Written By: Sumita Roy
Home decoration is a very broad term- it encompasses your choice of furniture, their setting, doing your walls with the suited colors: contrast or matching. In fact, it is almost impossible to mention the entire thing in a single write up. Therefore today I will just deal on the type of accessories you should introduce in your interiors to give it a refined and classy look.
Needless to say, that first your walls, lighting and furniture should set the right background even before you start introducing any accessory. Home décor may seem a really complex task, but it is not so if you have a clear idea as to how your house should appear- what it reflects. For example, using light colored wicker or light wood furniture creates a serene atmosphere; dark colored heavy wooden furniture introduces a regal aura; hardwood flooring adds warmth, whereas light can also be used as a means to set the right mood.
However, furniture, wall shades and lighting, no matter how exquisitely done, do not add a visible living and personal aura to your interiors. Your house becomes a home when accessories suited to personal taste are introduced in it. Be it an ancestral portrait or a culinary set, family photo frame etc. It is the accessories in today’s world that distinguish your home from your neighbor's, even though the contours of the interior are same. Here is a suggested list of accessories that you can introduce within your household:
1. Teapots: Tea is one of the most consumed beverages present across the world. So many things- grief, happiness, news, gossips- have been shared over one cup. And though tea has been consumed since ages, teapots were not invented until 1500s in China.
In today’s market, teapots come in a variety of materials, starting from stainless steels, to clay or glass made pots. Some families have ancestral teapots as well. Their variety and appearance have made them suited to display. These are used by many families as centerpieces, if ancestral; these have brought in a rare and exclusive taste of family history.
2. Vases: Of all the accessories used in home, vases have the longest history. They date back to ancient Greece from where they originated and were used as storage for water, fruit, food, oil and medicine. Founded around 5000 BC, some even have carvings that provide information about the Greeks. The Chinese also produced vases which were mostly porcelain made with elaborated painting on them. These are much coveted pieces of art in the present market.
However, today vases are made of ceramic, glass and crystal. Some are used as flower holders, whereas the others are used as decorative pieces in themselves. Using these as center pieces (if ancestral or elaborately designed), or placing these at four different corners of a room (if they are plain and used for holding flowers) can create a stylish effect.
3. Designer storage: With always a lack of storage space people have found innovative ways to organize their belongings. Of course, for this kind of set up you will have to move to the bedroom or dressing room. The need for storage has given birth to designer wardrobes in which clothes are neatly hanged or stored in an attractive way. And due to our never ceasing process of accumulating things, every time you add a new element to your storage space, you bring in newness to it by organizing the stuff in a different way.
Closet organizers are a broad term used for countless setups such as drawers, shelves, shoe racks etc. These storage ideas can also be introduced in modular garages that allow lot of space and complete flexibility. In fact you can make two sections in a garage: one where your car stays; and two where the tools, oil, screws etc. are kept in an organized way.
4. Space: It is the best thing to do to your home when you are a bachelor living in a studio apartment; or just got married and decided to keep it simple. Minimalism creates an emphasis on the few articles present within the household, including furniture placement etc. This is a very easy way to ward off cluttering or hectic cleaning sessions. A home styled on this concept focuses on the basic stuff with the presence of a few furniture pieces required for day to day use, neatly floored surfaces and simple and sober color on walls.
Other unnecessary articles are stored away from sight. However this does not mean your home should be completely accessory-free. A single piece of artwork, a vase of fresh flowers or a family portrait will do a great job if introduced in such a setting. It creates a neat and somber effect where stress level is low. This kind of stylization has its roots grounded on Japanese architecture. These were based on the principles of concentration, mindfulness and self awareness.
5. Art: Usage of art as a decorating piece within your home is one of the most popular cultures in India, since ages people have used it as a versatile form of accessory. The best thing about art is it is available in various forms and each is unique in itself. If your home has a backdrop of modern look, you can consider introducing metal wall sculptures or bold colorful paintings. But if you are going for the traditional look, opt for porcelain or ceramic sculptures or a classic painting of a landscape.
Home décor is considered as the most primary form of art. The tasteful selection of colors, fabrics, paints, flooring and furniture is artful in itself. It takes a skilled eye and organized thought to put all of these together.
6. Rugs: A more convenient option during the winters. Use of rug can offer a cushion to your feet against the cold hard concrete surface. These are available in a wide range of colors, materials, trends and patterns. A good selection can render your interiors with warmth and coziness. These also have an additional advantage of preventing noise.
If you are living in an apartment, then the noise pollution caused by the people living downstairs can be stopped, or at least lessened, by the use of rugs on the floor. Its variety in patterns helps to make your home more presentable and cozy during the winters.
The oldest known rug dates back to 5th century BC and is called Pazyryk Rug. Though Pazyryk people are credited for making modern day rugs, but it is actually the Persians who had perfected this art.
7. Personal collections: Almost every one of us have a weird collection from our earlier days (youth, puberty, childhood etc), and we are attached to it in such a way that we possess it lifelong. It may be a superhero collection, music/ movie CD collection, minute glass made/ crystal figurines, kitty cat clocks, or a book collection. These collections can add to your home décor.
Showcasing minute figurines on a plain glass table top can create very alluring effect. Neatly organizing a shelf of books or displaying your CD collection adds to the personal element, making your home more homely.
8. Houseplants: These can no doubt accessorize your interiors but also create a healthy effect. Studies have proved that plants remove carbon dioxide from air; they also neutralize presence of harmful chemicals like formaldehydes and polyethylene. These chemicals naturally emit from paints, flooring and furniture and can cause respiratory illnesses.
