Diwali is when many homeowners think about giving their homes a fresh look. But you don’t have to spend a lot or buy new furniture to make your space feel festive. Simple changes, such as rearranging your furniture, adding cushions and throws, and using warm lighting, can make a big difference. She suggests using light at different heights instead of relying only on ceiling lights. Amitha Madan, co-founder and director of design at Magari, also recommends reworking familiar furniture arrangements and combining different textures to create a warm, considered look.
Founder of MOHH, lighting can make a significant difference to the way a room feels, according to Pritika Singh.
Ishika Narang is a Multimedia Writer at the Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience in digital journalism, specialising in health, lifestyle, beauty, and consumer-focused reporting. Her primary coverage areas include evidence-based health journalism, preventive care, wellness trends, and affiliate-driven consumer guides tailored for digital audiences. She began her professional journey in digital media, where she developed expertise in multimedia storytelling and platform-optimised editorial strategies. Over the years, she has worked with reputed organisations such as Park+, Jagran, and Wavel.ai, steadily building credibility in health and consumer journalism. Her work reflects a strong progression in editorial responsibility, combining research-backed reporting with audience-focused content formats. At Hindustan Times, she produces in-depth health and lifestyle features, expert-led explainers, and data-informed consumer stories. She also focuses extensively on affiliate articles, creating well-researched buying guides, product comparisons, and recommendation-based content that balances commercial intent with editorial integrity. Alongside writing, she conceptualises and manages social media storytelling, ensuring content is informative, engaging, and optimised for platform-specific consumption. Her subject expertise includes preventive healthcare, nutrition, supplements, women’s health, beauty trends, consumer awareness, and affiliate commerce content. She integrates expert consultations, peer-reviewed research, verified product analysis, and transparent sourcing. Her strengths lie in evidence-based storytelling, simplifying complex information, and producing reader-first affiliate content that prioritises trust and value. Ishika holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Marketing from Guru Gobind Indraprastha University, which enhances her understanding of consumer behaviour, digital commerce, and audience engagement, skills that complement her specialisation in consumer and affiliate journalism. She is committed to ethical reporting, transparent affiliate disclosures, rigorous fact-checking, and maintaining editorial credibility, ensuring every story upholds reader trust and journalistic standards.
Before buying new furniture, look at how your existing pieces are arranged. The way you position your sofa, accent chairs, and side tables can change how your living room looks and functions, especially during Diwali when family and friends gather to celebrate. Pritika Singh recommends pulling seating away from the walls and angling it towards each other instead of having everything face the television. This creates a more conversational arrangement and makes the room feel better suited to hosting guests. Whereas Amitha Madan shares a similar approach, suggesting that homeowners bring sofas and accent chairs closer together to create a natural gathering space. Existing furniture can also serve a different purpose during the festive season. For instance, a console or side table can become a display area for diyas, flowers and other festive accents. Rather than adding more furniture, focus on making the existing arrangement more inviting and comfortable.
Amitha believes that furniture should become part of everyday life rather than being chosen only for special occasions. An accent chair that provides extra seating during Diwali can later become a reading spot, while a side table used to display festive decorations can hold books, a lamp or everyday essentials. Materials such as wood, cane and ceramic can also work across different decorating styles. Pairing them with neutral upholstery, textured fabrics and subtle brass accents can create a cohesive look without making the room feel tied to one particular festival. The same principle applies to decorative accessories. Pritika recommends choosing materials such as brass, terracotta, carved wood and stone that can be used throughout the year, rather than buying items that will be packed away immediately after Diwali. The aim is to create a living room interior that feels festive and personal without losing its everyday convenience. By using your existing furniture, lighting and accessories, you can refresh the space for Diwali without a major makeover.
