I think food plays a very important part in any get together. The sharing of conversation and laughs over a delicious meal goes a long way in making memories. And for me, creating a beautiful setting for such beautiful moments only adds to the beautiful memories. That’s the reason I’ve put together this pretty Diwali tablescape.

A Diwali Tablescape:

Beautiful does not have to be difficult, complicated or expensive. I have actually done this one quite easily by putting together a collection of things I had stocked at home. Since I love putting together these pretty vignettes, over time my ‘stock’ has grown… and that does come handy in times like this.

So let me show you how this colourful Diwali tablescape came about.

The Tableware:

I first started with these beautiful table mats and runner set by The India Craft House that I found recently. The traditional print and the deep red colour are just perfect for Diwali. It was an added bonus that they also go perfectly with the red accents in my living room.

I used my favourite dinner plates on these. Owning a set of white dinner plates makes life very easy because it’s easy to match them with any colour and look. I slid one corner of the folded square napkin through the ring for this really simple arrangement.

The Candles:

A Diwali tablescape would be incomplete without diyas and candles. That tall, glass tea-light holder worked perfectly as a centre piece. I then pulled out every diya and candle I own and started placing them along the length of the runner on both sides of the centre piece. Those red floating candles matched so beautifully with this setting, but I didn’t have anything to float them in. So I took out my set of ice-cream cups, poured water in those and floated the candles in them.

To give varying heights to the different candles I used some of my tea light holders upside down, as stands for the diyas.

The Flowers:

Once there were enough diyas all along the length of the table I started adding the flowers. Last year, at our Diwali party, I had used marigold and done the arrangement in red and orange. So this year I decided not to use any marigold for a change. What also pushed me in this direction was this beautiful garland of silk roses I found online recently.

Till a while back, I used to be very snooty about using fake flowers. This changed when I started working. It would often happen that we plan a last minute get together, and I didn’t have time to go and get flowers. I have sometimes even substituted little plants for flowers. But I did miss the colour that only flowers can add.

It also helps if you’re having a big get together and you have a hundred things to do. You can set up the table in the afternoon or early evening and then get into the kitchen, without having to worry about the flowers wilting, or having to lay the table last minute.

So I lay down the garland along the runner winding it around the various candles in the form of an ‘S’. Then I took a bunch of loose silk roses and scattered them around any vacant spaces. I also let them fall over on either side of the runner.

The Baubles:

Almost done… but I thought the Diwali tablescape was lacking a bit of shimmer and shine. So I picked up all the shimmery stuff I could find, including beaded coasters, plastic Diwali rangoli and even Christmas ornaments!

And that’s it. My colourful and floral Diwali tablescape was done! If I did have time and could get my hands on real roses, I would swap the silk flowers for real ones. That would also add the sweet fragrance to the tablescape… a treat to all the senses!

But even as is.. this made quite a pretty scene.

So this Diwali, try out a pretty tablescape. Take out your Diwali (or even Christmas!) goodies which you stash away every year and see what you can put together. And then share your best ideas with us in the comments below. Would love to know what you used and how!

Have a fun filled and friend filled, Happy Diwali!