Five ways to make your home feel and look more luxurious
A LUXURIOUS house make-over might seem to be an expensive and overwhelming task but it doesn't necessarily have to drill holes in your pocket. A few small changes and the right decor pieces can make a huge difference to the way your home looks.
Interior designer , Keyur Zaveri shares some ideas that could give your home a rich look.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
While it may feel intuitive to keep adding expensive decor to your home to give it the luxurious touch, in today's age, less is really more. Simplifying your space can give your home a classy look.
Invest in a few accent decor pieces – a lamp, wall art, decor for a centre table – that are cohesive and work well together in the theme of your room, as opposed to having numerous things that do not look like they belong together. Resist the temptation to buy over-the-top accessories and unnecessary furniture, which make your home look bulky and cluttered. Plush seating
The most important part of creating a luxurious house is to add furniture that is comfortable and elegant. Good furniture, paired with stylish soft furnishings, is the first step to creating a beautiful house.
Pillows and cushions of various sizes, and accent throws, can instantly make a home feel more inviting. Play around with the colours and fabrics of the furniture and find soft furnishings that complement the centrepieces.
Invest in good-quality fabrics like velvet, linen or suede to upholster your furniture. You can even try textured fabrics like blue denim and faux leather. Lavish Lighting
Lighting can make all the difference to the vibe of your house and help you create a luxurious, beautiful looking space. Using multiple sources of light that draw attention to various corners in the house can make a space look well put together. Invest in ceiling lamps, floor lamps, table lamps, and accent light fixtures to highlight your favourite areas in the house. While it is advisable to keep a single colour and tone of light, the intensity and direction can be played around with to enhance the ambience of the space. Layering
Layering works wonders everywhere – be it a chic coat or blazer over your outfit that adds extra charm, or adding decor pieces to your furniture for a luxe look. Carpets add splendour and exquisiteness, instantly changing the way a room looks.
Area rugs under tables and sofas help in defining spaces and can blend together the whole look.
Experiment with some elegant runners near your beds, on top of your dining table, or even in your bathroom. You can also add wall coverings and window coverings for a more inclusive aesthetic.
Metallics
You can add a small yet noticeable metallic touch to upgrade your interiors.
However, be careful to not overdo it; the key to going bling is to keep the metallic accessories minimal. Consider golds, bronzes, copper or silver hues and incorporate them in cushions, lamps, accent walls, lighting fixtures or centrepieces.
Ensure that each finish is a thoughtful addition to your space.
Incorporating these tips can do wonders for your home decor. You can make your home luxurious, without it costing an arm and a leg. More than anything, it's about making the right choices that give your house a clean and classy look.
WHEN you think of the colours on your plate, do you ever think of black? Well, it’s time you do as they are the new power food. We all know greens, yellows and reds are loaded with nutrients – but so are the lesser-spoken-about black ones too.
What are black foods? Foods with the pigments called anthocyanins are known as black foods. Anthocyanins are found in black, blue and purplecoloured foods and have hidden nutrients and benefits galore. These pigments have rich anti-oxidant properties which promote health and have the potential to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. They play a huge role in immunity. They are fun, healthy, offbeat and make for a nice visual treat too.
Abhilasha V, chief clinical nutritionist, Cloudnine group of hospitals, Bengaluru, listed a few interesting black foods and their benefits:
Black rice
Cultivated in South East Asia, this rice has a nutty flavour and can be used in many recipes. In China it was known as the Forbidden rice in ancient times, as it was reserved for royalty.
Now, some parts of north-east India grow black rice too. It’s loaded with lutien and zeaxanthin and can promote good eye health. It has cancerfighting properties due to the high anti-oxidant and fibre content.
It can be used in puddings, stir fries, risotto, porridge, noodles, bread and even makes a good kheer!
Black dhal
Indians have used black dhal for ages. It’s used as gravy and in mixed dhal preparations. It’s rich in fibre, iron, folate and protein and can be quite delicious, too.
Black olives
The western influence on our eating habits has brought along a long list of good foods. Olives are one of them and they are versatile in their flavour. They can be added to salads, pastas, stir fries and some pickles and drinks.
Olives contain mono-unsaturated fats, vitamin E, polyphenols and oleocanthal – which is a strong anti-inflammatory and pain-killer compound. This little power-packed food can help protect your arteries from clogging, maintain eye health, prevent DNA damage, and promote good skin and hair health.
Black sesame seeds
Commonly known as til, they come with a huge number of benefits, loaded with fibre, protein, magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, copper, selenium and vitamin E. The seeds also contain sesamin, which helps reduce inflammation and plays a vital role in joint pain.
Yes! All of that in a daily allowance of 1-2 teaspoons can do wonders for your health. They can be used in salads as garnish, in laddoos, in breads, smoothies, soups, hummus, dips and even tahini. They can be consumed soaked, sprouted, baked or roasted too. Black grapes
Known for their sweet taste and popular flavour, black grapes are a favourite for many. This seasonal fruit has a host of benefits to give us. Black grapes contain lutein and zeaxanthin which helps prevent retinal damage and macular degeneration.
Resveratrol in grapes is known to have anti-cancer properties and have a protective effect on cardiac health by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Proanthocyanidins present in this fruit have benefits for skin health too. Use these grapes in salads, smoothies, jams, and even good old curd rice!
Black garlic
Yes, you heard that right. Well this isn’t naturally found, but develops this colour due to a process that turns it black, and is used in Asian cuisine.
It’s regular white garlic that has been fermented or aged. It possesses a caramelised, savoury richness that adds flavour to stir fries, meat bakes, rice and noodles preparations. | IANS