14 Design Tips for Budget-Friendly Luxurious Bathroom Design

Sometimes the best part about staying in a five star hotel are its bathrooms. Roomy and luxurious, they pamper the senses and are designed to revive a tired spirit. Good bathroom design is what makes this possible. Here are a few design tips to make your bathroom feel more indulgent. 

1. Drapes

While picking out curtains to match your living room design don’t forget to pick up some bathroom curtains as well. You could choose to drape it like a normal curtain or even permanently gather it. Choose light fabrics that will not retain moisture and use beads or crystals to trim it. 

2. Highlights

To achieve a beautiful bathroom design, you don’t always need to use designer tiles for your entire bathroom. Basic plain tiles are are more budget friendly and can easily be enhanced by a just a few designer tiles. 

3. Lighting

The bathroom is probably the most overlooked when it comes to lighting fixtures. A compact chandelier combined with the smart use of mirrors can give your bathroom design a dramatic finish.

4. Contrasts

Black and white are  classic colours that can add elegance to a bathroom in any colour. Alternatively choose shower curtains, artwork etc in any two contrasting colours to uplift a bathroom design with a neutral colour palette. 

5. Monochrome

If your bathroom is too small to have a lot of colour in it, choose a monochromatic colour scheme that will not only make your bathroom look bigger but will also make it look elegant. Don’t forget to choose artwork for the walls also in the same colour scheme. 

6. Curios

 look at displaying some of your holiday souvenirs that do not find a place in the rest of your home in the bathroom. The bathroom is the perfect place for such personal DIY decor that comes attached to a story. 

7. Flowers

One of the noticeable differences between walking into a bathroom in a five star hotel and a mall is the presence of a large vase of fresh flowers in the former. Flowers freshen up a space and add beauty and aroma to the room. If fresh flowers isn’t a possibility think about investing in an artificial floral arrangement.

8. Copper

Chrome is one of the most common finishes found in bathroom fittings. to make your master bathroom design stand out take a look at copper bathroom fittings. Copper has an elegance that pairs it well with all styles of interior design. 

9. Fan

A  bathroom may be a small space but it still requires ventilation. An exhaust fan is a must but along with it consider installing  small ceiling fan as well. This will make the bathroom feel more like a complete room and will make it a comfortable space to be in. 

10. Windows

Windows add natural light to a bathroom and make it feel larger. However, privacy is also a concern so instead of clear glass opt for one sided glass if you have a view you don’t want to miss out on or take a look at stained glass frosted windows that maintain privacy and simultaneously  add beauty. 

11. Green Bathroom Design

Adding a green plant to your bathroom decor can instantly uplift the space and make it look and feel luxurious. Choose plants that can withstand excessive humidity and do not need a lot of sunlight. 

12. Bath Supplies

Along with all the fixed bathroom fixtures, a bathroom also needs  accessories like tissue holders, soap dispensers etc. Investing in an elegant set of bathroom accessories can give your bathroom a coordinated look that is much better than just a random collection of mugs and plastic dispensers. 

13. Niches

Niches are an interior designer’s best friend. Not only can they be used for storage, they can also hold decor articles that enhance the room. 

14. Mirrors

Mirrors are the most economical way to add glamour to  bathroom. Mirrors are also space saving solutions for small bathrooms that make them look larger. Choose from ornate venetian framed mirrors or simpler wall to wall mirroring to dress up your bathroom. 

Interior Design with Feng Shui: The Living Room

Feng Shui is an art of interior decorating creates balanced, relaxing and attractive rooms to add harmony to people’s lives.  Clean, clutter free living rooms that are airy and well lit have a good energy foundation from which you can start creating good feng shui. The aim here is to create a living room that nourishes and supports your energy, makes you feel happy and content. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Free Flow

The correct placement of furniture is the first step towards having a living room design with good Feng Shui. Feng Shui recommends an interior design layout in your living room that provides for clear, unobstructed flow of energy. Ideally furniture should be placed as close to the walls as possible. The main couch or sectional sofa in the living room must always face toward the entrance thus giving the person seated an unobstructed view of the whole room.

Balance the Elements

Feng Shui talks of balancing the five elements, fire, earth, water, metal and wood in your interior design plan. However, this shouldn’t be taken too literally. Some simple ways of balancing elements in your living room design is to place a mirror (glass is a water element) above a fireplace (fire element) or include a few plants (element of wood) in an industrial themed living room.

Reflect Right

Mirrors are a common feature in almost every living room design. They not only add to the aesthetics of the room but also make the space look bigger and create more light. In Feng Shui, mirrors are a representation of the water element and bring a refreshing and calm energy with them; thus Feng Shui recommends placing a mirror in the living room. However, the placement of mirrors is very important. Mirrors should never be placed so as to directly reflect each other and should also not be placed directly opposite the main door.

 

Make Love not War

Your living room design should always be such that it makes people feel warm and welcome. Ancestral homes and palaces in India usually have swords and hunting rifles displayed in living areas. According to Feng Shui displaying weapons like this brings negative energy into the room and should be avoided. This same principle of Feng Shui also suggests replacing sharp edged décor articles with curios that have a softer profile and rounded edges.

