeed, sometimes I fail. I don't sweat the small stuff. In an earlier life (read - a few years ago) I wanted everything to be perfect ~ the house, the table, kitchen, food, life in general.
Almost having a breakdown over it Good sense prevailed and I live to tell the tale. The house is never perfect, but these days, when we have unexpected guests, I don't scramble around to make it appear like something out of a magazine (which by the way is impossible, because they have teams of people to do that). Living with a domestically challenged K and now a really crazy dog which thinks he owns all the cushions in the house has further drilled down that story!
Last year for Christmas, I did not, for the first time in 8 yrs, put up my tree. Only because we had a young pup in the house and I was paranoid he would swallow the ornaments. yet, I didn't think it was the end of the world, because hey! it isn't. its an artificial tree with baubles....  That said, I almost always use my favourite accessories, dim lights and candles to make everything look pretty.
More than anything, it is friends and family and a warm welcoming home that is of importance. No amount of decor can make up for a home that is not welcoming to people. Our doors are always open for family and friends, we love having people over and sharing food and fellowship with them. Over the years, I have found, the more comfortable you are with yourself, the more comfortable and inviting your home is.
here are some things I do.

Bring out the serial lights and put them up where you can, doorpost, balcony, over the mantel or behind the TV. I put them amongst my plants in the balcony.
Rangoli and oil wicks in earthen lamps. I bought these inexpensive ones from a craft bazar and have been reusing them for 5 years now.
Flowers - even the ones that you grow in a tiny pot. use this as a centerpiece on your table .
Put your shot glasses to use and float a single flower in them. Here I used flowers that I found growing in the yard next to where I live
diyas
Use T-lights to avoid messes on your table tops. A Glass jar makes for a beautiful decor addition
diyas
Line up a row of diyas on your side tables - please make sure they are not at a level which can cause harm to your children or pets.
Serial Lights again ~ this time inside a glass jar which lights up the bar beautifully

1 comment:

Shilpa said...

so nice, re. have not put up the lights. the house is a war zone with the children playing with those patakha guns and the dog barking away at every shot :D