Learning to light up the house

MUST BUYS

When I ventured out to scout for gift items at lifestyle stores and local handicraft exhibitions, I couldn't escape the beautiful home accessories that helped to light up corners. Pretty to light, pretty to deck up your home. Here's what you should pick up the next time you go shopping for your home.

Paper lamps
They seem to be available everywhere "" in lifestyle stores and local markets. And I have spotted them subtly lighting up corners, lending a sense of character in most of my friends' homes. Paper lamps exude a contemporary look and gel well in most houses.

In lifestyle stores like The Next Shop, you can pick up pastel-shaded paper lamps for Rs 1,395 or dried leaves embossed ones for Rs 2,138 each. Places like Dilli Haat are a reasonable bet and one can bargain for a piece for Rs 200 in a wide choice of colours. Good gifts for people who like to light up corners of their homes.

Zari and cane candles
You might say candles are now passe. Okay, the entire craze for scented and weirdly shaped candles might not be so hot but they have been re-invented to deck up tables and mantle pieces in the house where lighting them needn't be the prime concern.

The zari and cane combination is working well with a lot of things "" floor cushions, chatai's (or floor mats), table mats and now even candles.

Bamboo stands
Bamboo and cane seem to be twisted and knotted for a range of home accessories. And tall candle stands of bamboo and cane in bright colours for Rs 200 onwards look good by themselves. The candles on them can be easily ignored.

Metal and glass candle stands
Again, candle stands but in small sizes, more to light diyas. But I wonder if anyone actually uses them for that purpose. There are metal adorned candle stands with semi-precious stones.

You can even try stained glass ones that work well as table decorative accessories in a price range of Rs 200 upwards. I saw an interesting one "" a delicate glass Ganesh with a diya "" perfect for uncles and aunts with a soft corner for anything associated with an idol's figurine.