New Delhi: This Diwali pledge to be responsible and ensure zero pollution and zero waste generation. Given the crisis where a large part of the country has turned into a gas chamber, celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali is the way to go to enjoy the true spirit of the festival. So, if you have already started decorating your house and wondering how to go about the preparations without marring nature, we‘ve got you covered!
Also Read: Celebrate Waste-Free Diwali: Top 5 Home Décor Ideas To Brighten Up Your Home
We present to you five eco-friendly ideas to upscale your home decors using waste papers, plastic, old clothes and old CDs. So, bring out all the ‘raddi’ of your house and brighten up your home with a creative tinge by re-using the waste items in innovative ways that are super easy, not time-consuming and pocket-friendly too.
Bonus Tip – It might be a good way to engage your kids who are “high-on festival sweets, over-energetic and super-excited” during Diwali holidays.
1. Newspaper Wall Hanging
Instead of selling off all the newspapers stacked in your house, innovate and recycle these into wall hangings
Vibrant wall hangings made of waste material can add color to your room and make your wall come alive. Most houses have abundant supply of newspapers and magazines and with little efforts, these can be transformed into a gorgeous wall hanging.
Method:
• Make newspaper rolls and then make coils of different size
• Colour the coiled pieces with desired colours
• Decorate them with beads
• Paste them together and hang
Also Read: DIY: How To Upcycle Thermocol Tableware That You Ditch For Eco-Friendly Options
2. Diwali ‘Torans/ Bandanwaars (decorative door hanging) From Old Greeting Cards
Traditionally made with mango leaves and flowers, torans made from old greeting cards are perfect to welcome your guests
Place it at the entrance of your house to welcome guests and set the perfect festive mood with a traditional touch.
Method:
• Reuse old greeting cards
• Cut the portion you want
• Glue them on a ribbon or a string
That’s it! Your colourful and vibrant toran is ready.
Also Read: Goodbye Plastic, Hello Creativity: Five Easy Ways To Reuse Plastic Bottles
3. Refurbish Your Home With Vintage Sarees/ Bedsheets
Your guests will be amazed to see your old saree borders and patterns turned into stunning table runners
Have old worn out sarees or bedsheets lying at home which you once totally adored but can’t use anymore? Pour creativity and reuse these as curtains, cushion cover, table spreads, and even as quilt covers. Refurbish your home with a dash of traditional opulence.
Method:
• Select a contrast sarees and stitch these into cushion covers to match with your couch
• Use a soft cotton bedsheet or saree as fancy window blind by simply attaching it to the curtain rod- measure your window length and the diameter of your curtain rod. Keep extra four inch while sewing/gluing the hem so that you can move it easily. Fold one inch of hem at the bottom to stop it from laddering.
• Cut out the heavy embroidered borders and use them as table runners
Also Read: From Old To Gold: Tap Your Creative Side To Upcycle Your Used CDs
4. Recycled CDs Lamps
Gorgeous lamps created from old CDs will simply increase the oomph factor of your décor
While cleaning the study area in your house, you must have found stacks of CDs that have no use anymore. Well, take this festive season as an opportunity to breathe some life into these by upcycling these into glorious lamps. Best part- you don’t even have to bear the hassle of breaking the CDs and assemble the pieces.
Method:
• Just glue the CDs together in the form of a globe
• Put a light bulb inside the globe and you are good to go!
Also Read: Free India From Trash: 5 Smart Ways To Upcycle Waste Into Things Of Daily Utility
5. Plastic Candle/Diya holder
These colourful cup candle holder will add beauty to your Diwali decorations
Transform the single-use plastic cups lying in your house into creative candle/ diya holders and use these for any occasion.
Method:
Use acrylic colours to paint plastic cups and put one smokeless tea light candle/ diya inside each cup and it’s done! Fill-up again when needed.
Watch: DIY Diwali Décor- 5 Ways To Give Your Home Décor An Eco-Friendly Twist
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.
