A guide to maintaining the wooden furniture

Owning a piece of wooden furniture could be an excellent investment. It accentuates the interior design of a house or office, whether contemporary, modern or historic style. Wooden furniture has been popular for decades and is preferred for residential interiors, due to the ease of availability of wood and the material’s moldability. Whether it is an antique piece with intricate carvings and craftsmanship or a sleek modern one like the Chandigarh chair that has grown to be a favourite amongst the best interior designers in India, each piece of furniture has the ability to embrace history and pass the love down generations. Wooden assemblies in home and furniture designs, on the other hand, necessitate constant maintenance and care to ensure that they last long and become heirlooms in the future. Here are some tips for caring for your wooden valuables that can be passed down to future generations if followed and conserved.

1. Dust regularly

Everyone likes a gleaming, dust-free, spotless surface, especially in home interiors. When other objects rub against the furniture’s surface, dust particles accumulate as a layer appears as scratches. Dust your beloved pieces with a soft clean cloth regularly to ensure cleanliness and maintenance.

2. Reduce exposure to sunlight

Exposing wooden furniture every day to the sun could be harmful in more ways than one. It could permanently degrade the material’s strength and cause a noticeable fade or discolouration in the appearance of the finish. Even if your furniture is kept indoors, avoid placing it near uncovered window openings. Instead, use light filtering blinds and drapes, as well as furniture covers, to significantly minimise the intensity of sun exposure. Additionally, due to our tropical climate, the best designers in India favour a protective UV coat to the wooden furniture to provide additional protection. Melamine or PU coats, matt or glossy finishes can also be opted for depending on the desired look for your furniture.

3. Nothing too hot or too cold

Avoid placing an object that is either too hot or too cold straight on the wooden furniture. It causes the top layer of the furniture coating to disintegrate, staining the surface. Further, if used regularly, it might permanently harm the wood. Therefore, it is always advisable to use coasters to place mugs or glasses. Alternatively, one could also opt for wood finishes that are water-based, these form a thin layer on the surface that keep the grains of the wood intact and protect it from hot/cold cups or spills.

4. Embracing the ageing

Remember that your furniture will change and age with time, so embrace the process and treat your wooden furniture with care. Carry furniture with a firm grip, especially while relocating, and protect sensitive edges with rubber pads or bubble wraps to avoid damage or breaking.

5. Keep the sharp objects away

A mark or scratch on your wooden furniture detracts from its attractiveness and leaves a permanent scar on the items. Therefore, avoid using sharp objects near your wooden furniture, or at the least, be extremely cautious while doing so.

6. Oil and wax periodically

With time and use, the protective coating on the top of the wooden furniture typically wears away. Hence, it is best to oil or wax the wooden surface every six months to keep its freshness and sheen. However, make sure to prepare the surface first by cleaning it well and only use enough oil or wax to remove the wood’s dryness.

7. Warm water for cleaning

To remove any hard stains, deep clean the wooden furniture pieces with warm water and a mild detergent regularly. Also, wipe the wet area with a dry cloth immediately to prevent moisture from soaking into the wood.

Wooden furniture is often the most obvious choice for home interiors and office spaces that effortlessly elevates the aesthetics of the design. These easy steps will not only ensure that your spaces are healthy and inviting, but it will also be a material manifestation of nostalgia, time and memories shaped out of wood to pass along to generations to come.

A design guide to attaining a balanced visual

Colours add life to living, by reflecting people’s personalities and shaping behaviour through colour therapy. Every year, Pantone Colour Institute selects a colour of the year. This year, for the first time in its 22 year history of selecting a hue to represent the year ahead, it created a new colour. Named Very Peri, the dynamic periwinkle shade is a combination of blues blended with a violet-red undertone- a colour to symbolise the transformative year we’ve had and a new perspective looking ahead.

