I have always wanted to have a nice swami room at my home. For years we have been using a very old book shelf as the mandir. Now that we bought a new house here in Boston, having a nice little perfect space for the mandir was on TOP of my list.
All along I knew what I wanted. The idea was there but I did not know where to get it from. Buying a wooden mandir shelf here in USA would be very costly. When we went to NY for my birthday, we inquired in a number of desi boutiques and found that the ones I liked would cost me around $500. So, like always I started browsing the blog world to get some DIY ideas and I came across this beautiful post from her which seemed perfect.
I exactly mimicked her and I was so satisfied to see the end result.
First, we were lucky enough to get this shelf from IKEA.
I used a white fabric pen to decorate (read Indianize) the doors.
This part was indeed a challenge. I am not very good at drawing kolams or rather I lost touch with this art for 5 years now. But I tried my best to draw this symmetry.
And then I wanted to keep Ganesha at the top center of the whole frame. So, I created a backdrop with kolams as shown in the belowpicture.
Next picture shows the entire backdrop.
Then came the fun part. I wanted to have the “Gopuram” effect in my mandir. So, we bought a wall mount shelf from Lowe’s and decorated the top with the wooden beads that I got in Michael’s. Like the original author suggested I also used eye pins to keep the beads in place.
That’s Lemon in action 😉
The final part was hanging the bells. This was tough. I got the bells from Michael’s. But gluing them to the wooden shelf was a challenge. It took us two to three days to figure out how exactly we can glue them.
Finishing touch was gluing the LED lights (from Lowe’s) to the shelf and adding the decorative door knob from Pier 1 Imports.
The final result is shown in the below picture.
Interested in doing this project for your home?
Here you go –
- BORGSJO Shelf Unit from IKEA
- Wall Mounting Shelf from LOWES
- Decor from Michael’s
P.S.: Thanks to her for this wonderful idea. I now have a special place for my mandir at home and I really loved this project. 🙂
My cOrNer oF tHe wOrLd 
Wow! Wow! I am impressed!!
🙂 Thanks BM!
hi,
do you still remember how you got the bells to stick to the top of the mandir?
Regards
Niru
Awesome; very nice Mandir! Super Impressed!!
Thank you RR!
This is a nice concept !
Yes it is Somali. Welcome to my blog! 🙂
That’s so wonderful 🙂
Thanks FV 🙂
It looks gorgeous! Love it!
Thank you so much Arch 🙂
Wow wow wow! Super awesome Lavender – so beautiful. It beats every pooja mandir available in market hands-down 😀
Haha. Thank you so much GB! 🙂 🙂
super.. 🙂
Awesome work! Thanks for tagging me and letting me know how things turned out 🙂
Woww…this is so beautiful Lavender.
This is super awesome. We bought a carver kit yet to try..
Pingback: One. | My cOrNer oF tHe wOrLd
Nice post. Where did you get the bells from?
You can find them at your local craft store. I got them at Michael’s.
Hi your idea is really nice , where did u manage to buy the glass see through doors becoz it does not come with the ikea book shelf , can i have detail on that plz
I got those at IKEA as well.
May i know the specification of the door plz such as measurement , how much did it cost for the door
Hi Swetha,
The door came with the shelf. I did not get it separately.
Overall product dimensions are:
Width: 29 1/2 ”
Depth: 16 1/2 ”
Height: 71 1/4 ”
Just check with your local store for more details 🙂
This is how we got it from IKEA -> The doors came along with the shelf
Hey thank you so much now they dont have it with shelf so i need to buy it separately that is why i wanted the dimensions of the door . once again thank you so much .
Oh okay. I don’t have the door dimensions with me..
The local store people should be able to help with the dimensions 🙂
hi I am not able to find in ikea link. Can you send me the link?
I am getting shelves without glass door on the top
Hey Swetha
Just checking were you able to find the doors ? If so could you please help us with the details.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Loved how this turned out!!
Lavender love your puja mandir. I am working on mine right now… Can you pls share how you managed to glue your bells to the wood shelf?
