Wabi Sabi Aesthetic: Minimalist Elegance for Modern Living

In a world inundated with glossy magazines showcasing pristine, picture-perfect homes, there lies a design ethos that beckons us to embrace imperfection and simplicity. Enter Wabi Sabi, a Japanese philosophy that celebrates the beauty of impermanence, imperfection, and authenticity.

At its core, embracing Wabi Sabi in home decor is about stripping away excess and embracing materials' raw, organic beauty. This 'simplistic' design ethos offers a refreshing departure from the pressure of achieving flawlessness and fosters a sense of tranquillity and harmony within our living spaces. Here are 4 ways to integrate this Japanese philosophy in your home interiors- The TWI way. 

Favouring asymmetry over strict symmetry adds visual interest and reflects the organic irregularities found in nature. Choose minimalist furniture with clean lines and simple silhouettes, allowing each piece to stand out without overwhelming the space.

 

Clean lines with intentional asymmetry using minimalistic furniture builds the essence of our project  Treetops, New Delhi

One of the fundamental principles of Wabi Sabi is to integrate nature into our living spaces. Bring the outdoors in by incorporating plants, woven fabrics, and natural textures like stone or clay. These elements add visual appeal and evoke a sense of serenity and connection to the natural world.

 

Using natural materials like wood uniquely in this earthy bedroom from our project, Treetops, New Delhi.

According to our Creative Director Devika Khosla, you can start by incorporating raw natural materials like unfinished wood, which exudes a sense of warmth and authenticity. Embrace surfaces that exhibit a bit of imperfection, such as unfinished wood or weathered stone, adding depth and character to your space.

Creating a Wabi Sabi-inspired home also means leaving room for simplicity and mindfulness. Integrate handmade or artisanal pieces that showcase craftsmanship and individuality, celebrating the uniqueness of each item rather than aiming for uniformity.

In keeping with the Wabi Sabi aesthetic, opt for quiet, earthy colours that evoke a sense of calm and tranquillity.

Calm, earthy tones used in the Sattva House Formal Living Area exude natural elegance and tranquillity.

For those seeking to infuse their homes with a touch of cultural richness, consider fusing Wabi Sabi simplicity with Indian flair by enhancing the indoor ambience with soft lighting and aromatic touches like incense or herbs. Infuse Indian charm by incorporating aged furniture, handmade fabrics, and creative accents that reflect the vibrant tapestry of Indian culture. Showcase heirloom pieces and decor with a rich history, infusing your home design with stories and character.

Combining Indian culture with modern minimalism in the Gaurang Store with balanced use of cultural elements, natural materials and minimalistic furniture. 

Making your home Wabi Sabi is about embracing simplicity, imperfection, and authenticity. By using simple materials, natural looks, calm colours, and a mix of cultural styles in your home interiors, you can create a space that feels inviting, serene, and truly beautiful—a sanctuary from the chaos of the modern world.

Unleashing the potential of blank walls: Decorating your walls to give your house a spacelift

Wall decor extends beyond aesthetics and focuses on injecting life, personality, and character into your living space. Decorating your walls is a powerful way to give your house a space lift, transforming it from a mere structure into a personalized and aesthetically pleasing home. Here are some tips:

R-615 Residence showcases personalised pieces on the walls

Decorating your walls in home styling is a transformative process that enhances the aesthetics and functionality of your living space. From expressing your personal style to improving acoustics and creating focal points, wall decor plays a crucial role in giving your house a space lift and turning it into a place you're proud to call home!

Embracing Colorful Homes- Tips for a Home that Speaks Your Language

Our homes are more than just physical structures; they are a canvas on which we paint the colours of our personalities, dreams, and memories. Embracing a colorful home extends beyond incorporating vibrant hues; it's a journey of self-expression and creating a space that resonates with who you are. So what defines your living space as uniquely yours? It's the personal touches you add, a way to let your individuality and self-expression stand out.

Your home is your personal sanctuary, and here are some tips on transforming your home interiors into a characterful sanctum.

Contrasting dichotomy of colours and textures with the contemporary bar unit in our project, Rue 32, New Delhi. 

The living area of ‘Valley of Dreams’ Kasauli is peppered with memorabilia and art, adding personality and individuality to the space.

Designing a Home With Wood : A story of warmth, elegance, and enduring beauty!

Design gives us an opportunity to unleash the transformative power of materials, and wood, with its versatility and sustainability, takes center stage in creating spaces that resonate with both style and comfort for designer homes. If you are thinking of designing a home with wood, here are some quick tips:

Valley Of Dreams in Kasauli accentuates the mesmerizing views of mountains

Locally sourced wood for hand-crafted furniture and interior design in the Valley of Dreams in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh

Designing a home interior with wood is an art form that requires a keen understanding of materials, aesthetics, and sustainability. We encourage you to embark on this journey with a vision that goes beyond mere functionality. Let wood be the canvas upon which you paint the story of your home – a story of warmth, elegance, and enduring beauty!

