In tune with the times

Decor Mantra

As seasons change, so do interiors, infusing energy and positivity. Bindu Gopal Rao lists out the current trends.

Living in a beautiful home is a dream that is most coveted. If you love your home and want to make sure it is in tune with the times but wondering how, read on. Here’s how you can make sure that your home décor is at its trendiest best.

Personality matters

Today, homemakers mainly look at antique and classy interiors with “wow” appeal and are willing to go all the way to add that personal touch to homes. “The latest trend marks bold colours that exude tonnes of personality. Another trend cascading the market is decorative walls with graphic stickers or decals or mirrored wall papers. Bamboos, exotic hardwoods and cork flooring are becoming increasingly popular choices and 3D wall tiles are also a flowing trend in the market of interiors. They are incredibly appealing and affordable, making your room look pleasant and vibrant. Beside these wooden flooring is very upbeat and in vogue,” says Sanjay Raj, a realty expert. New home gadgets and accessories that are being used for home décor are antiques like fireplace screens, candle holders, glass storage stands, dark colours of area rugs, wooden wall decors, sculptures, antique clock, lamp shades which are owl shaped, pen stands etc. The major change that has come about over the period of time is in the style of home decor from classical contemporary homes to modern straight line furniture and accessories for a classy look and feel of the home.

Get floored

Flooring is an important part of home décor and flat walls are passé today as there is technology that allows for printing on tiles! These tiles are created based on principles and procedures which are similar to graphic artwork which offer photo-like high resolution impressions. Digital technology is the future of your home décor and digital tiles are a must-have for accentuating one’s lifestyle. Ashok Goyal, a flooring expert adds, “the new trend that is catching up is digital and mosaico tiles. Mosaico is an art of creating designs with small pieces of various materials like ceramic and vitrified tiles, stones, marble or any other material. Mosaic tile fitting is where one can explore creativity and bring out really exclusive designs. The best part is there is no standardisation; no limitation to professionals and one has the liberty to experiment and execute the designs. Today, one can work with stone, ceramics, shells, art glass, mirror, beads and even odd items like doll parts, pearls or photographs.” 3D printed tiles are the latest innovation in tile technology. Interior expert Rohit Kapoor says, “shabby chic is in and this is manifested through use of rough floors like poured concrete and even leather finish sandstone. These are possible through the use of new-age technologies that make the floor look stylish and classy while being easy to maintain.”

Colour coordinated

Indigo is the dominant colour of the year. “A big and benevolent colour that combines the trustworthy nature and evocative elegance of robust blue, the colour indigo is a striking statement colour associated with wisdom and honesty that enhances your environment and is a perfect colour for modern homes. Indigo works best with the colour white, warm neutrals, other shades of blue or as a bold feature wall," says Kavitha G Sriram, a paint expert. Fluorescent bright colours have made a comeback trend this season and are among the most arresting colours for walls. Make the best use of neon colours by creating a feature or accent wall dominated by one bold colour and complimented with chalk whites and warm greys. “To use the colours on the wall, highlight key areas and the function of your space with ice cream tones to create a simpler yet brighter and clearer colour palette. Use warm fondant pastels alongside sizzling ice-cream colours such as orange, blush red and juicy berry. Think chocolate cherries and macaroons, raspberry ripple and pair these vintage inspired candy tones with laidback neutrals of deep tea and brown for a stylish combination that brings a twinkle in the eye," adds Sriram. Homes today are an extension of your personality and must reflect who you are. Siddhartha Sengupta, an expert on colours offers some interesting inspirations. “The idea is to use different colours of dye to create some kind of colour wheel which not only looks colourful and beautiful but also creates an interactive effect. Pearl is the new hi-tech colour and has replaced silver as the symbolic colour for high-tech.” The current trend for wall paint is the contrast between lustrous pearl colours and matte colours.
This contrast merely improves the aesthetic value of the environment. Adding a pearl effect to white will not only change the appearance, but make the element fresh and ethereal while retaining the original colour.

Get trendy

This winter, the idea is to bring in the outdoors, and floral is a huge trend. From fresh flowers to floral prints, everything is in. Taking forward the trend of floral is the complimenting trend of earthy, natural materials like jute, bamboo and ceramic. The reason behind this and the floral trend being big is simple - if you have to be cooped up indoors in the winter, you might as well bring a bit of nature in with you. The idea is to create a little summer haven in the confines of your home to help beat the winter blues. The tribal trend inspired by Africa continues to be in vogue so bring in wall masks, tribal accessories and beaded cushions. Kitsch products are also gaining popularity.

“Organisers, carousels (a circular conveyor on which objects are displayed or rotated), storage products, mirror wall decals, collectibles–vintage cars and vehicles, marine collection– and international wall and door decals are in,” says Suminder Pal, a web portal expert. Using new age furniture to your advantage will make your home look trendy and classy. “Glass is a smart, adaptable and versatile material, offering itself to endless possibilities both in terms of design and functionality, across exterior and interior applications. Glass tables have visual grace, so they are ideal for smaller spaces. Even a small cramped dining room can become wow-worthy with a few smart strategies. A remarkable advantage of using glass furniture is its transparency and elegance; the transparency of glass furniture makes a room look spacious”, says Aditya Bhutani, expert on glass. It’s time. Go ahead and give your home a trendy twist.