Author: Sharat

Consider Bold Colours 

The modern kitchen allows you the freedom to experiment with colours that resonate with you. While neutrals are a conventional and flattering colour palette, consider bold colours to add personality and a touch of eclecticism into your space. 

Consider colours like purple, orange, green, or blue, and play with the hues or saturation to fit your taste. Acrylic and laminate finishes look especially great with bolder colours, introducing a sense of balance and elegant reserve despite the bright colour palette. For darker bold colours like midnight blue, emerald green, or maroon, you could also consider experimenting with a high-gloss finish.

If you are scared of dabbling with bold colours, try pairing them as accents to a more neutral colour palette. Playing with bold colours on your cabinets is definitely a fail-proof way to go. You can balance more neutral tones like cream, being, grey, or white, with bold statement hues on specific drawers or columns of cabinets to create a cohesive, fun, yet reserved modern kitchen.

Try Out Sleek Kitchen Cabinets without Handles

You don’t need to go all out with ornamentation and frills to make your space look elegant and luxurious. When it comes to the modern kitchen, elegance is all about clean lines and a minimalistic aesthetic. 

Foregoing handles and hardware on your storage units is a great way to accomplish this. Consider handleless slab doors and drawers on your cabinets to preserve the smooth flow of your kitchen design and its air of simple elegance. 

Use Tiles to Create a Luxe Backsplash

A backsplash instantly elevates the look of your modern kitchen, and the best way of doing this is through tiles. 

Today, there are innumerable designs and finishes to pick from for kitchen tiles. No matter your preference and the colour palette of your kitchen space, it is very likely that you will find a kitchen tile to meet your requirements. 

If you are looking for a snazzy and glam aesthetic, pick tiles with reflective finishes such as glass or metallic. On the other hand, if you are aiming for a more understated elegance, go for ceramic, stone, or marble tiles. 

You can coordinate the colours of your tiles to complement or enhance the colour palette of your kitchen. For instance, if you have a bright yellow and white kitchen, you can pick white tiles to balance out the brightness of the yellow, while tying it together with a panel of yellow accents. On the other hand, if you have a very neutral kitchen, use the backsplash to add some colour and personality to your kitchen. 

When in Doubt, Pick White

A white kitchen embodies luxury, elegance, and the spirit of modern minimalism. It’s a great colour for maintaining a clean and open aesthetic. Experiment with finishes- hi-gloss, acrylic, or even some marbled lamination on the storage units.

If you are worried your kitchen is looking too clinical or drab, add some life back to it using a bold backsplash!

The modern kitchen goes beyond just being a place for you to cook. Yes, it is a functional area, but with the right design to add oomph to the space, the modern kitchen can be a stylish retreat that makes cooking fun and not just a chor

Create a Balance

A critical aspect in a well designed room is balance. Balance of colours, textiles, materials, aesthetic, and so on. Consider juxtaposing heavy dark wood furniture with bright and contemporary upholstery, cushions, rugs, and decor. You could pair French- style furniture, which is typically more ornate, with light pastel curtains, neutral upholstery, and perhaps have plants and a few ornate decor pieces to balance out the space.

Balance is what ensures that your space doesn’t feel cramped or dated in its style. Bear in mind that when we say juxtapose contrasting elements, we don’t mean throw random things together. There is a method to the madness when it comes to ‘balance’, and every element you contrast with another should be well thought out. 

Let Plants Liven Up Your Space

There is a lot that has been written and said about the millennial obsession for plants. Don’t create a jungle in your living room, unless that is your intention with the space, but do consider adding plants as a breath of fresh air (literally) into your space. 

Rubber plants, Peace Lilies, Monsteras, and large Snake Plants are all great plant options for your living room. They are typically large, and the vertical height can be an interesting element, while the somewhat ornate nature of them adds to the decor of your room. You can also have smaller plants like Pothos, Ferns, or cute and tiny succulents displayed on shelves, coffee tables, and so on.

Ferns also thrive in the bathroom, which is perfect for adding a splash of green into an often ignored space. Consider placing a succulent or Pothos on your work or study table, while Snake Plants and Peace Lilies are perfect for the bedroom considering their air-purifying property. 

Decide on an Aesthetic

Unless you decide on an aesthetic for your design, you are liable to lose track of your vision and end up with a chaotic design which lacks flow. While balance entails putting contrasting elements together to some extent, you still need to play within an overall design aesthetic to retain cohesion. 

