By Marianne David
For Shalini Devarajan, owner of The Festive House, Christmas has always been about more than beautiful decorations. It is about cherished childhood memories, the warmth of family, and the little things that make a house feel like home. And what began as a lifelong love for Christmas decorating during one of the most challenging chapters of her life has today blossomed into a beautiful homegrown venture. Reflecting on how it all began, Shalini says: “It started with childhood memories, my love for Christmas, and finding a little happiness during a very difficult time.”
From handcrafted bows to elegant festive accents, each of her creations reflects her love for detail and the magic of the season. For Shalini, however, The Festive House is about more than creating beautiful décor. It is about bringing warmth and happiness into people’s homes while staying true to the personal touch behind every creation. Her philosophy is beautifully summed up in these words: “It’s not about how grand everything looks. It’s about creating that warm, happy feeling of Christmas in the little everyday moments we share with family.”
In this conversation with Pulse Line, Shalini takes us through the story behind The Festive House, the inspiration behind her collections, her favourite Christmas traditions, and the importance of finding the courage to pursue something you love, even when life takes an unexpected turn.
What inspired you to start The Festive House? What’s the story behind the beginning of the business and you, the founder and owner?
I’ve loved Christmas and decorating for as long as I can remember. Some of my favourite childhood memories are of decorating with my dad. He had this wonderful way of taking the simplest things and turning them into something beautiful, and I think that’s where my love for making things really began.
Christmas has always been such a special time for me. I love everything about it, especially the warmth, happiness, and feeling of togetherness it brings into a home.
Last year was a particularly difficult time for our family. I’d been diagnosed with cancer, and my husband was also recovering from brain surgery. With my immunity being so low, I had to be very careful about going out. In fact, it was the first Christmas I hadn’t even stepped into a Christmas decoration shop!
So instead, I decided to make a few little decorations at home. And before I knew it, I’d ended up decorating the entire house! Even after my first chemotherapy session, I found myself going back to my decorations because it was something that genuinely made me happy.
We spent that Christmas together as a family, with our children and, of course, Riley, our golden retriever. It was a very special Christmas for us, and it made me realise that I shouldn’t keep putting off the things I love. Life has taught me to take things one day at a time and to make the most of the little things that bring me joy.
I’d always wanted to do something with my love for Christmas decorating, but I’d never really taken that step. So this year, I started making velvet bows at home. I took a few pictures and posted them online, not really expecting anything to come of it. My family and friends were so encouraging and helped me share my work. Then, to my surprise, I started getting orders from people I didn’t even know! I really wasn’t expecting that.
That’s when my elder daughter, Tash, stepped in and said, ‘Mama, you need a page. I’ll handle your social media!’ I hadn’t even thought that far ahead! But before I knew it, she’d come up with the name, designed the logo, created The Festive House page, and started managing everything. It all happened so quickly!
As the orders started coming in, my younger daughter, Tiana, and my husband, Dhanushka, also got involved and helped wherever they could. It’s really become a little family effort, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without them. I should also mention my mother-in-law, who was the very first person to help me with the stitching. She stitched my samples and helped with those first few orders, which meant so much to me.
As things started growing, I reached out to someone who was just starting her own little home-based stitching business. I liked the idea of being able to support someone else who was also trying to get started. I suppose that’s something that’s become important to me as well. My family and friends gave me that initial encouragement and helped people discover what I was making. If I can do the same for someone else, even in a small way, I’d love to.
That’s how The Festive House came about. It wasn’t something I’d planned out as a business. It started with childhood memories, my love for Christmas, and finding a little happiness during a very difficult time. With lots of encouragement, love, and support from my family, it’s slowly grown into something I never expected.
If the things I create can bring even a little of that same warmth, happiness, and Christmas joy into someone else’s home, that would mean the world to me.
What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting The Festive House?
I think one of my biggest challenges has been learning how to put a price on something I genuinely love doing, while still keeping everything small and personal. I still cut every single piece myself, and the only thing I outsource is the stitching.
As things started growing, I did find it a bit overwhelming at times, especially because I also have to manage my health. I’ve always been someone who’s constantly on the go, and the words ‘I’m tired, I need to rest’ were never really part of my vocabulary! It hasn’t stopped me so far, but I do get frustrated sometimes.
My mind is still going at a hundred miles an hour, full of ideas and things I want to do, but my body doesn’t always keep up! I’m slowly learning that it’s okay to take things a little easier sometimes, even if that’s not something that comes naturally to me.
Could you tell us about the inspiration behind the current Christmas collection and the emphasis on bows, which feature prominently?
I’d been seeing so many beautiful Christmas decorations with bows and I just fell in love with the idea. I’ve always loved bows, but there’s something about oversized bows that I find especially beautiful. They make such a statement, whether they’re on top of a Christmas tree, decorating an entrance, or even placed behind a chair. I just think a beautiful bow can look lovely almost anywhere!
The bows I make are actually a little different from traditional ones. They might look similar, but I use a different method to create them, which makes them a little more unique. I’m also having so much fun experimenting with different styles and trying out new ideas. It really all started with me falling in love with bows, and before I knew it, that little idea had grown into something much bigger. And I genuinely believe bows will never go out of style. They’re just timeless!
What are the main Christmas décor pieces that you believe every home should have?
For me, it’s really the little things that make a home feel Christmassy. There are five areas I’d always focus on.
