Towards a fresh start
A festive renovation needn’t be complex and expensive. Here are ways to use lights, fabrics and DIY tricks for a simple, effective revamp
It’s that time of the year when festivities come knocking at your door. There is a focus on all things new, and all eyes will be on your home. With most homes going through a décor upgrade in the coming months, chances are, you’ll see the same look repeated everywhere. How will your home showcase your unique style with minimum fuss? Read on.
TIME TO UPGRADE
Many families believe a home makeover is all about replacing items, especially furniture. But sometimes, all you need is an upholstery upgrade. “Different designs and textures can change the look and feel of your
room,” says Shankho Chowdhury, executive business head of decoratives at Centuryply.
“Using old fabric to create a patchwork of upholstery is thrifty and trendy,” says Meghna Zutshi, creative director at Jaypore.com. “Using local flowers is a great way to add colour and make potpourri. Or you can add colour and depth through textured dhurries in silk and wool. Pretty sheers or curtains in silk, chanderi silk, bright organza, patchwork and brocade, add a dreamy dimension.”
One of the easiest ways to change the look of a room is by experimenting with lights. A subtle combination of accessories or glass lights can create a great impact on visualisation of a space. “Place colour-paper cones around the light fixture to change the shade of the lights,” says Shivangi Shah, proprietor and creative head of Hive Home. “You can also stuff empty tinted bottles with LED lights and arrange it around the home.”
PUTTING IN THE EFFORT
The joy of doing things yourself is unparalleled and many light and colour switches are especially good for. Think out of the box and also think ecofriendly. Empty glass bottles make for good flower vases, hanging or table lamps. Natural materials like wood, bamboo and rattan make a chic and sophisticated statement.
“Pour a bunch of wireless battery-operated LED nano lights into a transparent or translucent jar. Keep the light switch up towards the mouth of the container, pour some glass marbles until the jar is halfway full,” recommends Jenis Makwana, founder and director of JM: The Design Consultant.
“At night, switch on these lights and keep each jar in different corners of the house, it creates magic and gives a celebration atmosphere.”
Another quick change are celestial-style light fixtures. “They come in a round design, with star-like beams emanating from the centre,” says Hemil Parikh, Founder, Elysium Abodes. “There is something charming about them that sets them apart from the rest. You can create your very own constellation of stars in your personal space.”
THE COLOUR TREND
There is a trend of using two contrasting solid colours in the kitchen area to make it look unique. Funky barware is trendy as is wallpaper as a way to dress up your walls without repainting.
A clear shift towards a more minimal sort of aesthetic is in. Statement ceilings through the use of printed wallpaper, exposed beams, vibrant hues, geometric prints, bold paints, tailored wallpaper and dramatic lighting elements are in vogue. “
We mainly play with chandeliers or down-lighters and sideline the corner tall lamps or corner side table lamps or standing lamps. But having an up-lighter at the corners emphasising a ceiling will give a very elevated look to the space. “Play around with lamps with fringes. They bring such drama to a space,” says Kuntal Aggarwal, founder and design head at Resaiki Interiors.
The big trend for kitchens is using two contrasting solid colours in the décor palette. For the living room and social spaces, consider displaying your bar tools as décor too.