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IS YOUR HOME DIWALI READY? TIPS FOR QUICK AND EASY CLEANING OF YOUR HOME!

Diwali is just two weeks away and usually it is the time when friends & family come over to take part in the festivities! Many of us buy new furniture, clean and redecorate our home interiors during this time. While the festivities this year are expected to be low key, it does not mean that you cannot spruce up your home. It is considered auspicious to clean the house as it signifies getting rid of the negativity and making way for the new positive times to come. So, if you haven’t already started cleaning your house, it is time to get started!

Photo by Austrian National Library on Unsplash

CREATE A SCHEDULE

Start by mentally picturing things you want to change or do away with around the house. Then make a list of these, going through each section of the house. Based on the work involved, allocate the time required for cleaning that particular section. Then see how many rooms you can fit-in in a day with your other schedule. Finish one room and only then move to the next. Don’t try to finish all your cleaning in one day. You will end up getting exhausted and may abandon the project altogether.

CHECK YOUR STOCK OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT

If you do not use a vacuum cleaner regularly, it is time to pull out yours and check if it is working fine and has enough garbage bags. You dont want to run into problems in the midst of cleaning.

Similarly stock up on floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, specific brushes, wipes masks and gloves. Oh, don’t forget to check if you have vinegar and baking soda (Yes! You can use these for cleaning too!!)

If you don’t have a ladder, it is time to invest in one. Many of the ecommerce sites have fabulous sales going on where you can get great deals. Or just borrow one from a neighbour.

GET STARTED!

While we all love a neat home, most of us don’t like the cleaning part. But if you want to be ready for Diwali, it is time to get started. NOW.

Before you begin, cover surfaces that you don’t want the dirt to fall. Even the cleanest of homes will have little corners where dust and cobwebs accumulate and you don’t want them on your furniture as you clean.

Start at the top – get a ceiling broom and dust away the cobwebs. You could use a vacuum to suck out the dust from light fixtures or use a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to brush down the walls as well.

One pro-tip that many swear by is using old pillow cases to clean the blades of the fan. Just cover the blade of the fan with a pillow case and wipe as you pull it out. This will give you a clean blade from all sides while also ensuring that the dust doesn’t fall down.

For cleaning glass surfaces, use equal parts of vinegar with water and fill up a spray bottle. Just spray and wipe to get your glass sparkling. Don’t use these on TV Screens, Phone or Laptops. Invest in special solutions for cleaning them to ensure that you don’t damage when cleaning.

You could add some lemon juice to the same spray bottle solution to get rid of hard water stains on taps, kitchen countertops and tiles. Or use a mixture of baking soda and regular dish soap to scrub away dirt easily with minimal pressure.

To clean fabric surfaces like beds, sofas etc., spray on some vinegar and sprinkle a little baking soda. Wait a few minutes and vacuum for a clean surface. Always remember to do a little patch test on a place that is not visible to the eye and then adjust the consistency of the mix.

For cleaning electrical appliances, use only dry cloth so that you don’t damage them. It would be a good idea to use microfiber wipes for them.

Wash and change your set of curtains and cushion covers. These are frequently neglected and not changed as often as bedsheets and pillow cases.

CALL IN THE PROFESSIONALS

While all this may seem easy, some of us genuienly hate cleaning. Or we simply may not have time with the Work From Home scenario. Don’t worry – call professional cleaning service, who can get your home sparking in no time. Many offer discounts during this season. Ensure they wear a mask, gloves and use sanitizer liberally and be safe.

DECLUTTER & GIVE AWAY

As you go about cleaning and putting things in their place, you will find may things that you do not use. Keep aside two big cartons – one for items in good condition that can be of use to someone and another for broken or expired items that has to be thrown.

If you haven’t used any item in the last one year, it is likely that you will not need it anymore. Discard them instead of hoarding. Pay attention to old papers, cosmetics and medicines as these tend to pile up. Your wardrobe will also have clothes that you can’t fit into any more or don’t want to wear any more.