How to Stay Timeless in the Era of Changing Trends?

The onset of a new millennium and the following two decades saw a rapid evolution in many fields. Interior designing and home decor were not untouched by this revolution. A shift in design preferences, aesthetics, and the way we perceive and transform our living spaces marked this gradual change. The era of standardisation was put to an end as homeowners expressed a newfound desire for personal expression and individuality in their homes. A surge in technological advancements and globalisation increased design accessibility and opened the doors to a diverse range of styles, materials, and innovative approaches for home styling.

In this blog, we look closely at these shifts in interior styling while giving some tips for staying timeless with your home interior

 

Awareness About Interior Design Professionals

The last many years saw the professional interior design practice being sidelined in home styling and renovation. Practitioners like carpenters, masonry workers, or contractors were the primary sources of consultancy. Despite the talent and vernacular knowledge they possess, these labourers also require 

consistent guidance and understanding of space from architects or designers. The last few years have witnessed a considerable shift in people's awareness towards hiring interior designers and architects for any kind of interior or spatial transformation. This change has led to increased client openness in adopting trends, as well as practical and sensible design approaches. 

 

Expressing Self Through Design 

No matter the period,  people have always had a strong connection with the spaces they inhabit, fostering a sense of belonging. This bond has only deepened in recent years, with people becoming more aware of customising the spaces to reflect their personalities. With practicality and functionality being fundamental requirements,  people have now inclined towards designs that uplift and enhance our everyday experiences, encouraging self-exploration. However, attention to detail has become paramount lately, and it is coming forth in everything about interior styling. 

 

Adopting the Latest Technology

The advancements in technology have led to the transformation of furniture in the digital and automated sense. For instance, side tables are now equipped with air purifiers, sofas have built-in Bluetooth speakers, and desks can be suspended from the ceiling to save floor space and create a multifunctional area. People are increasingly opting for desks with adjustable heights controlled by remote. Such technological transformations have ushered interior styling into a new era. 

 

Staying Timeless While Adding the Personal Touch

The new opportunities for interior designers and architects to design spaces have brought a spectrum of concepts, themes, materials, and finishes to choose from. To stay timeless, one should keep up with the current trends but never lose personal touch. For example, use shells such as beige and greige for the overall palette and selectively highlight a few walls to attain an evergreen touch.  

To create a timeless appeal, adorn the spaces with elements that tell your story. Travel souvenirs, photographs, books and art pieces make the best decor pieces and lend a personal hue to your home interior. 

 

Prioritising Context & User Well-being

We are in an era of fast-changing trends. Therefore, one should always think through every aspect and not blindly follow trends. The context, or the surroundings, must be kept in mind while considering your home interior. While some trends may look appealing, they may not always be practical for your particular space. Therefore, it is important to conduct thorough research and evaluate whether a trend aligns with your lifestyle and budget.

Moreover, the Pandemic has taught us to prioritise the user's well-being first and foremost. It is a critical parameter that must be carefully considered and implemented in the spaces we design. Trends like automation offer long-term benefits, as smart homes can simplify our lives and help conserve resources. 

Upcycling furniture- Towards a Greener Interior Design

Sustainable living is one of the key mantras in today’s world. It influences the latest trends in the field of interior design as well. Upcycling in interior design represents a growing movement towards sustainability and creativity in furnishing spaces. 

The process of upcycling emphasises creativity and innovation to repurpose items by transforming discarded or old materials into improved products. It adds value to the original material while reducing waste. 

This eco-conscious approach helps foster a culture of reimagining the potential of discarded materials and promoting resourcefulness while lowering environmental impact.

 

Why Should Furniture Be Upcycled?

With authenticity and sustainability becoming the essence of many client briefs, the upcycling furniture market offers environmentally responsible alternatives. Moreover, furniture has always been part of family heirlooms passed down through generations. Upcycling furniture allows showcasing unique designs with unexpected combinations, textures, and colours, imbuing a historical richness with a reimagined aesthetic. The distinctiveness of upcycled items also exhibits personality and individuality.

Process of Upcycling

The process of upcycling begins with a comprehensive study of the furniture piece. Continuous research, networking with artisans, reading, and staying updated in the upcycling industry are crucial to the process. Some of the crucial steps of upcycling are-

It is essential to consider the amount of resources in terms of money, materials, and labour needed to revive these furniture pieces. 

Sometimes, simple and effective methods like re-painting, re-varnishing or re-polishing can be done to breathe life into these old pieces. Similarly, if underlying structures are solid and durable, they can be revived to have their original charm in a modern aesthetic setting. For example, sofas can be transformed using new cushions and upholstery if their frame is solid and durable.

