One of the most exciting things about moving into your first home is decorating it—don't we all have a specific aesthetic in mind? Maybe a home we saw on a website, magazine or blog that we lost our hearts to? Of course, many home owners prefer to leave the designing task to a professional—after all, they truly know how to transform an interior from drab to fab. But for those who prefer to take on the home designing project singlehandedly can sometimes find it overwhelming. “A good point to start for me is the site itself. I draw the first inspiration from the shape of the rooms, the position of the windows, direction of light, wind and so on,” says Manmeet Arora of loc design house. Here are some key tips shared by experts.
Furniture
What furniture to buy and what to rent? That's a question many millennials struggle with. “Buy furniture that is of good quality and do look at how all the pieces work together. You need to understand your style and start identifying furniture that works with that so that you do not buy just anything that catches your eye. Also, stay away from fleeting trends. Furniture is not something you can replace too often so make sure it will stand the test of time in looks as well as quality. If you have some quality furniture you may have inherited or already have, then look at refurbishing these pieces as it is a planet friendly approach,” says Preeti Knowles of The Hidden Gallery. For working professionals who move cities and travel very often should consider renting most of the furniture (till you find a stable foothold in a city). After all, it can be a pain shipping your bulky furniture pieces across towns or even continents.
Art
It is important that art reflects your personal style and is a reflection of your experiences and personality. Rather than picking up art that is considered trendy to fill up your walls, buy pieces that you may be interested in, say native arts from local artists etc. “This should be a good mix of your interests; like art collected over travel or if you are interested in photography, display a few pieces from your collection and a few collectors' pieces,” says Kumpal Vaid of Purple Backyard. Art is usually an asset that is collected over a period of time. Therefore, do not break the bank on one piece alone.
Decor Pieces
Accessories or décor pieces must again be picked up carefully and should be in sync with the overall décor ethos of the space. Go in for unique pieces rather than mass produced items in order to lend your space an exclusive look. Let this be a good mix of memorabilia and exquisite pieces. “Visit galleries and fairs where you may find handmade pottery, glassware or unique objects made by artisans. Go in for something that tells a story. We need to realise the importance of promoting and preserving local craft and craftsmen,” adds Knowles.
Storage
With homes growing smaller in size, storage solutions are gaining more importance than ever before. Bulky cabinets take a lot of space. Choose instead pieces that have multiple uses like beds with in-built storage, nest of tables and coffee tables with a cavity inside. “Keep your storage seamless and sleek with clean lines and fuss free handle details. Attention to detail in terms of internals is very crucial so always look at functionality first and design around that,” adds Vaid.
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