design tip of the month: altar your space!!

one of the coolest little tricks we have found for not only filling up a random empty corner, shelf, or bookcase while making your living space that much more personal is to create your own altar. there are a billion variations to be explored with altar-making. its a great way to gather together the random stuff you have laying around that is too meaningful to get rid of, and its a creative and potentially thrifty way to increase the design-savvy look of your personal space. 

when putting together an altar for the first time, think about what you have the most of already. religious paraphernalia? old family photos? how about those 99 cent lady of guadeloupe candles you bought at the king soopers when you were in college? since el had a dia de los muertos theme at her wedding, she already had a ton of fabulous day of the dead knick-knacks, which became the main theme of her altar. k had a plethora of hindu murtis, seashells, and crystals that look so magical when grouped together in an old bookcase she cleared out and painted. 

el built her altar in an awkward empty living room closet

layered tibetan prayer flags or papel picado banners are a must for colorful altars. try your local tibetan store or mexicansugarskull.com for the banners.

we can all agree that altars look more amazing when they have an overall theme. this is where you get to start collecting and thrift-store hunting. most traditional altars are religiously-themed, but this does not have to be the case. you can theme around a color, superhero, artist, or special person in your life. 

mexican blankets and fake fruit and flowers all create an authentic day of the dead altar.

here an antique cabinet was transformed into a altar to remember ancestors. 

our personal favorite: this altar was made in an old radio cabinet complete with a found bird's nest and "book branches." this is a perfect example of how creative and unique you can get with the design and theme of your altar.

enjoy altaring your space!!

cheers!