1 Clean up your open-air space, be it the terrace or the lawn. Remove all the clutter and make as much space as possible. 

2 With the summer sun dancing on your head, you can make a canopy using colourful dupattas. Wrap them around a central pole (that can be made using a bamboo or any post) from all sides. 

3 Using your plush sofas is not a wise thing to do but keeping some seating space is a good idea. You can either opt for plastic chairs and wrap them in white cloth or you can get a basic chowki and cover it with a gadda. Take your old zari sari, make cushion covers out of it and throw them on the chairs. 

4 Since the theme is Holi, set the party mood from the entrance. Take A4 size sheets of white paper and tear them into halves. Now dip your hand in paint and leave an impression on the white sheets. Draw a string across your entrance area and clip the handprint hangings! 

5 Who doesn’t like clicking pictures on Holi — be it just a dab of colour on your cheeks or a proud purple face? So create a photo op section by just hanging a white cloth on a wall. Keep spray paints on a table and get creative with captions. Or just write names that will make for a colourful graffiti background for your snaps! You can keep the cloth as a #memento for later. 

6 Take earthen matkas and paint them in desired colours. The brighter, the better! Now fill them with gulaal of various shades.

7 Paint bhanr (earthen pots) to chug down bhang thandai from. Keep a stack of them on a table that can double as a makeshift bar. 

8 Get a giant plastic tub and fill it with water balloons. You can also invest in a big inflated tub that can be filled with coloured water where your guests can make a splash! 

9 Flowers form a key element in Holi decor. Pick easily available marigolds that can be used as party props to wear around the neck, wrist or head. 

10 No Holi bash is complete without a playlist. Hire a DJ or play the part of the DJ waley babu. We suggest you create a covered section for the music zone so that it stays dry! Finally, your playlist must feature hits like Tamma tamma again, The breakup song and The humma song.

As told to Pramita Ghosh
Have a Holi tip to share? Tell t2@abp.in