Many times, we have duplicates of items that we may have received as gifts – if you are not using it, give it away. Your waste may be someone else’s wealth and could light up their Diwali!

Have you started your Diwali cleaning yet? What are your pro-tips? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy Cleaning & A Happy Sparking Diwali!

ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR A FUNCTIONAL & MODERN KITCHEN

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There is a saying that “the kitchen is the heart of a home”. This is true for every kind of kitchen, be it modern or traditional or minimalistic. Gone are the days when kitchens were looked at as spaces in one corner of the house, where one toiled in the heat. Today’s kitchens are designed to be functional, inspiring you to experiment and be creative in your cooking. It is now a space where the whole family can hang out, eat or participate in the cooking process. In many instances, the kitchen opens up to the living area which ensures that you can watch television or can continue to have a conversation with your loved ones while cooking up yummy meals. So if you are looking to renovate your kitchen or build a new one, here are some tips to make it a truly functional one that can also reflect your character and style.

Type Of Kitchen

Choose what kind of kitchen you want to build. A Modular Kitchen is the preferred modern way to design your kitchen. It is versatile and as the name suggests, has “modules” that you can choose. These are easy to assemble and uninstall, come in a variety of finishes and can be customized to suit your specific needs. The other option is to go in for a Carpenter Made Kitchen. While these can be pocket friendly, the finishing and precision often depend on the skill of the carpenter. It is also not easy to uninstall as these are mostly “fixed permanently”.

Ergonomic Design

Ensure that your kitchen is built to suit your needs. The most used areas when cooking are the countertops, the hob, the sink & the refrigerator. Make sure these are easily accessible and not far from each other. Usually, these are placed in a triangle for easy access. It is also important to ensure that the countertop and hob are suited to your height so you don’t stoop or stretch when cooking. Similarly, use the cabinets at the top to store things you access daily and the ones below to store things you use once in a while.

Color

If you have an open kitchen, choose colors that go with the rest of the house. Choose colors that are timeless and those that hide food stains and oil spills. You could have some fun and have accent walls with bright colors or even some wall decal stickers with quirky quotes. Warm chocolate or wood colors on the cabinets are a good option and usually go well with other elements of the house too. Similarly an all-white or a monochrome kitchen speaks of subtle elegance.

**Photo by Watermark Designs on Unsplash**

Counter Tops

When choosing the material for your countertop, go with natural stone like granite that is sturdy and will not absorb stains. There are many aesthetic designs available and can be put in as a single slab – so it is easier to clean and maintain. Though a bit expensive, they are long-lasting and don’t break easily with daily wear & tear. Artificial materials like laminates are also used for countertops. While these are less expensive, they can end up looking “cheap” and usually are not very long-lasting.

Modular Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets allow for discreet storage and are a very important component to make your cooking experience a seamless one. Modular kitchens allow for many drawers and even utilization of corner spaces. You can have exclusively created spaces for storing appliances that you don’t use regularly like toasters, mixers, kettles etc. These cabinets also come with good quality stainless steel fittings with soft-close mechanisms that ensure minimal damage during usage, thereby increasing the product life too.

Sink Space Utilization

It is always advisable to have a 2-sink unit in the kitchen as it is more convenient. It is easy to scrub using one and place it in the other for washing at one go, thereby saving water. If you have space, get 2 separate units so that you can keep the utensils for washing in a utility area and have one exclusively for your cooking needs in the kitchen. The most commonly used material for the kitchen sink is stainless steel. It is affordable, durable and suited to all countertop surfaces. Other popular choices are copper sinks or one built-in with stone. The space below the sink can be enclosed with the same finish as your cabinets to have a uniform look and feel. It helps cover the pipes and can also double up as storage for your cleaning supplies. You could also fit in bins on the doors for dry and wet waste so that it is easy to clean and dispose as you go.