For instance, if you have a lot of traditional dark wood furnishing and ornate decor, a bohemian cane stool or chair is going to be completely out of place. Similarly, if you have a bohemian theme running through your space, adding very industrial chairs or industrial light fixtures is going to look incredibly random and ill-thought out. Similarly, sticking to a colour palette can help make your place look cohesive, well-planned, and elegant. 

A well-designed contemporary Indian home entails a lot of careful decision making when it comes to maintaining a cohesive look that exudes elegance and style. There are no rules when it comes to design- it’s all about infusing your personality into the space. These guidelines can help you achieve that goal, while also keeping things on trend and retaining mass-appeal!

Pay Attention to The Layout 

Your drawing room would typically have a lot of traffic, the flow of which needs to be controlled through the layout of the area. The arrangement of the furniture and decor needs to ensure that people don’t trip over stuff. Make sure that the available space at your disposal is compatible with the furniture you pick and how you arrange them. 

Invest in Good Quality Seating  

Seating can be expensive- particularly sofas. But it’s best that you don’t compromise on quality, because the look and comfort level of your seating can be a complete game-changer when designing a drawing room. 

Make sure you buy sofas and accent chairs that complement the layout of your drawing room, and the space you have available. Keep in mind the size of your family and the volume of guests you would typically host at a time.

The colour-scheme of your seating should also work with the rest of your drawing room. To have a drawing room with plenty of seating without cramping up the space, consider investing in poufs and ottomans that are functional and attractive yet save space.

Have a Focal Point

Having a focal point is very important- this is an area of interest that immediately draws the eye when someone walks into the room. You can create a focal point by having an accent wall- you can consider using textured paint or wallpapers to add interest. Consider a large mirror with a decorative frame, or a display for all your souvenirs. You can also display paintings, or even create an elaborate photo-wall as your focal point!

Consider Smart Storage Solutions 

Be smart about the storage units you incorporate into your drawing room. Storage units are essential for reducing clutter, but they can also add to the aesthetic value of your space. 

Choose consoles and shelves with attractive facia which ties together the colour scheme and vibe of your drawing room. You can, of course, use the top of your consoles as a display unit- imagine a few candles, a bowl of potpourri, a flower vase, or a small plant! You can also have open shelves to display books or other articles of interest. 

A drawing room is an extension of your personality as a household, and establishes what you place value on. Designing your drawing room well will not only earn you accolades from your guests, but will also create the perfect ambience for you to spend some quality time as a family.

Consider these tips when putting together your drawing room, and create a space that looks attractive, is functional, and exudes personality!

Attractive and Functional Storage Units

Let there Be Light (and Life)

Use mirrors and plants cleverly to serve as accent pieces, and also to make your foyer seem larger and fresher. 

Mirrors, especially large ones with ornate frames, make the perfect showstopper for a foyer space. They are stunning pieces of decor, and reflect light to expand the space. To add to that, your guests would secretly thank you- after all, who doesn’t want to discreetly re-check their appearance after stepping in?

Plants are a great way to add a breath of fresh air (literally) into your foyer. Plants are beautiful and  add a pop of colour and liveliness to any space. Particularly in foyers, which are notoriously cramped, even a small plant can make a world of difference. You can also experiment with interesting planters to add to the aesthetic appeal of your foyer.

Capitalize on Ceiling and Wall Space

Foyers are typically short on space, and it is best to not cramp the floor space with furniture and decor. Instead, make use of the ceilings and wall space to level up your foyer! 

You can make use of interesting light fixtures on your walls and ceilings, to bring together the aesthetic of your foyer space, and establish a “theme”. From industrial fixtures, to opulent chandeliers, you can find ample options in the market. Display photo frames, souvenirs, and eclectic wall hangings to make use of your wall-space. 

Make Your Floor Pop

We tend to overlook the floor when we are doing upa space. Adding a rug or carpet can completely change the look of your foyer. Pick textures and colors for your rugs and carpets that tie the design of your foyer together. You can go for a neutral shade for a cohesive look, or be a little brave by adding a pop of colour on the floor- either ways, it’ll add personality to your foyer, and create a welcoming aura.

The perfect foyer is welcoming, aesthetically pleasing, and functional- a difficult balance to achieve if you don’t put enough thought into it. Build your foyer around these 4 building blocks, and add your personal touch to create a foyer that perfectly encapsulates the essence of your home and household.