Time for some design therapy
START AFRESH
If you are looking for inspiration to bring change to your living space, there’s no other time like the beginning of a new year. We bring you 12 decor ideas for 2012.
1. A dash of green indoors: How about introducing pots and planters to your interiors? Junk yards can offer a wealth of interesting containers. Old chimney pots are frequently seen trailing with beautiful flowers in the corners of gardens; Dublin sinks look lovely with bedding plants in them and even old bath tubs can find a new lease of life in the garden. Buckets, which can no longer carry water due to holes in their base, are perfectly designed as planters.
Use yoghurt pots, mugs with handles broken off, plastic and metal containers; you can always paint and decorate them. Make use of the balcony area by hanging some light-weight pots or placing a step-style planter that can accommodate several pots. Bedroom side tables can be used for holding a single-colour flower stalk or a colourful bunch in a vase. A stem or two can also be placed in bathrooms. Window edges or countertops can be used to hold plants and vases of choice.
2. Potted themes: Imagine bringing in a bit of a Hawaiian island to your home... Or how about that picture perfect picket fence scene with a little boy mowing the lawn? Or a little girl on a bench, against the back drop of huge tree? Miniature gardens are all about creating a small scenario with your plants and some innovative accessories. Try it out at home
3. Light some candles: Candles can create the mood and set the ambience of any space. Available in a variety of fragrances, they can dramatically alter a space. Home decor candles are widely in demand and people prefer to decorate the house with candles as it is an inexpensive way of making the house look elegant.
4. Points of light: Chandeliers with fake candles topped with bulbs, those with little lampshades and ones made of white, icicle-like glass tubes are a nice idea to add light and colour to your space. Medium-sized chandeliers can light up particular spots in kitchens or dining rooms. Mini-chandeliers can hang over kitchen islands, in bathrooms, bedrooms or dressing rooms. Little chandeliers hung low next to the bed can act as bedside lamps even. Outdoor chandeliers brighten up porches and patios! Try them out.
5. Creativity and ceilings: When it comes to the ceiling, the sky is the limit, really! The latest trend used in ceiling options is glass combined with wood, patterned ceilings either in pop or moulds that are set in exposed concrete surfaces. Drop ceiling, cove ceiling, grid ceiling and wave ceilings are other types of ceilings gaining popularity. Try them to give your home a new look.
6. Your own reading nook: Hunt for that unused corner that can accommodate a swivel book shelf or a corner book stand. Now place a small seating arrangement next to it and your personal reading nook is ready. The seating needn’t be a huge set-up; just a small comfortable chair, cases or boxes covered with sheets and cushions too will do.
You may like to make a little provision for pencils, erasers, markers and post-its too. It is a good idea to include a small table by your chair in your reading nook. It doesn’t have to take up a lot of room, just as long as it can support a mug of hot tea, your reading glasses and, maybe, a candle. Under the stairs, there is always the wasted triangular space that can be utilised by fitting small custom-made cupboards or a little table and chair with a set of drawers attached for that secluded cosy room to read.
7. Light up your floors: With so many choices available in the market, a simple home space can be transformed into a cosy, comfortable and chic space with the right floor lamp. If you are looking to add a touch of glamour to your living area, you can have a crystal chandelier floor lamp, creating a dramatic effect.
You can also have flirty, playful floor lamps with lights in a bunch creating just the right play of light and shadow. Moroccan glass lights or stained glass floor lamps bring in grace and style to your interiors. A simple and cost-effective investment in a tiffany lamp adds a whole new dimension to your home while providing the light you need at dawn and dusk.
8. Time to turn traditional: How about some traditional decor? Huge brass urlis with rose petals and little brass artifacts near the entrance add elegance and charm. You can even play with the texture of the walls to make it look more Indian. One of the walls of the living room can have laterite or kota stone for that traditional look. A carved wooden chair, a low dewan seating, a traditional phulkari or silk cover can all look spectacular. A jhoola (swing) is not a bad idea either. You could convert an old brass thaali into a wall clock. This can provide a sleek counterpoint to the white bare wall in the background. Procure an old telephone to add vintage charm.
9. Sheer variety: Skillful window treatments can easily bring magic to a room. Blinds are best suited for smaller windows whereas curtains are best for tall French windows. Roman shades made of rattan, bamboo or other pure fibres are much in demand now. Bamboo, reed textures and exposed wood grain in blinds and shades are also in vogue. Fabrics like silk, velvet, suede, and wool are trendy options for blinds. Trims, beads, and shiny hardware add to the appeal of these materials and can be adjusted for every style, choice and room.
10. Try terracotta: How about terracotta tiles for your floors? Available in many patterns, textures and colours, they can be easily adapted to modern-day architecture. Ceiling and wall cladding are other options you can have with terracotta. Patterned tiles can make for an artistic wall or ceiling. Terracotta can help in controlling the indoor temperature thereby making it a weather-friendly tiling option and is definitely an aesthetic relief from the usual.
11. This is really simple! A simple but effective idea is to bring minor changes in your home to make a difference. Spruce up your laundry space, for instance. Built-in cabinets and shelves are smart, but there are plenty of inexpensive free-standing or between-the-washer-dryer caddies, cabinets and bins too that you can use in the laundry area. Also, brighten up the walls in the area to bring a dash of colour.
12. Look outdoors: Then, there’s outdoor furniture that you can use in your patio, verandah or balcony. To make for a comfortable one-seater, go for a swing type rattan chair or individual cane chairs available in local markets. You can even buy good quality lounge chairs from garage sales.
Cabanas too make for trendy seating spaces, especially for lazing around. Wrought iron has always been a good old option for dining arrangements for outdoor areas.
You can also get bar-and-grill units installed in gardens or terraces for a ready-to-party unit available all time.
(Inputs from Swati Kapur, Ruth DSouza Prabhu, Sudha Jain, Bindu Gopal Rao & A Dyuti. Photos: Anusuiya Bharadwaj)
