Designer Devika Narain makes marigolds the hero of a Diwali lunch table

The Big 3 for that Indian Look - Bright Colours, Textiles and Brass

“Bright colours go hand in hand with Indian culture. Add one bold colour to elevate the look and offset the neutrals. I also wanted to add a vein of brass as I find it traditionally Indian. To dial up the aesthetic, I suggest scattering some traditional prints and fabrics into the mix. These elements are my associations with India and Diwali.”

It’s All About the Flowers

“I always use bunches of fresh flowers to liven up a room; I find that a festive look isn’t complete without them. Marigolds are the perfect starting point for this Indian-inspired look. Keeping the rest of the colour palette neutral, these bright orange and yellow beauties take centre stage.”

Get Creative with DIY Ideas

“With so many flowers, you will need a fair number of vases but this is one thing I am not fussy about. Literally anything in my house that can hold water can be used as a vase. Here I have used pickle jars, brass thalis and bowls as well as clay kulhars to arrange the flowers. The variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials is what makes it all come together. I prefer this assorted, organic look to something that is perfectly manicured to the last detail.”

Forget Extravagance, Keep it Simple

“I wanted to use things that are locally available and inexpensive. Most of the elements used to bring in the Indian aesthetic like traditional thalis, brass bowls, clay kulhars, pickle jars and marigolds, are easily available in any local market.”

Childhood Memories are the Best Inspiration

“My mom had a lot of pickle jars, and she would put plants or stalks of flowers in multiple pickle jars around the house and turn them into decorative elements. I used an assortment and worked them into a random cluster on the console. Rangoli designs are another favourite memory of mine from Diwali and this inspired the setting. If you look at the table from the top, the way I have laid out all the items mimics the symmetry of a Rangoli design which also creates a visual contrast with the asymmetry of the console.”

Different Heights Add Interest

“Each plate setting is layered with multiple plates topped by a napkin and a note card. If you don’t have a charger plate, the Indian thali works perfectly as well because it is larger than a standard dinner plate. An important tip to keep in mind is to use only as much cutlery as required; you don’t want to clutter the space. I have also raised the brass thalis by using glass tumblers as stands. Just placing them on the table would have created a flat visual.”

Little Details Make a Big Impact

“With all my table settings, including those I style for weddings, I always like to add a small detail to the plates like a pretty menu, artistic name tag or personalised thank you note. Over here, I added a note card with ‘Happy Diwali’ and tied in the floral theme with the marigold design. Another small detail I added was a single marigold flower placed inside the tumblers used as stands.”