Today, there are an array of colours available at our disposal. With technological advancements, colours can easily be incorporated into the interior design scheme through various forms, one of which is prints. However, pairing colours and prints correctly and using them in appropriate proportions is the key to making or breaking a space. Here are a few tips and tricks to spruce up your interior spaces, while dabbling in prints, colours and patterns-

1. Go to your colour wheel, take inventory of all the warm and cool colours available; look for complementary colours, monochromatic tones, secondary colours. Pair them as per your preferences.
2. Know your options- Colours can be used in various ways- in solid tones, prints, and patterns. There is a range of options available for prints and patterns in every building material you can think of; be it tiles, wallpapers, fabrics, laminates or even textured paint.
3. Pick one primary dominant colour, which could ideally be a neutral tone and pop it up with secondary and accent colours. This will help you tone down the space and provide a good ground for the play of colours.
4. Remember to use colours through a balanced mix of solids, prints, patterns and textures in different elements of the space- furniture, decor and other features. Think of colours and prints for interior styling in soft furnishings, curtains, cushions, throws, rugs, trinkets, books, art pieces, photo frames, lamps etc. These accessories play a fundamental role in tying the whole space together.
5. To create a mood board before implementing it on the space, collect your preferred colours—layer solid tones through patterns, prints, and textures. Use different materials to accentuate the layering.
6. When layering patterns, it is best to combine prints in different styles and scales for the interior spaces.
7. The key to a beautifully designed space spruced with colours is balance—of colour- neutral and accent, of prints and patterns. When all three are used in the correct proportions, the magic unfolds. If not, the space will be loud, overwhelming and tacky.

Keep the feel of the home interiors in mind. Regardless of the overall design sensibility, it is possible to incorporate colours and patterns in different kinds of design styles and ideologies. If the style is minimalist, one can use abstract prints and sophisticated shades. For a neutral space, the pop can be brought by placing a bright coloured chair or an eye-catching piece of furniture. Or, one could use a bold coloured sofa by a neutral wall and tone down the effect with some neutral accessories.

Remember that eclectic doesn’t mean randomly putting colours together; instead, it needs to be more thought through. But do not fear going bold with colours and prints, for that would make our lives and spaces mundane and monotonous. We can do wonders with this science and create harmonious interiors and temperaments with colours, prints, and patterns.

A guide to adding Indian elements to contemporary home decor.

India, for the past couple of years, has been reverberating with slogans of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made in India’, which stands for promoting the local products, artforms, artisans and businesses. From all of India’s rich cultural legacies, the heritage of textiles and fabrics is one of the most vivid, offering us a broad spectrum of colour options in various patterns and textures. The options range from luxurious silk, a classic pashmina, an earthy khadi, eye-catching jacquards, linens and many more. Added to weaves, there are techniques such as embroidery that enhance the cloth with an artistic expression.

Specifically, when it comes to home decor, upholsteries take up a significant proportion of the visual space, ranging from curtains, sofas, bed linens, bed covers, bed backs to little elements such as cushions, throws, and rugs. These design essentials could incorporate a wide array of incredible ethnic Indian fabrics in order to add charm and colours to the home interiors. These will elevate the visuals of one’s home and endow a luxurious appearance to the home.

Here are a few ideas on how to seamlessly integrate these fabrics into the interiors.

1. Apart from the usual cushions and curtains, Indigenous prints like Dabu and Ajrakh can be incorporated as elements in doors by sandwiching the textile between glass and framing it; use the entire piece or just a part that depicts a specific art like Gond.
2. While using multiple fabrics together, pair the bright, printed fabrics with earthy ones to tone down the look.
3. The smaller patches of fabrics make for enticing art pieces, elevating a neutral space with a pop of colour. One could keep changing the fabrics to keep renewing the look often.
4. Recycle pieces from the trousseau as wall hangings, blinds, throws and drapes. Not only will this be a sustainable option, but this home styling tip will also add warmth and a personalised meaning to the spaces.
5. Indian art has a plethora of added elements like mirror work, block printing, motifs that could be added upon fabrics in contemporary colours to beautifully juxtapose the two and yet create a distinct look.
6. While exploring the Indian textures and fabrics, remember the importance of balance and understand the material’s natural texture. While some fabrics are sturdy, some give a beautiful fall. For example, linen and cotton are sturdier than silk; hence, they would make a good choice for a sofa whereas the latter is excellent for window treatments and cushions.

Furnishings and fabrics are an essential element of the design in any space, more so in house designing, and hence it is elemental to make wise choices when it comes to fabrics and colours while in the conceptual stage. Today, with growing awareness about the importance of hand-woven Indian fabrics by skilled artisans, designers in India are making a conscious effort of collaborating with weavers and incorporating this rich heritage in their designs, especially home interiors, which has revived the weaving industry and elevated the interior spaces.

