Diwali Light Decoration Ideas for Outside and Inside the Home

12 setups Diwali decoration Updated 2 Nov

Diwali light decoration is what makes a home look like Diwali from the street. A well lit balcony, a glowing door and warm strings along the windows say more than any indoor decor, and they do it every evening of the five day festival.

This page covers outdoor diwali light decoration on the house front, balcony and window lights, indoor home lighting and the safety side: load, timers and weather. For diyas specifically, see diya decoration ideas, and for the whole festival see Diwali decoration.

Outdoor Diwali Light Decoration Outside Home

Outdoor lights should be rated for outdoor use, fixed firmly and run from a safe, covered socket.

Diwali lights decoration on house front with warm white light curtains — **Space**House front
**Materials**Outdoor light curtains
**Effort**3 hrs, 2 people
Warm white light curtains down the front of a house are the classic outdoor Diwali look. They glow evenly and look calm.
**Decor tip:** Hang curtains from the parapet or sunshade with zip ties, not tape. Tape fails in the night dew.

Outdoor diwali light decoration with light strings spiralled around gate pillars — **Space**Gate pillars
**Materials**Outdoor strings, zip ties
**Effort**45 min, 1 person
Light strings spiralled around the gate pillars frame the entrance and guide guests in.
**Decor tip:** Keep the spiral even by marking every foot with chalk first.

Diwali decoration ideas for home outdoor with lights wrapped on a garden tree — **Space**Garden tree
**Materials**Outdoor strings
**Effort**1 hr, 2 people
Wrapping the trunk and lower branches of a garden tree in lights makes a striking outdoor centrepiece.
**Decor tip:** Wrap loosely so the tree can grow and sway. Remove the lights within two weeks.

Balcony Diwali Light Decoration

For flats, the balcony is your house front. Lights on the railing and a lantern or two are enough to stand out.

Diwali lighting decoration with a hanging akash kandil lantern on the balcony — **Space**Balcony ceiling
**Materials**Akash kandil, LED bulb
**Effort**15 min, 1 person
A large akash kandil lantern hanging in the balcony is a much loved tradition in Maharashtra and Goa.
**Decor tip:** Use an LED bulb inside paper or cloth kandils. It stays cool all night.

Diwali light decoration home ideas with a fairy light curtain on balcony glass — **Space**Balcony door
**Materials**Fairy light curtain
**Effort**20 min, 1 person
A fairy light curtain on the balcony glass door glows both inside the room and outside for neighbours.
**Decor tip:** Fix the curtain on the inside of the glass. It stays dry and the door still slides.

Diwali Light Decoration: How Much to Buy

Area	What to buy	Rough length
Flat balcony, 8 ft	Railing string plus 2 lanterns	10 to 15 m
Main door	One string	5 m
Window	One string each	3 to 5 m
Two storey house front	Light curtains	4 to 6 curtains
Hall ceiling	Strings from centre	20 to 25 m

Warm white reads festive; cool white reads like an office. Copper wire and curtain lights cost more than basic strings but look finer and last longer.

Diwali Light Decoration Home Ideas Indoors

Inside, layer warm light at different heights: ceiling strings, wall lights and floor lanterns.

Diwali decoration lights for home with a ceiling canopy of warm strings in the hall — **Space**Hall ceiling
**Materials**Light strings, hooks
**Effort**1 hr, 2 people
Warm strings stretched across the hall ceiling from the centre make the whole room glow without lamps.
**Decor tip:** Use one central ring and four corner hooks. The strings hang in neat curves.

Lighting diwali light decoration home ideas along an indoor staircase railing — **Space**Staircase
**Materials**Light strings, ties
**Effort**30 min, 1 person
Lights along the staircase railing make the house feel festive from every floor.
**Decor tip:** Fix the string below the handrail with clear ties, so hands on the rail never touch a wire.

Light for diwali decoration with glass jars of fairy lights on a console table — **Space**Console table
**Materials**Glass jars, fairy lights
**Effort**15 min, 1 person
Glass jars filled with tiny fairy lights on a console table glow like lanterns and are completely safe.
**Decor tip:** Use copper wire fairy lights in jars. They bend easily and look like fireflies.

Windows, Doors and Diwali Lighting Details

Small details finish the look: window outlines, door frames and lights hidden in plants.

Diwali decoration light outlining a window frame with warm strings — **Space**Windows
**Materials**Light strings, clips
**Effort**15 min per window
Outlining every window in warm strings makes the house look neat and festive from outside.
**Decor tip:** Use adhesive light clips on window frames. They hold well and leave no marks.

Diwali lights decoration with warm lights and marigold around the main door — **Space**Main door
**Materials**Lights, marigold strings
**Effort**30 min, 1 person
Warm lights woven with marigold around the main door give a welcoming glow at the most important spot.
**Decor tip:** Plug door lights into an indoor socket with a flat cable under the door seal.

Diwali light decoration ideas with lights hidden among potted plants — **Space**Plant group
**Materials**Battery fairy lights
**Effort**15 min, 1 person
Small light strings tucked into potted plants on the balcony or entrance give a soft, natural glow.
**Decor tip:** Use battery strings in plants. No wires to trip over and no socket needed.

Safe Diwali Lighting

Use outdoor rated lights outside and keep plugs covered from dew.
One extension board per wall; never chain boards together.
Put outdoor lights on a timer, for example 6 pm to 11 pm.
Check old strings for cut wires before hanging.
Switch off everything when the house is empty.

For the rest of the festival, see Laxmi puja decoration and door decoration ideas.

Questions people ask

What is the best outdoor diwali light decoration?

Warm white light curtains down the house front, strings spiralled around gate pillars and outlines on windows. Use outdoor rated lights and a timer.

How do I do balcony diwali light decoration in a flat?

Run warm strings along the inside of the railing, hang an akash kandil or two paper lanterns and put a fairy curtain on the glass door. It takes under an hour.