Live in rooms full of light.

A living room should be well lit at any time. In addition to natural light, table lamps, chandeliers etc act as beautiful light sources and simultaneously add to the aesthetic appeal of the room. Natural light must never be blocked but Feng Shui dissuades Interior Designers from designing a living room with more than two rooms or excessive windows. This is because ‘chi’ or energy both and enters and exits from openings such as doors and windows. 

Interior Design Ideas: Designing with Stripes

Stripes are classic and stylish ways of adding pattern to your home’s interior design. Stripes work well in contemporary and minimalist styles of interior design. Adding stripes to your home décor is easy as they can be incorporated in everything from cushion covers and upholstery to carpeting and wall finishes. Horizontal or vertical, bold or subtle, wide or thin; these are some of the choices interior designers face when working with stripes.

Stripes can alter the perception of a space. Using horizontal stripes especially those in two tones of the same colour will make a space look bigger while using them vertically will give added height to rooms with a low ceiling. Most interior designers prefer to use wide stripes in large rooms since this can make small rooms look busy.

The more the contrast between the stripes colours, the more dramatic will be the effect. One of the best examples of dramatic stripes are black and white zebra stripes. Using black and white stripes gives a room an instant dose of elegance and drama. Colourful stripes can add vibrant and playful energy to a room. On the other hand subtle stripes can be the perfect background for art or even an accent wall to frame a classic piece of furniture.

Lets shop for 7 ways to add stripes to your home décor.

Wallpaper from Marshalls

Painting stripes can be a little painful if you plan on doing it yourself. an easier approach is to use wallpapers like these from Marshalls. 

Upholstery from Atmosphere

Atmosphere’s ‘Exotic’ collection draws inspiration from an eclectic mix of cultures. It marries stripes and florals beautifully as you can do in your home too. choose from monochromatic colour schemes to stripes in contrasting colours to give the finishing touches to your furniture. 

Cushions from Nur

Like stripes, Nur is timelessly versatile, warm and comfortable. Take your pick of cushions in embroidered stripes of varying colours. Pair these with solids, abstracts or even floral cushions. 

Carpets from Rugberry

Rugberry is known for its handcrafted rugs. A rug is the easiest way to uplift a room. Stripes rugs are usually designed in contrasting colours to be bold and to make a statement in elegance. 

Furniture from Portside Cafe

Portside cafe is one of India’s leading furniture studios that works with leather. The coral reef collection is fun and cheerful. Pick this striped beauty to give your living space a focal point. 

Curtains from Shoppers Stop

Curtains are both functional and aesthetic necessities. Pick striped curtains available in a variety of colours to protect your privacy while simultaneously completing your room’s decor. 

Curios from Murano

Murano is famed the world over for its experiments with glass. Each piece is one of a kind and this striped bowl is the perfect way to bring a subtle reference to the pattern in your home decor. 

5 Interior Design Tips to Create Storage

One feature common to most design briefs given to interior designers in India is for the design to incorporate plenty of storage. Storage becomes even more important when it comes to bedroom designs and kitchen designs. Take a look at our top five ways of creating storage in your home.

Lofty Ideas

Image courtesy: 800afaucet

When talking to storage almost all interior designers will introduce lofts to the conversation. Lofts can be added to any room and are ideal for storing things that aren’t needed regularly like suitcases and Christmas decorations.

Smart Furniture

Storage need not always be built into the structure of the apartment. For additional storage in the bedroom, consider beds with built in storage under the mattress or even in the headboard. Ottomans with concealed storage are excellent ways to quickly clear up a space and can be moved from room to room. If this isn’t enough take a look at trunk styled coffee tables and benches for the living room.

Float Around

Image courtesy: homeinteriorz

Think storage of curios and knick-knacks and one automatically imagines cabinets and sideboards. The only drawback to these pieces of furniture is that they eat into your floor space. Instead install floating shelves that allow you to display all your travel souvenirs without taking up any floor space. Additionally these look lighter and don’t make the space look any smaller than it is.

Hang it

Storage often forms the focal point of kitchen design. Peg boards are efficient ways of utilizing wall space in kitchens to create storage. The bathroom is another space where many things can be hung from the walls. With the emergence of green lifestyles, cycles are making a comeback as preferred modes of transport. If you don’t have a garage and you don’t want to leave it unguarded, you could even look at mounting the cycle on the wall.

Think Vertical

The two most important architectural drawings in any interior design project are the floor plans and the elevations. While the floor plans indicate the layout of furniture on the floor, the elevations are what you need to look at while creating extra storage. Go tall with cabinets and built in units and let them touch the ceilings. This is an easy way of creating storage without making a space look cluttered.

7 Alternative Ways to use Wallpaper in Home Decor

When an interior designer in Pune wants to draw attention to one wall, wallpaper is often the first thing that comes to mind. Available in a variety of colours, textures and patterns, wallpaper can instantly uplift a space. However, just because it says “wall” on the packaging shouldn’t limit your imagination. Here are 7 other ways you could use wallpaper to enhance your home decor.