Lovely mandir!! How did uglue the bells to the cabinet???
Hello, Thanks the puja shelf idea. We got inspired by this blog and did the puja shelf. How did you attach the bells to the cabinet?
Pingback: My little pooja corner | Between my littles and me
Very nice mandir!thank you for the detailed tutorial. It would be great if you can share how did you glue the bells.
How much did it cost for this project?
I am glad I came across your blog. Than you for the idea, can you tell me where can I get the bells? Thanks!
You can get the bells in your local craft store.
Hi can you please share how exactly you attached the bells to the cabinet?
I used super glue and double side stickers to stick the bells to the mandir!
Hi, mandir is very awesome. Did the IKEA shelf one with door? If not wer did u get the doors from
can you share the ikea link.
Love it. I am also trying to make one but thanks so much
Geet
H, very nice creative idea. I was actually looking for for glass door concept for my Pooja mandir, and your article is very apt for me. But when tried checking the name online in ikea site, I’m unable to find it. Can you please tell me which series or the correct name in Ikea. Thanks
this model is discontinued by ikea. i got a hemnes but that doesnt come with top shelf little lesser in width 😦
Hi Lavender- I live in Boston too- Look at I made mine as I do carpentry as a hobby- U can check it Instagram LexieJay or Pinkz Passion – blog has posted my Indian decor home there.You can drill circular holes and add bells there too- Ikea stuff is MDF and it is easily to drill.
Hi ur pooja shelf Luks so nice
Wats that red color around the Ganesh picture
Thanks a lot for sharing this idea. I am sure it will help me too to built the mandir for my house. May god bless… you always. It really look so beautiful and give a professional look. Thanks a lot
I think it’s an excellent finishing touch you have given! I would love to do something like this in my rental apartment.
Hi
I loved this DIY
I have a question-
1) did you draw before building the shelf , or you fitted everything and then did art work?
2) Did you screw the bells or glued it
3)Did you screw the top shikhara or glued
4) Did you screw the brown buttons on top of the mandir
We live in Australia not sure if can find exact things as urs.
Thanks
Hi from where did you get the doors for the mandir?
It’s amazing! How long did it take for you to finish this project? Also how did u attach the Ganesha picture and garland on the backdrop? Please share. I am I motivated after seeing this.
The love for making a nice place for the Gods shows out. And this is transformed into so many others making one!! So I think you went beyond just a Mandir for yourself.
Thanks a lot! I am going to take a leaf out of this and try to find a corner shelf. 🙂
Wonderful Pooja mandir. I know that particular model of shelf unit is not available in Ikea currently. How did you attach the glass door? Do we get then in Ikea as well?
Hi, I am in Philadelphia and trying to find a similar shelf. Can anyone advise where I am might get it?
Hi I liked it and I’m preparing mandir. I have a question I can’t glue the bells can you help me how do you hang the bells and lights. Thanks in advance
You can also shop pooja mandirs in usa online at very affordable price with a good quality.
This is awesome. I am trying to do the same but unable to find the same or similar ones in IKEA. Could you please give the exact link of that whole shelf unit.
Thank you
very nice, intuitive and Mördern design with traditional touch. thanks for sharing details
How Mach
Price
Pingback: Wall Decor Glue - Fill Decor
Hey…. may I know if the glass doors are included when you bought from IKEA? Or you attached them?
The glass doors came with the shelf. We did not attach it separately.
Pingback: I for “I love list” | My cOrNer oF tHe wOrLd
It looks beautiful! Nice work! Can you tell me how you stuck the bells on the wood? I am trying to make a small version of this mandir for my apartment. Wondering how the bells can be attached. Did u nail hooks?
Hi Lavendar, I saw your art work on the Pooja Mandir and its very inspiring and me and my husband were also planning to do the same way like your’s and in search of replica shelf as it is not currently available in ikea store. Can you share me the link if you come across such shelf. Thank you
What is the rate and where did u get from
A beautifully done project. Can you tell me how much the cost totalled up to? Thanks