Easy decor ideas for beautiful festive interiors

The festive season in India is here. Diwali marks the peak of festivities where people socialise, host and entertain their loved ones; the joyous spirit is in the air. The difficult past couple of years makes this year’s celebration more beautiful and heartwarming, and resonating with this, our home interiors, too, should reflect these gala times, and the best way to set the mood is through colours and decor. Here are some easy ways to imbibe the ecstatic air in your spaces.

1. Colour Riot

Bring in the festive colours of red, yellow, vermillion, royal blue and ochres to set the spirit right. These do not need to be all bright and loud but opt for their earthy tones to inculcate a subtle cheeriness. Your existing spaces can be uplifted with bright cushions, cosy throws, a change in upholstery, some fresh flowers and plants. Use old sarees, shawls and dupattas innovatively and recycle them for home styling as upholstery like cushions, throws and curtains.

2. Metallic accents

Metallic tones of gold and silver contribute significantly to the spirit of celebration. Use them subtly in your decor, as brass trays on the side tables, accents on the cushion fabrics or even tassels on your upholstery to add a sparkle of luxury to your spaces.

3. Sensory celebration

The ambience of any space depends on its experience, which is based on all the senses. So, tickle your olfactory glands with some potpourri on your consoles, agarbattis, aroma oils and fragrant candles to set up your spaces for the festivities.

4. Spatial layout

Since you will be hosting, easy circulation around your spaces is important. Move around your furniture to optimise the space. Remember to keep it cosy so that the conversation keeps flowing. Add throws to couches and rugs on the floor to accentuate the spatial layout and for insulation during the cold weather.

5. Light up the Lamps

Diwali is the festival of lights, so it is only fair to indulge in illuminating your interiors. Add some accent lamps whose shades can be painted and customised to bring a personalised look. Along with that, invest in good quality fairy lights to string across the balcony or in the living spaces. Another form of festive lighting- Lanterns look pretty and add to that festive look. Set up some candles and lamps to impart the traditional festive atmosphere.

These simple yet promising ideas will most certainly invite the festive vibe in your home interiors. While sourcing decor items, it is vital to opt for eco-friendly handmade products both for décor and gifting, even better if it is bought from small and local businesses. We wish you a very happy and joyous festive season.

Interior design hacks for a perfect bedroom space.

In the world of home interiors, bedrooms are everyone’s safe-havens, a place where you are likely to retire after a tiresome day and a place that is more a reflection of you than any other space in the home. Whether you have a dynamic personality or are a laid back person, the bedroom is one place that should promote all kinds of activities you are interested in and also impart a sense of calm. However, designing that can be tricky; so here are some basic bedroom design ideas to help you manifest a chic, yet calm space:

1. Colour

Colours are the soul of a space, adding life and mood to it. While bright colours and dark tones seem appealing, bedrooms are supposed to be a personal sanctum to relax and hibernate. Hence, it is wise to use calming and neutral tones like off-white and light grey. Should you wish to use some form of colour, a tint of colour like blue or green would give it a desired soothing look. Going all dark-toned in the bedroom is not a preferred option; however, you could incorporate a single wall in an accent colour and play with contrasts.

2. Ease of circulation

A bedroom with too much furniture is congested and overwhelming. Ensure that your layout leaves you enough space to move around, and you do not have to squeeze your way to your bed. Remember that you will need storage space to store and display your collectables and other items. While open shelves look better, closed storage gives a cleaner and decluttered visual, and therefore a good balance of the two is important.

Create a small nook in the bedroom design for yourself to decompress after a long day. It could just be a cosy chair with a footstool by the window or a rug on the floor with giant pillows.

3. Natural and artificial lighting

Lighting is one of the most critical elements in home interiors, both natural and artificial types. A good bedroom design should have a balanced mix of both. All bedrooms should ideally have at least one window to let the fresh light and air in. Apart from that, use different forms of direct and indirect lights to create different ambiences, as per one’s liking. Home designers usually prefer to layer lights in the rooms by providing indirect lighting from the ceiling, direct sources of lights, bedside lamps, hanging lights and wall sconces. This enables the users to toggle on and off according to the functional requirements while also saving on electricity.