Upcycling as a Sustainable Alternative

Upcycling, involving the sustainable reuse and regeneration of materials or products, can seamlessly integrate into the circular economy. Reenvisioning and adding renewed material value represents a step toward ecological and social responsibility.

In India, the recycling and upcycling culture stems from our forefathers' non-wasteful attitude, thus commonly salvaging aged items. While not intending to replace traditional furniture entirely, upcycled furniture possesses the potential to carve a niche for itself. Amid the enduring impact of sustainability on consumer choices, the unique charm and eco-conscious allure of upcycled pieces will hold significance.

Towards a Greener Future

The process of upcycling is a conscious choice towards reducing waste and fostering a more responsible, eco-friendly future. While embracing upcycling, it's crucial to maintain a balance, preserving the distinctiveness of the process without compromising on design quality and consistently assessing its sustainability for the long term. 

Upcycling continues to inspire and lead the charge towards a more sustainable world through its creative reimagining and regeneration of materials.

Behind the Design: Decoding Dopamine Decor

Interior design trends shape the way we experience our living spaces. The trends reflect homeowners' evolving needs, wants and desires, which are also aesthetically in sync with the current era.  In this exploration of interior design trends, we look into the exciting and innovative concepts that are shaping the world of interior design in contemporary times.

 

‘Dopamine Decor’ is one of the latest home styling trends that is used to create/ increase the happiness quotient in any space. In this blog, we closely look at the latest interior styling trend of ‘Dopamine Decor’ with tips on styling your home interior.

 

Understanding the dopamine effect in decor

Inspired by the Kitsch style (playful and colourful style that embraces unconventional and nostalgic elements), ‘Dopamine Decor’ styling uses vintage with bold patterns or bright colours to elevate spaces. This interior styling mainly plays around with bright pops of colours, patterns and textures to brighten up the space, resulting in a positive and happy environment. The colour palette mainly consists of oranges, pinks, yellows, lime green, and cobalt blues. The usage of recycled, vintage and upcycled pieces in furniture and art, makes this home decor style a highly sustainable option. 

 

How to start styling

Each space has certain requirements to decorate it in a particular style. To begin with, create a mood board to test your understanding of the Dopamine Decor and see how elements play with each other in the context of your home interior. Following are steps on how to create your Dopamine Decor moodboard:

Remember to keep the interior light to avoid feeling tired of seeing it every day and avoid creating an overwhelming effect by doing the following:

 

Home styling tips using Dopamine Decor

 

To transform homes into designer homes, the residential interiors can be easily styled in the Dopamine decor by understanding the aspects of walls, flooring, ceiling, furniture, window dressing, artwork, and lighting, in each type of room.

 

1. Living Room- should evoke a sense of comfort, warmth, and relaxation that feels welcoming and inviting 

Walls can have pastel hues with pops of colour used in furniture pieces like a console table, a credenza or an end table. The seating, like lounge chairs, can have bright upholstery that contrasts with the neutral tones on sofas. Another option is to have brighter walls and furniture upholstery with lighter colours. The aim is to make certain colours and textures stand out by pairing other aspects with subtle hues.

 

2. Bedroom- should evoke calmness and relaxation

Following a similar approach to the living room decor, the bedroom can be styled with the walls having pastel shades and the rugs/ curtains being the textural element. Soft pastels and soothing patterns are recommended, with the opportunity to experiment with brighter colours on the bedding and use patterns/art works on cushions.

 

3. Study- A focused space with a sense of privacy and a nurturing environment

Shades of green are recommended to promote thinking. The natural wood grains complement pastel green with some cane work as a textural element. A neon-lit inspiring quote can also be put on the wall to complete the look.

 

4. Kitchen- essence of a home

Vibrant yellows can be paired with natural wood or whites while experimenting with vintage appliance collections. The walls can have coloured backsplash with mosaic or subway tiles to achieve a dopamine effect.

 

 

Dopamine decor has the ability to brighten up any space if executed well. The above home styling tips can help you create your dream interiors and increase your happiness quotient.

5 materials for Kitchen Countertops that you should know

The Kitchen is one of the most used spaces in residential interiors, especially in an Indian household. According to the best designers in India, it is also one of the most crucial areas that need to be functionally sound and materially solid and durable. Here are some of the popular materials available for Kitchen in the market.

1. Granite

This is the most commonly used countertop material in home interiors is granite, as they work best for Indian kitchens. The material is easy to clean and maintain over time as this is scratch and stain-proof. This natural stone is available in a variety of alluring options, from black granite to a dusty brown coloured in both matte and polished options.

