<p>When it comes to getting your home ready for the festivities, there is so much that can be done. In order to avoid being a part of the eleventh-hour helter-skelter convention, let’s start with the top five hacks that will pave the foundation for making your home Deepavali ready, just in time. <br /><br />Matter of paint <br /><br />You wouldn’t believe the dramatic transformation a good coat of fresh paint can bring about. If you want to get the whole house painted, nothing like it, but if you are running short on time and/or got it done only last year, here’s an easy way to make a quick update. The trick is to focus on a small key area or wall instead of the entire house. This could be an accent wall, the insides of an old showcase, the foyer, or just the front door. This will not only add the required depth to your home but also add loads of style.<br /><br />Delving into drapes & sheers <br /><br />Curtains are often left ignored in the last-minute preparations. But if you plan this in time, clean curtains can leave your home feeling fresh for months to come. Use your washing machine’s delicate cycle and use cold water to prevent your drapes from shrinking. If your curtains haven’t been washed in over six months, make sure to dust and vacuum them first to avoid smearing the trapped dust and dirt all over them during the wash cycle. If your curtains are dry clean only, or if you’re just not sure about how to safely wash them, don’t hesitate to take them to your local dry cleaner.<br /><br />Colour the cushions<br /><br />There is nothing to worry if you haven’t budgeted for a new sofa, you can consider reupholstering your existing sofa in a new colour. It doesn’t matter if it is neutral or bright as long as it is a part of the colour palette you are working with. If you do not have time for this exercise, you can simply add pops of colour, texture and layers through cushions and throws on top of your sofa. This will instantly give your living room a new facelift. <br /><br />Focus on furniture<br /><br />Some of your mother’s furniture still looks sturdy but the truth is that it has seen better days. Well, it is time to bring out the colours and paint away! Give that console a new life by painting it in a colour that contrasts with the rest of the scheme in that space for maximum effect. Let that console become the conversation starter when your guests arrive. <br /><br />Get outdoors<br /><br />We sometimes tend to neglect our outdoor spaces or don’t give them the attention we usually give to our interiors. Be it the entrance to the house or the small balcony or the garden area — we often only do the basic minimum. Give your entrance wall a new life by wall mounting brightly coloured pots or keeping brightly coloured outdoor furniture for a warm welcome.<br /><br />(Design Manager, Urban Ladder)</p>
<p>When it comes to getting your home ready for the festivities, there is so much that can be done. In order to avoid being a part of the eleventh-hour helter-skelter convention, let’s start with the top five hacks that will pave the foundation for making your home Deepavali ready, just in time. <br /><br />Matter of paint <br /><br />You wouldn’t believe the dramatic transformation a good coat of fresh paint can bring about. If you want to get the whole house painted, nothing like it, but if you are running short on time and/or got it done only last year, here’s an easy way to make a quick update. The trick is to focus on a small key area or wall instead of the entire house. This could be an accent wall, the insides of an old showcase, the foyer, or just the front door. This will not only add the required depth to your home but also add loads of style.<br /><br />Delving into drapes & sheers <br /><br />Curtains are often left ignored in the last-minute preparations. But if you plan this in time, clean curtains can leave your home feeling fresh for months to come. Use your washing machine’s delicate cycle and use cold water to prevent your drapes from shrinking. If your curtains haven’t been washed in over six months, make sure to dust and vacuum them first to avoid smearing the trapped dust and dirt all over them during the wash cycle. If your curtains are dry clean only, or if you’re just not sure about how to safely wash them, don’t hesitate to take them to your local dry cleaner.<br /><br />Colour the cushions<br /><br />There is nothing to worry if you haven’t budgeted for a new sofa, you can consider reupholstering your existing sofa in a new colour. It doesn’t matter if it is neutral or bright as long as it is a part of the colour palette you are working with. If you do not have time for this exercise, you can simply add pops of colour, texture and layers through cushions and throws on top of your sofa. This will instantly give your living room a new facelift. <br /><br />Focus on furniture<br /><br />Some of your mother’s furniture still looks sturdy but the truth is that it has seen better days. Well, it is time to bring out the colours and paint away! Give that console a new life by painting it in a colour that contrasts with the rest of the scheme in that space for maximum effect. Let that console become the conversation starter when your guests arrive. <br /><br />Get outdoors<br /><br />We sometimes tend to neglect our outdoor spaces or don’t give them the attention we usually give to our interiors. Be it the entrance to the house or the small balcony or the garden area — we often only do the basic minimum. Give your entrance wall a new life by wall mounting brightly coloured pots or keeping brightly coloured outdoor furniture for a warm welcome.<br /><br />(Design Manager, Urban Ladder)</p>