HOW TO BLOW HAUTE WHEN IT’S COLD

As the temperature drops outside, transform the insides of your home with these simple tips and tricks

THE STYLE GUIDE

I love to create an ambience that works on all your senses. Visually this means richer, plusher fabrics like velvets, chenille’s and tweeds, deeper and more saturated colours like navy, rust, gold and forest greens. In terms of smell, warm fragrances like cinnamon, nutmeg, honey and vanilla. And lastly to touch, use fabrics and textures such as wool, knits and brocades. Incorporate lots of texture by way of rugs, pillows and throws. Swap out your summer pillows with deeper toned rich colours to give your sofa a seasonal makeover. Light a few candles that bring the smell of fall and if you love to bake, throw an apple pie in the oven and you won’t need candles. That said, however, the decor should be in tune with the local seasons. Even if we want to bring in the flavour of fall, we are in a country where in most parts it doesn’t snow and we don’t really spend our time wrapped in wool blankets sitting around a fireplace. So while it’s lovely to bring in a bit of fall into our homes, it’s also important to not overdo and keep it looking realistic yet welcoming.

BRING OUT THE CARPETS

Since we do not have central heating in India, carpets which are generally made in wool add a warmth, plush appeal and insulation. People usually opt for traditional or modern designs. But there is a third type of carpet that is in vogue these days—the transitional carpets inspired by traditional designs but created in more modern and contemporary hues and styles. But buying a carpet is not easy. A number of hand tufted carpets are tufted with a gun, which have nice design but are very coarse in comparison to hand knotted carpets. When evaluating a size for your room take a measuring tape and figure out the minimum and maximum length and the minimum and maximum breadth for a rug. Carpets come in standard sizes and so purchase a closest size to what you need. If you go in for a traditional design, these are recreations of carpets that were originally made in palatial sizes of 20ft to 40ft. Modern homes these days are not that large and when you make carpets in smaller sizes the scale and size of each pattern reduces and looks the least impressive in the smallest sizes. One should buy as large a carpet as you can afford. As for the care, wash them with herbs such as reetha, shikakai and amla. Never dry clean them, the colour can bleed.

HUES IN CHARGE

There are two distinct colour palettes that can reinvent spaces this winter. An enduring trend is a dark, rich colour palette. Modern mattes, luxurious velvets and dominant metallics play with both visuals and tactility. Contrast is key when working with these elements, whether a foreground vs background contrast, or pairing up different materials. Another (more recent) colour story is centred on brighter, gustatory and feminine tones. Theatrical scarlet, wines and aubergines— colours inspired by food and spices enliven spaces. Adding a touch of a millennial pink or a gentle mint brings in a playful, modern vibe. People go wrong with colour when they recreate a halfway home, executing one change, but forgoing the other changes required to complete the look out of fear. When redecorating, trust your design instincts, paint that wall, reupholster that armchair and play with colour.

FABRICS FOR THE SEASON

While wool is used for colder climes, in India, cotton is a natural fabric that works for bedcovers as well as sheeting, it makes for comfortable bedding. In wintertime, curtains made of sheer or lighter fabrics during the day maximise the sunlight and create a glowing cosy-warmth in the room as opposed to heavier fabrics that block sunlight. Winter is a great season for layering and creating interesting textures. One can play with layers and choose a palette of colours to work with. For example, emerald green with natural—this could mean an emerald green throw or bedcover with natural cushions or sheets in tussar fabric. Interesting elements such as bamboo or jute based cushions can also be used. Shades of blue are also another great choice for the winter. Vintage carpet patterns or chintz are trending this year. As for faux pas, people don’t relate pattern or colour to the size of the space which can potentially make the space feel claustrophobic. Do not ignore the colour of walls and floors before deciding hues or patterns for furnishings.