2. Quartz

Designers in India often use Quartz as an alternative to high-end granite. However, it is a little more porous than granite and hence needs to be properly cleaned, maintained and kept cautious of hot vessels and liquids. The material comes in a lot of beautiful colours and patterns to aesthetically complement the kitchen interiors in your home.

3. Natural stone

These are durable and non-porous and give a beautiful, sustainable look to the kitchen counters. Natural stone is economically low on pockets; however, designers in India prefer to use it in holiday homes or platforms with limited usage as it tends to gain scratches and stains due to heat and rough cooking with time.

4. Stainless steel

A commonly used material in commercial kitchens, stainless steel countertops can be used in residential kitchens to give an industrial look. It is one of the most hygienic options as it can be easily cleaned with a wet cloth. However, heavy utensils sometimes leave dents on the material.

5. Natural wood

Natural wood imparts a beautiful cottage or a holiday home look to the kitchen. The material is non-porous, so there is no worry about hot pans and heavy utensils. However, these can observe scratches if used roughly or as a base for chopping. Hence, it is best suitable for dry cooking in house interiors and can prove to be expensive as well.

The art of displaying art

Art has become an integral part of home decor. It is a tool of expression that is seen in various forms inside a home, such as painting, images, sculptures, wall murals and even through wallpapers. Designers in India believe that elements of art add an individualistic personality to a space and are an insight into the choices of the homeowners. However, displaying art requires skill and appropriate technical know-how. Here are ways some insights into the art of displaying art.

Planning

While conceptualising and planning the home interiors, art should be a part of the primary process and not be selected as an afterthought.

Balance

Best designers in India opt for asymmetrical symmetry. The visual concept of balance is key to effective design. In other words, with balance comes harmony. A composition with unequal visual weight on both sides has an asymmetrical balance that stands out while seeming holistic, especially in the case of residential interiors.

Frame

House designers in Delhi recommend using your frames wisely. Do not neglect the frame when thinking about the focal piece of the artwork.

Height

One of the most important rules is to hang your artwork at the right height. Most people make the mistake of hanging artwork too high in both residential and commercial designs. House desigers centre the artwork about 57” from the floor.

Placement

In residential interiors, one could place art either above the sofa, behind the bed or on a large free wall in a room. While placing it, ensure that the chosen artwork resonates with the aesthetic of the rest of the room. It could be in line with the same or sit in contrast to the room’s design to create the focal point, as practised by a large group of designers in India

Lighting

One should also be mindful of the illumination required for the artwork; some pieces look good under normal light, and then some in a secluded darker spot. Scout the spaces in your home interiors to map the light through the day and take a call based on that.

Cheat sheet to perfecting for your living rooms

In residential interiors, the living room has grown to become a versatile space. For the past few years, most of us have had to work from our homes. With the entire family sharing these common spaces, its design and utility need more emphasis and thought. Besides that, with the variety of furniture, materials, fabrics, accessories and decorations to choose from, it could get difficult to decide on the look and execute that efficiently for your home interiors. Therefore, here is a cheat sheet, curated from the practices of the best interior designers in India, to help you plan your living rooms.

1. Pick your style

What is your kind of furniture aesthetic? The main thing with furniture in residential interiors is that one needs to determine the vibe and style of the space for a cohesive look. Hence, designers in Delhi recommend picking your preference – whether it is modern, mid-century modern, contemporary, minimalistic, essentialism, eclectic or anything else.

2. Don’t forget functionality and comfort

Best designers in India vouch that functionality and design are both equally crucial aspects while designing or sourcing furniture pieces for home interiors. Make sure the length, height and depth are based on the size and space of the living room. The ideal height should be 17’ for a sofa, and the depth can range anything from 30” to 36”. Depth depends on the space and how much sitting space one needs.

3. Consoles and Tables

In residential designs, coffee tables and consoles are equally important features of the living room and must be paid attention to. Best designers in India press that selecting the correct shape, design details, and materiality is crucial. Whether the finish is a veneer, a stone, coloured or textured is a significant detail and plays a hand in putting together the space’s design aesthetic.

4. Upholstery for furniture

A vital element of sofa and lounge chairs is the upholstery which has an expansive landscape of options, ranging from cotton, linen, and polyester in vivid colours, prints and textures. Assess the purpose and use of the furniture with respect to home interiors and narrow down the fabric accordingly. For instance, delicate silk on a sofa that will be used extensively is a no-no; instead, opt for a sturdy material like linen. The delicate silk can be used on a cushion instead.

5. Accessorise right

Besides furniture, accessories play a defining role in manifesting the overall look of a living room in residential interiors. Decor items like plants freshen up the space and make for calming elements in a home. Similarly, art in the form of paintings, photographs, sculptures, and wall art are a great way to bind the look while expressing your style.