8 Ways to use Prabhavali Design in Décor

Prabhavali Design Décor

In India, we are very fond of keeping things colorful and vibrant. With the changing seasons, we make sure that our homes become brighter and more beautiful. The same is true for home décor too. Home décor is the art of creating an environment that you want to be in. Whether it’s your bedroom, living room, or kitchen, home décor should make you feel at home and give you a sense of well-being. With so many options available today, decorating your space can seem like a daunting task. Especially if you are a beginner at Antique Home Décor. To help all you budding Antique Décor lovers out there, we bring to you an article that is simple yet very impactful when used in the right way- ‘Prabhavali’.

What is a Prabhavali Design?

Prabhavalis are exquisite traditional arches found in temples of India. They are often found standing radiant and tall behind idols and statues, framing their silhouette.

Traditionally, a Prabhavali features two columns on either side and an arch that rises above. The center of the arch features the ferocious Kirtimukha, a protective figure that is also commonly seen at temple entrances. The arch can be decorated with beautiful traditional motifs and elements, and sometimes, even features birds when set with certain deities.

As the decades have passed, this exquisite, divine element has found its way into pooja rooms and gallery walls alike. The radiant brass and bronze form, the exquisite detail work, and the divine symbolism truly make the Prabhavali a warm and wonderful addition to any space.

Here are some ways you can style the Prabhavali at your home!

Prabhavali Wall Hanging

Source: @prettymuchmypassions

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”~ perfectly said by Leonardo da Vinci. For a beginner in any domain, keeping things simple is the best way to go. A Prabhavali on its own is a radiant piece of art. The simplest way to incorporate a Prabhavali design in your home décor, would be to display it on a wall. Brass and Bronze in any form always adds to the charm of the décor. This has been beautifully portrayed in the Gallery Wall Décor done in the image. Intricately crafted Brass and Bronze Prabhavalis are sure to add a touch of gold to your wall décor.

Antique Wooden Prabhavali Design as a statement piece at the entrance

Source: @prakalyamgallery

We can all agree that the entrance to any place, specially your home is one of the most important parts of a living space. As a décor lover, having a beautiful statement piece or a bold accent to your home entrance is a must. Prabhavalis that are beautiful and bigger in size can absolutely be considered a statement piece. These bigger Prabhavalis are a great addition to any living room or entryway in your home, which has to be as dramatic and striking as it can get. This huge Antique Wooden Prabhavali used by The Prakalyam Gallery is a shining example as to how to use one.

Give your Brass/Bronze statue a twist with the addition of a Prabhavali Frame

Source: @sun.ghar.20

Often found in pooja rooms, Prabhavalis usually come as part of a God’s idol. Although they are mainly found in this way, they need not be restricted to it. For all those who have statues standing all over their house, whether it is in the living room, on a coffee table, on a shelf, or on the wall, placing a Prabhavali along with the statue would do wonders to the entire look of that space. This would add to the character and grandeur of the statue. As portrayed beautifully in the image, this statue of Lord Krishna is accompanied by an antique Prabhavali frame. This simple addition has helped enhance the beauty of the space.

Adding color to your Prabhavali Design

Source: @vishnuprabhanc

Prabhavalis come in Brass, Bronze or Wood. For someone who has already used these frames in their décor by hanging it or framing it as it is, you may want to change things up a little. What better way than to add some color to it? And by adding color to it, we definitely are not talking about painting these delicate antique frames. Since they are frames, they don’t always have to be encased in another frame. Instead they can be used to encase another beautiful piece of artwork. Prabhavalis used as an accent behind an Idol is a common sight, but the trend of the season is to encase a painting of the idol in the frame. You can see a traditional painting of ‘Dakshinamurthy – The Universal Teacher’, encased in this beautiful Brass Prabhavali depicted in the image. This artist has done a brilliant job at capturing the essence of the picture in the frame.

Light up your space with a Prabhavali Deepam Frame

Source: @khwabeeda_by_priyanka

Are you an avid Lamp/Deepam collector? If yes, then this one is a must have in your collection. A gorgeous collection of traditional lamps can beat a contemporary LED light on any day! Lamps can either be floor lamps – lamps that need a stable surface to stand on, or hanging lamps – lamps that come with a chain so they can be suspended from a stable surface. What about Wall Lamps? There aren’t many options in this category. We present to you the ‘Prabhavali Frame Deepam’. This is definitely a stunner among the many lamps that can be used for home décor. They can either be displayed on the wall or displayed in a frame on the wall or table. The placement options of this beauty is unlimited. This particular Prabhavali Frame Deepam has been creatively used as table décor. Encased in a simple wooden frame with a pop of bright colors, this Deepam surely catches our eye.

Prabhavali flat-lay for table décor

Source: @decorbubble

Table décor is a tricky job, but when done correctly it has so much to offer to the ambience of a living space. From the addition of a simple table cloth to creating a beautiful décor set-up, the options are limitless. We have spoken about displaying a Prabhavali on the wall by simply hanging it, or setting it up on a table along with a statue. Having a Prabhavali standing upright is the first thought when we use them in our home décor. What are the possibilities of having them laid down as part of the décor? The above shared image would have certainly answered this question. Here a simple Prabhavali design is used as a flat-lay providing sections in between to place smaller cups. We are all familiar with coasters, trays, urulis, etc. on a table. Replacing them with an antique Prabhavali matching the aesthetics of the table, would bring a fresh perspective to your décor.

Kolam meets Prabhavali

Source: @savvys_home

Creativity is unbounded. Traditionally made on the ground in the entrance of a home or temple, Kolams are no longer bound to one surface. Today, Kolams are being drawn on walls, on clothes, on wood, etc. In this case they are being used to add on to the beauty of another article. Brass and wood in décor complement each other very well. Using wood as a background highlights the Brass articles which have a golden hue. This artistic décor piece created in the image brings two different artworks together on a piece of wood. The Kolam details on the wood used as a canvas for the Brass Prabhavali makes it look exquisite. This unusual pairing makes for an elegant piece of décor that can be used anywhere in your home.

Prabhavali Gallery Wall

Source: @preethiprabhudotcom

What better way to jazz up your empty wall than a medley of Prabhavalis? There is no upper limit as to how many Prabhavalis are allowed to be displayed and you can never have enough of them. A beautiful and creative way to decorate your space using Prabhavalis, would be to have a little bit of everything you have read so far. A mixture of Prabhavalis in different forms like a Prabhavali with no alterations, a Prabhavali with mirror, a Prabhavali with a beautiful canvas painting and a Prabhavali with a piece of colorful patterned cloth can add so much color and texture to your home décor. While having too many Prabhavalis sound great, having a balance between the number of Prabhavalis and their cluster placement is very important. The Gallery Wall created in this image is carefully and aesthetically placed. This is also a great way to put your DIY skills to use.

Now that you’re introduced to these gorgeous décor ideas, go on and try them for yourself! After all, incorporating a Prabhavali design into your décor isn’t as hard as it seems when you’ve got fresh perspectives and beautiful ideas to guide you along!

We hope this blog has helped you add a divine touch to your space! Show us some love in the comments section and feel free to share ideas of your own!

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