Indianisms in home décor

Incense Holders

Dhoop and agarbatti (incense) have a special place in Indian homes. They add fragrance to a room, cleanse the air, and are an essential part of prayer and meditation. And a very practical companion to incense, incense holders, can double up as decorative items. Designed to catch the ash from burning incense, these holders have now become works of art—with some made from precious metals and others, like back flow incense holders, taking on the form of ceramic sculptures. A well-designed incense holder can adorn your mantelpiece or centre table and have a place of pride in the pooja room.

Bharnis

Used for food storage, bharanis—those two-toned, pleasantly-curved, lidded jars—are unmistakable in Indian kitchens and pantries. These unassuming glazed brown and white jars have been used for centuries to store pickle, milk, oil, and other liquids. But their use doesn’t need to be limited to the kitchen. They make great vases, can be used as planters, or even displayed on a shelf or coffee table as-is. They are also a great way to store ladles and spoons in the kitchen.

From the bharni to the urli: or the large, round, heavy-bottomed brass vessels that are intrinsic to south India. These vessels are used in cooking and in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines and infused oils. Since they are made from brass and copper, food and medicine prepared in urlis are said to have a number of health benefits, from blood purification to better gut health.

But urlis are versatile and are used just as much, if not more, for decoration. Urlis filled with water and flowers are a common sight in foyers, gardens, and homes. There’s a spiritual reasoning for this as well: urlis are known to eliminate negative energy, and, from a vastu perspective, placing flowers in water spreads positivity and draws wealth into a space.

But these elegant pooja ornaments also make for lovely décor pieces, given their small size and the variety of shapes, materials, and colours they come in. From marble to metal to wood and even ceramic, haldi-kumkum pots can take up space on your sideboard, mantelpiece or shelves.

The paan box is another antique home essential that can transform into a collectible living room piece. Display it on your shelves, as a centrepiece, or even as a convenient entryway storage solution for keys, cards and other bits and bobs.