Nine nights of garba, aarti and guests at the door. Navratri is the one festival where your home is on show every single evening, which is exactly why decorating for it can feel overwhelming. The good news: you do not need a pandal budget. With a few simple, handmade touches you can make your home feel festive from Ghatasthapana to Dussehra.
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday, 11 October to Tuesday, 20 October, when Dussehra is celebrated. Here are simple Navratri decoration ideas at home that you can make yourself this week.
1. Set up the mandir and the kalash first
The Ghatasthapana kalash is the centre of Navratri decor, so start there. Place it on a low chowki covered with a red or yellow cloth, with mango leaves, a coconut and a small bed of soil for the jowar or barley that sprouts over the nine days. Keep the rest of the decor around it simple so the kalash stays the focus.
2. Hand-painted diyas for the aarti thali and the entrance
Plain clay diyas become something special with a little paint, a few rhinestones and some mandala dots. Paint a set in the colours of the nine days and you have decor that lasts all the way to Diwali on 8 November. Our DIY Diya Decoration Kit (₹649) has the paints and rhinestones you need. For designs to copy, see our guide to diya painting ideas.
3. Decorate by the Navratri colours of 2026
Each day of Navratri has its own colour, and building your decor around it is an easy way to refresh the look every evening: swap the chowki cloth, the flowers or the rangoli colour. Here are the Navratri colours for 2026, as listed by Drik Panchang:
| Day | Date | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Pratipada) | Sunday, 11 October | Orange |
| Day 2 (Dwitiya) | Monday, 12 October | White |
| Day 3 (Tritiya) | Tuesday, 13 October | Red |
| Day 4 (Chaturthi) | Wednesday, 14 October | Royal Blue |
| Day 5 (Panchami) | Thursday, 15 October | Yellow |
| Day 6 (Shashthi) | Friday, 16 October | Green |
| Day 7 (Saptami) | Saturday, 17 October | Grey |
| Day 8 | Sunday, 18 October | Purple |
| Day 9 | Monday, 19 October | Peacock Green |
Colour lists vary a little by region and calendar, so check with your family or local temple if you follow a specific tradition.
4. Candles in every corner
Candles are the quickest way to make a room glow for evening aarti. Make your own and they double as decor after Navratri ends. The Shell Candle Kit (₹1,499) makes elegant candles in real shells, and the Cactus Candle Kit (₹1,499) comes with a reusable mould so you can keep making more for Diwali.
5. A glowing floral jar for the living room
If open flames are not practical, for example with small children or pets running around during garba practice, go for soft light instead. The Floral Glow Jar Kit (₹1,799) turns a bottle into a floral lamp, and the Light Bottle Painting Kit (₹999) lets you paint your own glowing bottles in the day's colour.
6. Marigold and mango-leaf toran
A fresh toran on the main door is the most traditional Navratri decoration of all. String marigolds and mango leaves on a thick thread, alternating two or three flowers with one leaf. Make it on Day 1 and refresh the flowers midway through the nine nights.
7. A textured wall art backdrop
A single statement piece behind the mandir or the photo corner makes every garba selfie look better. Try a textured canvas in gold, orange and red with the Texture Painting Kit (₹1,499). It stays up long after the festival.
8. Decoupage shells as tea-light and kumkum holders
Shells decorated with floral paper make beautiful holders for tea lights, haldi-kumkum or small sweets for guests. The Decoupage Shells Kit (₹1,750) is a calm evening project for the days before Navratri starts.
9. A rangoli that changes every night
Draw one simple outline at the entrance on Day 1, then fill it with the colour of each day. By Dussehra you will have a rangoli that tells the story of all nine nights.
Simple Navratri decoration ideas for the office
Many teams celebrate Navratri at work with colour-of-the-day dress codes. Add a small decor corner with painted diyas and a toran, and let each team decorate one diya in the day's colour. If you want a proper team activity, our Magic Hour kits give every person their own diya or candle painting kit, for ₹499 plus GST per kit.
Navratri decoration: frequently asked questions
How can I decorate my home for Navratri simply?
Start with the kalash and mandir, add a fresh marigold toran on the door, light a few painted diyas or candles, and change one element every day to match the Navratri colour. Those four things are enough to make a home feel festive.
What are the Navratri colours for 2026?
According to Drik Panchang: orange (11 October), white (12), red (13), royal blue (14), yellow (15), green (16), grey (17), purple (18) and peacock green (19 October).
What are eco-friendly Navratri decoration ideas?
Use fresh flowers and mango leaves for torans, clay diyas you paint yourself, handmade candles and natural rangoli colours. Avoid plastic flowers and thermocol, which end up in landfill after the festival.
When should I start decorating for Navratri?
Set up the mandir and kalash on the morning of Ghatasthapana, Sunday 11 October 2026. Handmade pieces like painted diyas and candles are best made the weekend before so they are dry and ready.
This Navratri, let your home glow with things you made yourself. Explore our home craft kits or browse all DIY kits to start decorating this weekend.