Safety First

Your kitchen is the space you use many appliances that can lead to a mishap if not maintained properly. Ensure you check your wiring and sockets regularly to avoid electrical shocks when using appliances. Similarly, if using a gas cylinder keep it in an undisturbed space. While some prefer to keep it under the countertop, it would be better to keep it in a ventilated space like the utility with enclosed wiring to the hob.

You can have decorative and ambiance lighting in the kitchen. Use these for decoration and choose practical, bright lights when cooking/cleaning as this will help you see better and helps avoid accidents.

Ventilation is also very important in the overall safety of a kitchen. It helps air out the strong smell of food & spices and also helps to keep the mold away. Opt for sliding doors or windows that can be easily opened to air out your kitchen. The chimney also helps to air out the fumes when cooking. You could also install an exhaust fan for additional suction.

What are your tips for a great kitchen? Do write to us with your comments.

TIPS TO GET YOUR HOME READY FOR THIS NAVRATRI

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The festive season is just around the corner, starting with Navratri. Normally it is a time when friends and family gather and celebrate together. This year, because of the pandemic, the celebrations are expected to be low key. But this doesn’t mean we can’t spruce up our home and decorate it in the festive spirit. So here are some tips for decorating your home this festive season & to welcome Goddess Durga.

Clear Away The Cobwebs

The first step to decorating is to clean. It is also considered an auspicious start to the festivities. Get that vacuum out and clean away all the dust and dirt and cobwebs from every nook and corner of your home. This would be a good time to clean your home mandir too and polish the silver, brass, copper figurines and puja items to give them a good shine.

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Flower Decorations

Nothing creates a festive atmosphere like brightly colored flowers. Yellow & orange marigolds add that auspicious colors associated with celebrations and instantly transform your home interior. You can choose real flowers, string them together and place them across your home. Natural flowers also bring a heady fragrance with them, which we so associate with festivals. The flipside of choosing natural flowers is that they start withering after a day or two. And since Navratri is celebrated for 9 days, you may have to change them 4-5 times during this period. To avoid this, you could choose from synthetic flowers which will give you a similar appearance and which can be stored and reused at a later date too. If you have the time and are good at craftwork, you could create paper flower strings too. There are many DIY videos available that give you a detailed tutorial.

Add The Glow!

Lights play an important role in setting the décor of any space. This is true for festive lighting too. There are many options like string lights in different shapes, lanterns, LED lights or candles. The natural light of flame from oil lamps and candles add to the mellow setting. You can choose Shadow Lamps too and set it against a plain wall as a statement piece.

Rangolis

Known by different names across India like Rangoli or Kolam or A____, it is supposed to invite the Gods into your home and signifies good fortune and luck. Traditionally hand drawn outside the doorstep, these days there are many varieties of Rangoli. You could do it with natural color powders, or flowers and leaves, or even place terracotta diyas as a border. You also get Kundan Rangolis which are readymade, created on an acrylic base with decorative pearls & sequences and can be used as a whole set or in single pieces to give a new look each time.

You Temple Space

Depending on the space you have, spruce up your puja room by adding brightly colored cloth decorations, a string of flowers and rangolis. Make a special space for a small mandap or a pedestal and place an idol of Goddess Durga as this festive is all about celebrating Shakti. You could choose a brass idol, a painted clay one or even just the face in typical Bengali tradition.

There are different colors associated with the 9 days (Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey & Purple) – you could use these for decorating or even use them to dress up the idol. Aarti is an important part of any festival in India. Choose an aarti thali that is bright and attractive. You could create one yourself by simply painting a steel plate in bright colors such as Yellow or Red and drawing intricate rangoli patterns on the same. Add a small diya and your thali is ready!

Navratri or Dusshera is celebrated across India in many different ways. You could incorporate these traditions too in your décor.

In Gujrat, earthen pots are painted and decorated with cloth and people pray & dance around it. This signifies the goddess. You could use this as your theme for decorations – use bright colors to draw traditional designs and motifs on the earthen pot, hang mirror work and thread work torans and decorations to bring home the flavor.

