India Themed Room...

Wow, how cool.. go to Cost Plus, they have those hanging colored glass candle holders that you can hang in groups... and they are reasonable priced.. Also, do you have a strip of wall in the room that is narrow, now this might sound crazy, but you could do that little portion in gold either the metalic or antique and then put a small table stand next to it with either the Elephant or some type of HIndu statue kinda like a shrine. OR just add colorful candles and or other Indian artwork (which you can also get at Cost Plus)
Do you have places that sell Saris? we do in the bay area.. and they also sell material.. that material looks so pretty and a curtain... when the sunshine is shining thru it, it's so gorgeous..
Cost Plus also has those little octagon tables and although always indian, sometimes they are from Morocco .. but are still just as pretty..
don't forget all the colorful pillows you can purchase. those really set the room up..

sounds like fun! enjoy yourself

I have read of a way to "wallpaper" without wallpapering - material and liquid starch - you "wallpaper" the material onto the wall after soaking it in the liquid starch. It dries onto the wall. When you are ready to leave, you just pull it off. Google it for details.

I would hit pinterest, or google images for ideas. There could be some really fun ideas that don't cost much. A picture may just flick a switch in your mind.

Hit goodwill and thrift stores and stuff - they may have material that you can use to jazz things up.

Hit World Market's website. It has great ideas and supplemental design pieces (lanterns, chairs, pillows, etc).

Have fun!

I would actually keep it pretty minimal b/c the whole point is to sock money away for a down payment, right?

You can probably find something that feels/looks exotic at Marshalls or TJ Maxx that is reasonable and well made. Buying yards of fabric to cover the ceilings is very expensive and unrealistic. Look for jewel toned curtains (Target) and dark wood accent pieces.

Check your local Goodwill and consignment shops. I have found great furniture for my office at both.

Indian makes me think of spicy colors- saffron yellow orange, cardomon green, the deep burnt sienna red orange of a vindaloo sauce. I think of brightly colored saris, lush jungle green, dusty red clay, elephant gray, crisp white (i.e. taj majal), and perpetually raining gray skies (monsoon).

Since its a temp space and you want to be able to undo/ repurpose your stuff easily-

Get grey carpeting, a beige sofa, oversized floor cushions and sofa pillows in the indian colors. frame sari cloth. get a or make an elephant silhouette or several against diff colored backdrops. Gold chargers, plain white dinner wear, turquoise placemats and linens and different colored napkin rings.

Good luck to you and yours.
F. B.

sorry no suggestions re: mario

Check out eBay for sari fabrics and then use those to make pillow covers, a bedspread, a canopy, curtains or just frame them as an art piece.