First would be the crib, because that’s a reminder of what Christmas is truly about. Then, of course, the Christmas tree. I think that’s always such a special part of the home at Christmas. I’d also decorate the entrance, because I love the idea of feeling that Christmas warmth the moment you walk through the door.
The kitchen is another favourite of mine. It’s where we start our mornings with a nice hot cup of coffee, and I think even a little Christmas decoration can make that moment feel special. And finally, the lounge table, where everyone gathers and spends time together. I think that’s such a lovely place to add a festive touch.
But I really don’t think you need to go overboard or spend a lot of money to make your home feel Christmassy. Sometimes all it takes is a little wreath, a pretty bow, or a few baubles. For me, it’s not about how grand everything looks. It’s about creating that warm, happy feeling of Christmas in the little everyday moments we share with family.
How do you decide what makes it into each collection?
To be honest, most of my ideas just pop into my head, and then I start playing around with them to see what I can create. I love experimenting and trying different things. Right now, I’m really enjoying working with bows and baubles, but I always want to add my own little touch to whatever I make. I love creating things that are elegant, a bit different, and not something you’d easily find in a shop.
I also don’t like the idea of sticking to one particular style. This year I’m all about bows and baubles, but who knows what I’ll be making next year! I think that’s part of the fun for me, being able to try new things, follow my ideas, and see where they take me.
Is there one Christmas decoration that you simply cannot do without?
I’ve always had a soft spot for reindeer decorations at Christmas. I just think they’re so lovely and add a bit of fun and magic to the tree. I’ve collected a few different ones over the years, and somehow I always end up adding another one. Christmas just wouldn’t feel quite the same without them!
If you could create your dream Christmas collection without any limitations, what would it look like?
My dream Christmas collection would be something really grand and magical! I’d love to have six-foot Santas, beautiful angels, oversized bows, and huge baubles in all the traditional Christmas colours of red, green, and gold. I’d also have lots of glass and crystal-like decorations, with soft green foliage to bring everything together.
I’d want everything to have a lovely, warm glow, with soft lighting that makes the whole display feel cosy and inviting rather than too bright.
And of course, I’d have to have a Christmas tree that’s at least 15 feet tall! I’d love to incorporate a four-foot nativity scene with Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph right into the tree, making it a really special part of the display.
I suppose my dream would be to create something that feels elegant and traditional, but also warm, welcoming, and full of Christmas magic. Most importantly, I’d want it to reflect the true meaning of Christmas.
Going beyond Christmas, does The Festive House offer other areas of home décor? Can we look forward to collections for other festive occasions and everyday home décor?
Christmas will always be my biggest passion, and I’m really excited about bringing out some new products, hopefully as early as June next year. As the business grows, I’d love to try new things and explore different ideas, but I never want to lose that personal touch that makes The Festive House so special.
I’d also love to get into creating bespoke decorations for other occasions, like parties, anniversaries, and weddings. It would be lovely to make pieces that are specially designed around someone’s theme or what they have in mind.
Christmas will always be at the heart of what I do, but I’m excited to see where this little journey takes me!
What makes The Festive House different from other décor businesses?
I think what makes The Festive House a little different is the personal touch. I’m involved in choosing and creating every piece, and I really do put a lot of love and thought into what I do. I enjoy finding and making beautiful, elegant decorations that you wouldn’t necessarily come across in the usual shops.
One of the things I love most is creating something based on what a customer has in mind. We all have our own ideas of how we’d like Christmas to look and feel in our homes, and I love being able to help someone bring those ideas to life. It’s such a lovely feeling knowing that something I’ve made has become part of someone’s Christmas.
I’d also like to keep The Festive House small and personal, working from home and staying hands-on with everything I create. I don’t want to lose that attention to detail or the enjoyment I get from making each piece special.
I also know that not everyone has the time to go around looking for decorations, especially with busy work and family schedules. I’d love to make it easier for people to find something beautiful and a little different without having to spend hours shopping.
At the end of the day, I just want people to love what they buy and feel that they’ve found something special, something that’s been made with genuine care.
Your journey is so inspiring and encouraging. Would you like to share some advice for would-be women entrepreneurs looking to start their own business?
I’d say, first of all, never think it’s too late to start something new, or that you can’t do it. I think sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the right moment, or for everything to fall into place, that we end up not doing anything at all. My advice would be to just give it a go. Start small and take things one step at a time.
Last year was a real wake-up call for me. It made me realise that life is too short to keep putting off the things you love. There’s never going to be a perfect time to start. For me, it was Christmas. It gave me something to look forward to at a time when I really needed it.
And I think that’s important, finding something that means something to you. It doesn’t have to be a big dream or anything extraordinary. It could just be something you’ve always wanted to try, something that makes you happy or gives you a sense of purpose.
When I started, I had just one order. I used what I earned from that to put back into the business, and slowly, as more orders came in, things began to grow. I didn’t have everything planned out, and to be honest, I’m still learning as I go!
Of course, there will be difficult days, and there’ll be moments when you wonder if you’re doing the right thing. But I think that’s all part of it. You learn, you make mistakes, you figure things out and you keep going.
So I’d just say, don’t be afraid to start. You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly where it’s going to take you. Sometimes all it takes is that first little step, and you never know what might come from it.
(Check out The Festive House on Instagram: @the_festive_house.co)
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