Down south, Dusshera is celebrated as Bombe Habba or Golu or Kolu. It is a festival of dolls. These dolls are passed on from generation to generation and are arranged in steps during the festival. You could use this theme and arrange all the dolls & figurines that you have on a table or chest of drawers. Marapachi Bommai or a pair of boy-girl dolls made of wood is important to this festival. Make tiny clothes for the dolls with paper or cloth & you are all set!

Setting The Overall Festive Mood!

Place torans at the entryway, above your door. They are considered auspicious. Traditionally these are made from mango leaves and flowers. You can also choose decorative mirror-work and embroidered cloth ones.

Similarly, decorative hangings can be placed at strategic points to add to the festive touch. These can be made of brightly colored tiny wooden birds and animals. You also have ones made from mirrors, pearls and sequence.

Place brass figurines and traditional lamps on side tables or on the console in the foyer. Brass bells & hanging lamps are also good décor options for festivals. If you have urlis or even glass bowls, you could fill them up with some water and float flowers and petals and candles to add to that warm glow in the evenings!

We hope that these tips will help you start the festivities! Do write to us on which one you found helpful and do share your special tips with our other readers.

Happy Navratri!

Bonsai Indoor Garden

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Bonsai, a plant native to Japan. Bonsai is seen as a symbol of harmony, peace, order of thoughts or balance and wellness in nature. Bonsai plants are also said to symbolise good luck. Literally translated, Bonsai means ‘plant in a container’.

Bonsais are small plants that grow up to an average height of about 40 inches. The best part about Bonsais is that they can be grafted for new growth.

Bonsai are generally outdoor plants as they need temperate climate for growth, but there are indoor varieties that may be planted for an Indoor Bonsai Garden. Ficus Bonsai is one of the easiest, low maintenance variety of Bonsai that can be grown indoors. Other popular indoor variants include Crassula, Carmona and Sageretia.

Bonsai masters call the process of growing Bonsai an art. It is not an activity for impatient people, they say. During the process of growing Bonsai plants, they have to be shifted between containers as they grow.

Generally, people prefer shallow containers to give the impression of a bigger plant.

There are certain aspects that need to be kept in mind while creating an Indoor Bonsai Garden.

Watering: Bonsai plants do not necessarily need to be watered regularly. Instead, keep a check on when the plant requires it and water it accordingly.

Temperature: The tropical variety of Bonsai requires comparatively higher temperature which is approximately the regular room temperature. Subtropical on the other hand need lower temperature to survive. They bloom better in winters.

Light: Outdoor Bonsai mostly cannot survive indoors because of the intensity of light. The intensity of light is way more in the outdoors than indoors. Hence, even if a Bonsai is to be kept indoors, it should be preferably kept by a window or in a shot where the plant gets adequate light.

Soil: Bonsai need a special type of soil to grow in. The soil they grow in should allow the roots to breathe and also allow quick and easy drainage of water. A mixture of organic and inorganic soil is hence the best combination for the wholesome growth of Bonsai plants.

Humidity: Bonsai plants need humidity to grow. In the case of an indoor Bonsai, the plant may be kept in a tray filled with water and misted on multiple times in a day to keep the humidity levels high.

Decoration: Bonsai plants can be decorated with moss, small grass, rocks or small decorative pieces. Ensure that the decorative pieces do not affect the growth of the plant.

While creating an Indoor Bonsai Garden the following steps have to be kept in mind, especially since Bonsai is a high maintenance plant. Researching and selecting the right type of variety based on the environment the plant would grow in and the amount of attention that can be given.

For an individual who is very keen on growing Bonsai and has multiple Bonsai plants, they can invest in a Bonsai bench. A Bonsai bench is essentially a step for displaying Bonsai plants.

