One of the easiest ways to decorate your house is by simply repurposing a glass bottle and using it as lantern. Mumbai-based event planner and animal activist Deepika Shanbhag suggests putting the easily available fairy lights, as they are more popularly called, in the bottle, to make a quick lantern. Photo Courtesy: Deepika Shanbhag

If you still haven't made a rangoli and are keen on doing it, then Shanbhag says, you can simply use the rice and lentils in your house to make it. This can be don't If you don't have easy access to fresh flowers. Using fresh flowers is also another way to spend your afternoon working on a simple design. These will help you avoid using powdered colours, especially if you don't have practice with designs. Avoiding the colour can also help protect your pets, and in fact, the lentils can be used to feed them later as it is completely safe. Photo Courtesy: Deepika Shanbhag

Shanbhag also suggests using bangles that you wear to make a toran creatively. You can either stick them in different ways or stack them together and then string them on a durable wire to put up as an easy toran. One can also use ties worn with formal wear to make a colourful hanging for the occasion. Photo Courtesy: Deepika Shanbhag

It is never too late to spend the day with your loved ones making a lantern and being happy with the result. You can simply make it with paper or any kind of cloth easily available at home. Cut the different parts of the lantern and stick them together. If the cloth or paper is plain, don't forget to colour it before you cut out the different elements for the decoration. Photo Courtesy: Harshada Satam

Harshada Satam (left) along with her husband Abhishek Satam have been making lanterns out of Maharashtrian Paithani saris. While making these lanterns may be difficult now, apart from the paper lanterns, people can also use dupattas in different shapes and sizes to hang them as decoration around the house. It will not only save money spent on buying expensive decorations but is also a good last-minute idea for the festival. Photo Courtesy: Harshada Satam