4. Sheer curtains and drapes

With the large window, blocking the light during the day for sound sleep is essential. Here, layering is the key; a sheer curtain in soft translucent material at the back for when you want subtle light pouring in and then a drape in a thicker material to cut out all the light. These drapes add their own visual element to the space, and hence their colour, print, length and style needs to be thought carefully. Home designers and stylists prefer to use printed drapes if the overall theme of the room is solid or if it is a minimalistic theme, then they would opt for solid drapes.

5. Materials

The world of materials is evolving every day and from the wide variety of available materials, use those that require less maintenance in the longer run. Be it for the bed-back, the panelling on the wall or the finish of your bed and side units, prioritise functionality and comfort over aesthetics. Materials like polished veneer and plain laminates are easy to clean, whereas some soft materials absorb dust and are difficult to clean. Be mindful of all these aspects while selecting them for your bedroom as well as all parts of the residential interiors.

6. Accessorise

The decor adds a whole different layer to your home interiors in the form of rugs, art pieces, plants, throws and memorabilia. Home styling is a great way to personalise your space with your books, souvenirs, and other collectables, but keep the overall theme in mind. If you are going for an overall monochromatic look, these decor accessories could be your element of colour, sprucing and livening up your bedroom. If you want to tone down your bright accent walls, you could opt for black and white art pieces to adorn the wall and break the scale of the wall.

Simple tips and tricks to help you refurbish your home interiors.

Refurbishing your home interiors or your office interiors can seem like an overwhelming task; with little details in mind but no clue where to start, there is a lot that you think you might miss. So here are some pro tips on how to begin refurbishing projects:

• Accurate measurements

Measure the space to know the precise dimensions of the available area. Ensure the sizes you noted are accurate by measuring twice. Take inventory of every existing item in the room as well as all that you want to add.

• Sketch it out

Make a room layout. Play around with different permutations and combinations of the furniture you want to place. While deciding the furniture layout, keep in mind that there should be ease of movement and flow.

• Mood boards

Put together different material textures and colours on a mood board to design your space and visualise how the room will come together.

• Visualise

A three-dimensional drawing helps visualise how the space will look better. If possible, work on a perspective view to better perceive your space.

• Lighting design

Light is crucial in any space, and hence special attention should be paid to lighting design. Take inventory of the existing lighting and the amount of natural light the room receives. If there aren't sufficient light points, they should be added during renovations and need to be planned in advance.

• Upcycle and Recycle

Furniture has a long shelf life. So, when you refurbish your space, keep the environment in mind and see if any existing furniture pieces can be upcycled or recycled. You change the finish of the furniture piece, and it will be as good as new.

• Material selection

Select and purchase materials before beginning any execution on site. Sometimes, sourcing takes more time, and other times the delivery might take longer. In order to avoid unnecessary delays in work, plan ahead.

• Wall finish

Select your wall paints. However, paints take a long time to dry; If you are short on time and wish to achieve quicker results, use wallpaper.

• Plan and stay on track.

Renovation and refurbishments can be tedious and lengthy processes. Hence it is crucial to plan all details with the contractor in advance to avoid delays and finish the work in time.

While refurbishment can seem like a tedious process, these simple steps will help you execute it better and play a role in shaping a better design for your home interiors while also saving you a lot of time!

Working from home is a very different situation as compared to working in an office. While the work is the same, the working environment is fundamentally different. The office has a proper routine and schedule to follow, but working from home is relatively fluid, with multiple distractions and disassociated tasks at play. Hence, it becomes all the more important to set up a beautiful and functional workspace to keep oneself motivated and efficient.

Any work, whether a business, a corporate job, or some freelance work, that is to be managed from home will require a dedicated spot. Though it may not require a full-fledged, dedicated office area, one definitely needs a designated workspace to operate from. I like to call this space or spot the ‘Hoffice’- Home Office! Your ‘Hoffice’ needs to fulfil some basic criteria-

1) The location of the workstation is critical to your work; It has to be relatively quiet and should allow for privacy to concentrate and get the job done. Ensure good Wi-Fi connectivity at that spot.
2) Placing your desk against a window or in a room with natural light filtering in, is ideal. Some much-needed vitamin D can be an instant energizer, and daylight is a known mood booster. Thus, it will help one stay focused on the task at hand.
3) In case there is a restriction in finding a well-lit space, install good artificial lights. A work area with good lighting will ensure that the eyes don’t get tired. Plug in a good lamp, and one is set to go.
Along with this, ensure that there are enough electrical points to plug in all devices- laptops, phones etc. If not, one can always use a multi-plug adaptor. Make sure to use a wire management system to hide the wire clutter.
4) Organize your desk- a clean, organised workspace helps one stay focused. Keep your papers and files organised in a drawer or shelving system. Putting stationary in nice trays and holders will not only aesthetically enhance the décor, but also keep the space clutter-free.

