The gold stand played a much bigger role in the Ammavaru setup than I originally expected. From the beginning, I knew I did not want Ammavaru placed directly on the floor or on a plain table. I wanted her to feel elevated, centered, and prominent within the backdrop.
The goal was to create a pedestal that felt sturdy, traditional, and beautiful enough to be part of the final display. The structure itself was simple, but the decorative trim completely transformed it and gave it the traditional pedestal look I wanted for the final setup. What I love most is that the stand supports the entire setup without taking attention away from Ammavaru. It quietly does its job while making the finished display feel more balanced, intentional, and complete.
Materials Needed
- Wood board
- Cardboard
- Pencil
- Jigsaw or cutting tool
- Decorative molding or trim
- Wood glue
- Nails
- Hammer or nail gun
- Gold spray paint
Step 1: Cut the Wood Stick
Start by cutting the wood pieces to size that can be used as the base of the molding. These pieces will form the molding as you stick it to the wood board.
Step 2: Create the Stool Shape
For the front design of the stand, we took inspiration from a traditional Ammavaru sitting stool.
Make the front piece look like a decorative pedestal or stool base. We first sketched the shape on plywood, using the reference image as inspiration for the overall form.
Step 3: Cut the Plywood Shape
Once the design was marked on the plywood, we used a jigsaw to carefully cut along the shape.
This created the main decorative front piece for the stand. Take your time while cutting, especially around the curves, so the final shape looks smooth and balanced.
After cutting the plywood, place it against the stand to make sure the size and shape work well with the overall structure.
This piece will become the front face of the Ammavaru sitting stool, so it should feel proportionate, centered, and sturdy before adding the decorative molding.
Step 4: Add Decorative Molding
After cutting the plywood, start adding the decorative trims to create the traditional pedestal look.
And then attach all trins to it and kept the shape intact by cutting the trims to the shape.
Once the trims were attached, the plain plywood started to look more detailed and decorative, giving the stand the Ammavaru sitting stool-inspired look we wanted.
The molding is what gives the stand its detailed, traditional look. Apply wood glue to the back of the molding and press it firmly onto the wood.
Continue adding the trim until the front piece is covered and has the layered design you want.
Step 5: Secure with Nails
Once the molding is glued in place, add nails for extra security.
This is especially important because the stand needs to hold its shape and stay strong throughout the setup. The glue helps position the trim, while the nails make sure everything stays firmly attached.
Step 6: Add the Remaining Trim
Continue attaching the rest of the molding pieces to complete the design.
You can layer different trim styles to create more depth and detail. This step is what makes the stand look more decorative instead of just a plain wooden base.
Step 7: Paint the Stand Gold
Once all the trim is attached and secure, spray paint the entire stand gold.
Apply light, even coats and allow each coat to dry before adding another one. The gold paint helps bring all the details together and gives the stand a rich, festive look.
Step 8: Attach the Stand to the Ammavaru Base
After the paint is fully dry, attach the finished gold stand to the main structure where the Ammavaru body will be placed.
Secure it with nails so it stays firmly in place. Once attached, the stand becomes part of the full display and creates a strong base for Ammavaru to sit on.
Pro Tip
Do not worry if the wood structure looks simple in the beginning. The decorative molding and gold paint make the biggest difference. Once painted, even a basic wood base can look grand and custom-made.
Final Thoughts
This DIY gold stand started as plain wood, but the decorative molding and gold paint completely changed the look. It gave Ammavaru a beautiful elevated base and helped the entire setup feel more balanced and complete.
The stand did not just support the display. It became part of the design. Once Ammavaru, the saree, flowers, and jewelry were added, the gold pedestal helped anchor the whole setup and made the final display feel more grand and intentional.
