WHAT’S HAUTE
Why we turned to 10 top influencers to map the design and decor trends this year
Hope. Be it colour, craft, design or decor, it remains the underlying theme of the year 2021. And if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that social media has become not only a source of infotainment but also our go-to for ideas, inspiration, DIYs and advice. So for our trends forecast we asked 10 design influencers on Instagram to share their insights.
1. Rohina Anand Khira 2. Sarah Sham
3. Esha Gupta
4. Preethi Prabhu
5. Rittika Chokhany
6. Anuradha Kapoor
7. Rukmini Ray Kadam
8. Jasleen Singh
9. Swati Bora
10. Ishita Yashvi
It was an eye opener for us to say the least. From curved forms in accessories and furniture to organic designs and textures, from welcoming eclectic aesthetics to multifunctional spaces, from the drama of monochrome to an increase in striking neutrals, from revival of cane to blurring the boundaries of the outside and inside, from celebrating family heirlooms to creating comfortable green spaces, from an earthy look to beautiful artisanal pieces—these trends are all you need to make your space look fresh, inviting and interesting.
But that’s now all, our influencers also share styling tips and tricks, favourite brands and their social media journey. Consider this your definitive guide to mapping what’s on the horizon this year.
There’s something so comfortable, relatable and inspiring about Rohina Khira’s social media handle that no matter what she posts, it grabs many eyeballs. Ask her 1.39 lakh followers on Instagram and they will agree. It’s a mix of decor, design, travel, fashion, textiles, DIYs and interiors, all in one space. Khira is the CEO of Mumbai-based, decor store AA Living and started her Instagram account in 2013. “Facebook was fading away, especially the business pages, everyone was saying one must move to Instagram,” says Khira. So, she started a handle but it was more for her company, AA Living. She began documenting designs she was doing for the brand, new products, cute cafes and interesting spots. “It was spontaneous and not a curated feed. People enjoyed my international outlook to interiors and decor,” explains Khira. She then started her own handle as well and soon brands started approaching her and before she knew it, Khira became a voice for the decor community.
“I love creating new and interesting content,” says Khira. She also happens to be one of the biggest proponents of DIYs. “It’s about using what I have at home and repurposing it in interesting, multiple and unusual ways,” she says. A recent example is her festive DIY. She took a few fairy lights, jumbled them, put them in wine goblets, flipped it and then put a candle on top of it. It created a novel DIY candle holder. “The post got a lot of traction,” says Khira.
DIYs apart, her number one styling tip is to declutter. “Less is more, this is reflected in my style, decor and fashion,” she says. Her advice, keep the design and layout simple, neat and clear. “This will allow you to redecorate creatively.
So, what about her favourite brands? Beside her own store, she is very fond of an international brand, Anthropologie. “Their aesthetics of laidback luxe really aligns with my sensibility,” says Khira. With a pulse on what’s new and trending, Khira’s design style has many takers.