PALETTE PERFECT

“Small things make a big impact in making homes look opulent. The idea these days is to keep the interiors simple and elegant and play with accessories to add character. Opulence comes with a sense of space such as floating furniture, intelligent use of glass and wall mirrors, and openness, which implies effective use of day light; no part of the house should be too busy or cluttered,” says Rashi Bajaj, Principal Designer and Proprietor, Carpet Couture. Some things remain common for any room. For instance, picking the right mood lighting can make a huge difference to your home. Low-wattage bulbs or even tinted pink lights can cast a glow around any room and instantly make the space look not just luxurious, but also romantic. Natural light during the day can be a wonderful highlight for crystal statues, art and embellishments.

“As far as colour is concerned, think rich palettes or jewel tones. In terms of colours, gold, white, black are three hues that reflect and add luxury to any room. White reflects elegance, black is the colour of charm and gold has the appeal of royalty. By simply incorporating these themes in your home, the plush look that you have always been looking for is achieved,” says Meenakshi Taneja, Executive Director, Casa Shamuzzi, India. Use statement pieces that stand out in each room. Bright, colourful cushions can enliven any room. “Statuettes can be in a variety of materials like mosaic, jade and crystal, and can add a touch of glamour to any space,” says Rakhi Mahajan, Joint Brand Director, Ishana—The Conscience One. Another way of adding panache to your home is to paint the doors and window panes in a stark colour like black, as it instantaneously adds appeal. Even flat panel doors exhibit a richer look with black polish. Be careful while adding the sparkle effect in any room and ensure that it is not overdone. Just one to two décor pieces add enough luxury to any room. “A home full of art instantly screams luxury living. If you’re not able to dress your walls with expensive art, you can still find some great bargains to give that luxury feel. Photography is huge right now, so is contemporary art. Rather than heading to the same bog-standard homeware shops, look a little further. Pop across to that hip art gallery down the road. It may set you back a little more, but it instantly creates individuality and puts your home right in the luxury bracket,” says Meenakshi.