Want to create a warm, rich decorating scheme for your home? Be inspired by the exuberant colours and intricate patterns of the homes of vibrant India. Here are a few hints and ideas for an Indian decor:
Be bold with pattern; Strong all around the room are a must – think spice shades and primary colours, don’t be afraid to mix jewel tones such as red, orange, yellow and purple in one space, adding accents of gold, bronze or silver to make the room glimmer.
Add splashes of colour; if you want something more toned down, use warm, soft naturals, such as sandy yellow, paprika red and terracotta, and add just a hint of colour with a splash of turquoise, lime or lipstick pink in accessories.
Mix & match; don’t be afraid to combine patterns and colours – it’s all about the clash rather than co-ordination. To make the scheme successful, limit the palette to shades of three different colours.
Work your architecture; if you’re tackling the structures of your house – putting in new doorways or openings, look at creating faux ornate arches within the house. This can be done by a good builder, but make sure the basic structure meets building regulation requirements.
Dress your floors; choose a hard, practical surface, such as a dark wood or terracotta tiles, but add warmth, comfort and still more pattern with woven rugs in warm colours that echo those on the walls and in the room’s fabrics. Find authentic fabric and lighting; the best place to find classic Indian fabrics is in shops that sell sari fabric. Hang saris in swathes at windows, drape them over your bed, and have them made into cushion covers. When it comes to lighting, choose pieces that glimmer when lit.
Adorn your walls; don’t hold yourself back from incorporating the use of pattern around the entire room – geometrics, swirls and paisley are all ideal for your walls and upholstery fabrics – and you can further layer the patterns by putting up wall hangings as well.
Look for fretwork; Combine wall hangings with fretwork and detailing in woodwork, in furniture and on shutters of your windows. Or, opt for something you can move around the space, such as a carved screen.
Shop for solid furniture; the more ornate the better, but it needn’t be in prime condition. Junk yard finds, distressed pieces and solid, rustic buys will do. Adhere to dark woods, or alternatively stain or paint it to suit the scheme; you can even bring more primary colours into the room through this method. Ideally, look for the odd piece that’s delicately carved or inlaid with mock ivory to add as a contrast to the chunky furniture, too.
Accessorise with imagery and colour; Accessories that reflect Indian style are easy to find, look for ornate silver pieces, statues of elephants or Indian gods, lights with glass around them or pictures with religious imagery in intricately detailed silver or gold frames.
Throw in some kitsch; Find pieces that are a little kitsch. They will add life, colour and a little humour to your scheme. Look for them in traditional Indian areas or, better still, visit India and find them in one of the many markets.