5) Choose the right furniture. Since you will be at your desk almost all day, make sure it is ergonomically viable as well as visually appealing to go with your room setting. Invest in a good chair; it must have the correct height, good back support, and comfortable armrests.

6) Add some greens- a small house plant on your desk can add freshness, especially when your eyes need a break from the laptop screen. Go for fragrant candles or essential oils; the right fragrance can help one focus better. These small nuances will make the space look happy and bright.

The advantage of working from home is also the flexibility of sitting at our desk, dining, or sofa. Either way, enhancing the overall space with beautiful pieces, some greenery, fragrant candles, and comfortable furniture will help motivate one to work and focus better.

The beautiful monsoon showers are here. Rains have taken over the heated summer days, but the clouds bring in gloom and a lot of humidity with them. While the no-heat aspect is a relief, the dark evenings make the home dull and boring. It is the perfect time to revamp your spaces with some easy to implement ideas.

The cure to the gloom is a dash of vibrant hue that instantly energises your spaces. Bring in the sunshine yellows and the bright blues in different checks and ikat prints to add a new refreshing dimension to your work and living spaces. These prints and colours can be on your cushions or just as a throw over your couch.

After beating the gloom, a quick, easy solution to the humidity problem is to keep the spaces well-ventilated. Drawback your curtains, open up the windows and let the air in; Enjoy the cool breeze. To remove the added moisture, bring in plants which are a great way to add life and liveliness into every space. You can choose either a Boston Fern, Peace Lily, Areca Palm, English Ivy or a Spider Plant. Or you can bring in multiple and play with the sizes of these plants. For example, your centre table can adorn a pair of bonsais, whereas the corners can host big leafy ones.

If you want to brighten up the corner further, use accent lights to highlight spaces. A bright floor lamp is a creative way to add an eye-catching element to the living room space. This lamp creates a soothing corner in the evening for you to sit and enjoy your evening tea, basking in the sound of the rain.

Decluttering is one of the most important trends that allow a free flow of positive energy in your spaces. Clearing the mess visually lightens up areas that help us de-stress and stay calm. The popular trend of creating shelving corners in the house that displays memorabilia and books is a brilliant way to organise and liven up everyday spaces. Stack up your books and pair them with travel souvenirs and pictures.

Engage with different senses. While the colours are pleasing to the eye, fragrant candles, oil diffusers and floating candles are a creative yet affordable way to make your space more welcoming and enchanting. Bright, beautiful flowers like Lilies, Roses and Tuberoses are another way of engaging with the visual and olfactory senses. Or you could plant herbs like basil, oregano and thyme to add a scintillating aroma and use their leaves in cooking. All these small interventions rejuvenate spaces, adding a refreshing new dynamic.

Want a more evident change? One of the simplest ways is to clear up space by letting go of heavy furniture pieces or simply rearranging existing furniture pieces to change the layout. Arrange it to have clean movement space, which will most certainly give a fresh experience to everyday spaces.

If you want to add extra layers and dimensions to your space, look out for wallpapers and rugs. Although they are a little expensive, they are really easy to install and are available in many options. However, suppose you are working on a tight budget. In that case, you can opt for easy up-cycling and recycling solutions to revamp your existing decor. For example, reupholstering your chairs and sofas in vibrant colours and textures and re-polishing the wood or giving it a distressed look. Uplift rugs with new stitching patterns and lay them with the furniture pieces.

For your bedroom, redo the headboard in fabric for an up-cycled look. Add floor cushions to the opened up area. Dry-clean old dhurries and up-cycle the material for these cushions. Paint your lampshades in complementary or contrasting colours and refresh the overall look of your spaces. These interventions will lease the furniture a new life and give your rooms a brand new look.

Pick up these ideas and experiment on your spaces. Add that colour and bring in the plants. Declutter. Let the breeze and energy in. These ideas won't only revamp your spaces for the monsoon but will last you as long as you are working from your homes. After all, who doesn't love to work from a lively corner with a good vibe and fresh breeze!