EASY AND SIMPLE IDEAS ON HOW TO DECORATE YOUR LIVING ROOM

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Probably one of the most used spaces in the house is the living room. It is where you relax after a long day, it is where the family comes together to laugh & bond and it is also the space where you host your guests.

The living room décor plays an important role in how comfortable and inviting it can make one feel. While the décor can be modern and of the latest style, it must also reflect your personality and give a “lived-in” feeling of a home. Here are some interior design tips that can help to get the perfect look!

Set A Theme

Decorating styles and tastes are unique to each individual & family and say a lot about who they are. While some like a minimalistic décor, others may go in for a boho-inspired one or a traditional setting. Whatever be your taste, choose one style theme for your living room so that there is continuity across the space. If you try to combine too many styles or decorate on the go, the different elements will clash with one another and end up making the room clumsy.

Choose Your Color Palette

Colors play an important role in setting the mood of any space. They can pep you up, calm you down or even energize you. If you want to set a warm tone, go in for colors like yellow, subtle orange or rust. Choose bright pinks if you like that pop of color. Or if you want a soothing & calm atmosphere, you could go in for whites and soft blues. While you can choose different shades from the same palette, it is important to not mix up too many contrasting colors. Else the room will not have a harmonious effect.

Accent Walls

Gone are the days when the entire room was wallpapered. Choose one wall that is the highlight of your living room to use the wallpaper on. Instead of paper, you could also use texture painting or simply hang your photos or artwork. This is the space that people naturally look towards when they enter your home. So let it reflect your personality.

Create A Focal Point

Every living room needs a place where people can gather around or towards which your furniture is ‘pointed’. Usually, this is in front of the TV or entertainment unit. Some people also use a fireplace before which the seating is arranged. If you have both, make sure they are in the same area. For example, you could place the TV above the fireplace. Since this is the area that people drift towards naturally, make sure you don’t have two separate spaces to avoid splitting up the gathering.

Image by PANAGIOTIS SPILIOPOULOS from Pixabay

Attractive & Inviting Seating

Since living rooms are spaces where your family and friends spent most of the time, seating should be arranged so that it nurtures tête-à-têtes. Make sure that your furniture is comfortable to sit on for a long period of time as you will be spending quality time here every day. Don’t compromise on comfort for the sake of fashion. While some furniture may look good in the showroom or in a magazine, it may be uncomfortable to use or just may not be suitable for your needs. Invest in some good ottomans or chairs that can be used alongside your sofas, in case of larger gatherings.

**Photo by** **Reagan M.** on **Unsplash**

Set The Mood With Lighting

The living room lighting should create a comfortable and relaxed setting. Use warm yellow lights to create this. You can use warm lights in side-table lamps, concealed ambiance lighting or even overhead lighting. You could also keep white lights where dual lighting option is possible as these are better for reading or working. If you like natural light, artistically throw in some votives and lanterns to hold your candles. They work wonders to set the ambiance.

Enjoy Your Privacy With Window Curtains & Blinds

Apart from the obvious use of shutting out light and prying eyes, curtains and blinds are important items in the living room décor. They add elegance and style to the room and can be used to break the monotony of the wall. Take care to measure carefully for a perfect fit to avoid a shabby look.

Floor Rug

These are great choices to visually divide the space, instead of using bulky partitions. They can also add color to the room. Take care to choose one of the correct measurements to fit your space as too small rugs tend to make the room look tacky.

Bring In The Green

Plants are a great choice for décor items. They are pleasing to the eye and normally go with any kind of theme or style of the room. Choose ones that last indoors and are not bulky. Plants like Snake Plant, Aleo Vera or Money Plant also purity the air and increase the oxygen level. Add a classy touch by opting for unique & statement planters that go with your theme. You can choose from brass, terracotta, porcelain or even custom create your own planter with simple DIY projects.

These easy tips are curated to help you set up a new living room space or even if you are just redecorating your existing one.

So, how did you like this post? Will you use any of these tips in your living room? Do write in to us!