Spectacular Ceilings

Most often, our ceilings don’t really draw any attention and are painted a boring white. To give your interior decor an exclusive look, decorate your ceilings with wallpaper. Try self patterned wallpaper for a subtle look or go bold with stripes or even a damask pattern. The only time an interior designer wouldn’t suggest you use wallpapers on your ceiling would be in small rooms with low ceilings. If your ceiling has moulding on it, you could choose to wallpaper only a section of it and let it be the focal point of your room.

Fashionable  Doors

Doors leading from one room to another usually are plain and nondescript. Let your doors be an aesthetic element in your home decor by covering them with wallpaper. This works especially in children’s rooms and a young couple’s first home. Again, if the door has existing mouldings on it, use the wallpaper in panels to enhance the design.

One of a kind Furniture

Polish and paint are the two most common finishes when it comes to furniture. Wallpaper is a third option that is gradually gaining popularity now. Wallpaper can be used on cabinet doors, drawer fronts, inside walls of open cabinets, etc. some of the common wallpaper patterns used on furniture are oriental themes, florals or stripes. Another way of using wallpaper on cabinet doors is to sandwich it between two panes of glass.

Interesting Staircases

After looking at the staircase treads and railings it’s time to look at the stair risers or the vertical fronts of each step. Wallpaper is an excellent way to give your staircase a unique look. Since the area is limited you can go as bold as you’d like. Alternatively you could use varied patterns to give your staircase a more cheerful appeal. We would suggest non textured wallpapers for this to make it easier to maintain.

Framed Art

Matching patterns in wallpaper is one of the most important things to keep in mind while using it. However, this often means that you are left with small sections of extra wallpaper. Keep it aside and the next time you change your wallpaper frame these pieces of the old wallpaper to add a nostalgic element to your home decor. Alternatively, check with your local wallpaper store for samples of discontinued patterns to create one of a kind artwork.

DIY Decor

Wallpaper scraps can also be used to upcycle old trays, boxes etc. Though it may not be functional, these can be arranged on a sideboard to corner table to make it a beautiful conversation piece.

Distinctive Detailing

Attention to detail makes a big difference in residential interior design projects. Use wallpaper to give small elements of your home such as switch plates a makeover. Wallpaper can also be used to create an affordable headboard for your bed without taking up any space.

Wallpapering may not always be a viable option for rental homes. In such cases, fabric soaked in starch gives the same wallpaper effect when stretched over walls, doors etc. this temporary wallpaper can be easily removed with the help of a little steam and thus gives you and your landlord the perfect solution.  

Interior Design Ideas to Boost Natural Light

The debate between yellow lights and white light is endless but what everyone will agree upon is that the best way to light up your home is with as much natural light as possible. One of the most common points mentioned in a design brief to architects in India is for a house to have as many windows as possible. However, you don’t need to rebuild your home to welcome in the sunlight. Here are a few small changes you can make in your home décor to brighten it up.

Big Windows

Noting beats a big clear glass window to make your home look brighter as long as the view outside is a good one. Living rooms and dining rooms are ideal for large picture windows that span a wall. However, this is an interior design idea that will require some structural changes.

Open Those Curtains

Big or small, privacy is always a concern with windows and so most windows are usually shielded by curtains. Glass is usually reflective during the day and unless you look very closely you usually can’t look through it on a bright sunny day. So, open your curtains through the day and pull them together only after the sun has set. Optionally, use sheer curtains pulled together during the day to filter in the incoming light.

Mirror The Light

Mirrors are an interior designer’s best friend when it comes to brightening a room or making a small room look larger. To make the most of natural light, position mirrors opposite windows to reflect light. If placing the mirror directly opposite the window brings in too much of a glare, angle the mirror slightly. If your window extends till the corner of a room consider placing a mirror, the same size as the window, on the adjacent wall so as to make it look like a corner window.

Choose Light Colours

Colours play an important role in all interior design projects. Light colours reflect light and hence are ideal ways to boost natural light in your home décor. Along with paint colours also choose light coloured upholstery fabrics for your furniture and light coloured curtains.

Use Glass Doors

Instead of a solid wooden door consider doors with a glass window for external as well as internal doors. You could also choose to use frosted glass or stained glass. Both these will not obstruct light and will maintain your privacy. If security is an issue, consider investing double doors such that a solid door can be left open during the day and a glass or jail door can be used during the day.

Clear the way

Along with obstructing light, furniture or curios placed along the path of light can also darken the room by casting long shadows. Arrange your furniture away from the windows in such a way that it does not obstruct natural light. If you have a garden outside your home, ensure that there are no plants outside your windows that obstruct light. Grills are often a security necessity in India but don’t always need to be formed from a close knit pattern that blocks out the sunlight.

Clean It

Lastly, keep your windows as clean as possible. Even water can leave behind cloudy masks on glass that don’t allow light to pass through evenly. Wipe your windows regularly and keep away from sticking decals on the glass.