Growing up in the UK, I have little to no recollection of Ramadan or Eid décor being available in smaller Islamic businesses, let alone mainstream stores. Ramadan was solely focused around the sacrificial elements, evenings in prayer and special times breaking the fast with friends and family. Fast forward a couple of decades and the evolution of Ramadan and Eid in the age of social media and growing consumerism, we are now almost spoilt for choice for how we can decorate our homes during the holy month and on the special festival of Eid!
With Christmas decorations being the norm and the expansion of Easter and Halloween decorations ever increasing, it was only a matter of time before Ramadan and Eid would be included. It is a great way to make Muslim children get excited for the month and celebration at the end. And a fabulous excuse for DIY project- obsessed decorators like me to kit out the house during Ramadan and Eid!
Here are some pretty Ramadan decoration ideas, that can also be used for either Eid this year…
Create a DIY mosque
Often, Ramadan/Eid decoration styles tend to derive from the same region as the origins of the faith - Arabia. With geometric patterns, lanterns, crescent moons and stars to boot, you will often find Ramadan and Eid décor that emulates the interior of an opulently designed mosque.
One way that parents and children decorate their homes for Ramadan in this way is the DIY mosque! My Instagram pal - @thefoxonthehillox created these two amazing home made mosque’s last year and this year from cardboard and MDF and they were amazing. The perfect way to inspire her children to pray where they can also play.
Make a Ramadan wreath
A couple of years ago I was inspired by a picture of a wreath I had seen on Pinterest, to create my own for Ramadan. Using faux eucalyptus and orchids I created two pretty wreaths to blend in well with my silver and gold accented rooms respectively. Wreaths are the perfect DIY décor idea as they can be fashioned to suit different interior styles and themes. Last year I added a pampas wreath to my collection. This year some friends and I collaborated on some more Ramadan wreaths and they were stunning!
The best thing about these Ramadan wreaths is also that they can easily be dual purpose and used for Eid too simply by changing the (usually removable) words used.
- Shop Eid decorations and wreaths on Etsy
Set a habby chic Eid tablescape
Hands-down my favourite type of festive/event décor is a table cape. I love deciding on a colour or theme and allowing my creative skills to flow by seeing what items from around the house I can use to add to the table. This is the highlight of my décor for Eid!
Last year I was gifted some items from one of the largest Muslim décor stores in the UK - eidparty.co.uk. I chose the Shabby Chic collection from their ever expanding list of themes and created probably my favourite tablescape to date for the second Eid in the summer. Wooden table accessories, eucalyptus and floral runner, subtle gold touches and a burlap Eid sack, what more could one want?
- Keep reading: Is shabby chic making a comeback? We investigate
Put some personality into your Eid display
I like to get creative an incorporate my favourite decorating trends or florals of the moment into my Ramadan decorations to make them more personal. So, it was only right that I combine my love for pampas with my love for flowers, and that’s just what I did for the tablescape and the décor throughout my home.
Keep it simple with festive paper plates
If you're inviting friends and family over for the second Eid when lockdown will be no more, you may not want to wash a bunch of dishes after! Paper plates like the ones from @onecloudsilverlining are so luxurious, they look real at first glance, and they make cleanup so much easier. I used them to create the tablescape above.
Take a cue from the season
Since Ramadan and Eid move around the calendar, it can be fun to incorporate the season into your décor. One thing I love doing with place settings is to add something fresh - like a fresh flower or seasonal stem in a napkin. That was probably my favourite thing about this iftar table setting.
Add subtle touches around the home
Moderation is a common theme of Ramadan in general so decorating moderately is definitely something that resonates with those practising. I'll add small touches to my décor throughout my home to keep things festive, and then I'll go for a bolder style in one or two areas, like below.
However you are celebrating this year, a big Eid Mubarak to you and yours!