Some of the best plants that can be used to purify your home’s air are English Ivy, snake plants, and spider plants. Certain other plants, research says, can be used as de-stressers. They help you feel more creative and improve moods. Furthermore, plants are both visually and olfactorily presentable. Your choice of plants also depends on the kind of house you have. For a classic pattern ferns and vines would do, for modern décor vibrant and colorful flowers would look great.
9. Candles: Always regarded as a provider of light, ambiance and warmth, presence of these makes your home more romantic. Lighting of candles is a great way to create a relaxing mood. Candles can be introduced in a home in many forms- from a collection of many small, glass set figurines to large pillars supported in equally large holders. These were, at least a decade ago, used more as a necessity, but at present with power backups present almost everywhere, these have become more décor savvy.
10. Mirrors: The ultimate accessory that you need for decorative purpose as well as for practical usage. They serve multiple purposes- fixing appearances, delighting children who catch their refection on it, affordable means to make your home look spacious, bring in more light, and brighten up the corners of your house. Their variety also makes them a veritable option for designing the home. A large frame can be hung as a huge center piece in a room. Smaller units can be used in a series on a wall, or randomly fitted in close proximity to one another.
Decorating your home is about making it look more welcoming, presentable and unique. But you can always stretch it to a broader perspective by adding it benefits. For example use of plants can be very good for the health of your family, teapots can be used for decoration as well as convenience, when you have guests come over. Similarly the use of storage places, if they are out in the open regular cleaning and organization will keep them in a better condition. Therefore, whenever you think about decorating your home, if possible focus on the additional advantages which always bring about more than beautification.
Home decoration is a very broad term- it encompasses your choice of furniture, their setting, doing your walls with the suited colors: contrast or matching. In fact, it is almost impossible to mention the entire thing in a single write up. Therefore today I will just deal on the type of accessories you should introduce in your interiors to give it a refined and classy look.
Needless to say, that first your walls, lighting and furniture should set the right background even before you start introducing any accessory. Home décor may seem a really complex task, but it is not so if you have a clear idea as to how your house should appear- what it reflects. For example, using light colored wicker or light wood furniture creates a serene atmosphere; dark colored heavy wooden furniture introduces a regal aura; hardwood flooring adds warmth, whereas light can also be used as a means to set the right mood.
However, furniture, wall shades and lighting, no matter how exquisitely done, do not add a visible living and personal aura to your interiors. Your house becomes a home when accessories suited to personal taste are introduced in it. Be it an ancestral portrait or a culinary set, family photo frame etc. It is the accessories in today’s world that distinguish your home from your neighbor's, even though the contours of the interior are same. Here is a suggested list of accessories that you can introduce within your household:
In today’s market, teapots come in a variety of materials, starting from stainless steels, to clay or glass made pots. Some families have ancestral teapots as well. Their variety and appearance have made them suited to display. These are used by many families as centerpieces, if ancestral; these have brought in a rare and exclusive taste of family history.
However, today vases are made of ceramic, glass and crystal. Some are used as flower holders, whereas the others are used as decorative pieces in themselves. Using these as center pieces (if ancestral or elaborately designed), or placing these at four different corners of a room (if they are plain and used for holding flowers) can create a stylish effect.
Closet organizers are a broad term used for countless setups such as drawers, shelves, shoe racks etc. These storage ideas can also be introduced in modular garages that allow lot of space and complete flexibility. In fact you can make two sections in a garage: one where your car stays; and two where the tools, oil, screws etc. are kept in an organized way.
Other unnecessary articles are stored away from sight. However this does not mean your home should be completely accessory-free. A single piece of artwork, a vase of fresh flowers or a family portrait will do a great job if introduced in such a setting. It creates a neat and somber effect where stress level is low. This kind of stylization has its roots grounded on Japanese architecture. These were based on the principles of concentration, mindfulness and self awareness.
Home décor is considered as the most primary form of art. The tasteful selection of colors, fabrics, paints, flooring and furniture is artful in itself. It takes a skilled eye and organized thought to put all of these together.
If you are living in an apartment, then the noise pollution caused by the people living downstairs can be stopped, or at least lessened, by the use of rugs on the floor. Its variety in patterns helps to make your home more presentable and cozy during the winters.
The oldest known rug dates back to 5th century BC and is called Pazyryk Rug. Though Pazyryk people are credited for making modern day rugs, but it is actually the Persians who had perfected this art.
Showcasing minute figurines on a plain glass table top can create very alluring effect. Neatly organizing a shelf of books or displaying your CD collection adds to the personal element, making your home more homely.
Some of the best plants that can be used to purify your home’s air are English Ivy, snake plants, and spider plants. Certain other plants, research says, can be used as de-stressers. They help you feel more creative and improve moods. Furthermore, plants are both visually and olfactorily presentable. Your choice of plants also depends on the kind of house you have. For a classic pattern ferns and vines would do, for modern décor vibrant and colorful flowers would look great.
Decorating your home is about making it look more welcoming, presentable and unique. But you can always stretch it to a broader perspective by adding it benefits. For example use of plants can be very good for the health of your family, teapots can be used for decoration as well as convenience, when you have guests come over. Similarly the use of storage places, if they are out in the open regular cleaning and organization will keep them in a better condition. Therefore, whenever you think about decorating your home, if possible focus on the additional advantages which always bring about more than beautification.
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