Friday, December 18, 2009

Dining Room Table Set

So after decorating your entire house with your favorite furniture, you are wondering about your dining room table. Now, this is one aspect that does demand your consideration and thoughts. Remember, dining room table is a very important part of any household because this is one place where the entire family sits together and has a meal. One interesting thing about dining room table is that it normally lasts longer than other furniture of the house and you can also pass it to next generation as a legacy. So, you must think thoroughly before deciding about the dining table. This is not any piece of furniture but it is dining table that will remain with you for a long time. Consider aspects like taste, style, durability before zeroing in on one.

One of the important factors in dining room table set is the shape. It could be rectangular, oval, square or round. Those with small family size should go for round or oval shape. For large family size, rectangular fits the bill. Next important thing is material being used in the table. For a more casual or relaxed feel, you can go for pine, oak or cherry. But if you are looking for fancy or style then walnut and mahogany will do the job. Children often leave scratches on wood. In that case, you can also opt for casual woods. Glass table is another option but it is delicate.

When it comes to style, one has the choice of antique look with handcrafted workmanship and designer cravings. Glass and expandable tables are also useful choices.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Feng Shui Colors


The literal meaning of Feng Shui is wind-water. We all know it is a Chinese system that uses laws of both earth and heaven to improve lives of people. It is helpful in bringing positive energy in the house. The prime principles of Feng Shui focus on drawing positive energy at any place. It could be your home, office or any building. Feng Shui plays a crucial role in our homes and more and more people are trying to follow principles of Feng Shui. Talking about different parts of our house, bedroom is perhaps the most important part because this is where we spend maximum time of our life. The atmosphere of your bedroom can have multiple effects on you in terms of spirituality, energy, effectiveness, peace and emotional level. Therefore, one should an appropriate color for his bedroom because colors can have drastic effects on someone’s life.

Feng Shui and yoga science places special emphasis on color selection for your bed room. For example, blue contains yin energy and it has a calm and soothing effect. Blue is one of the best colors for your bedroom because it represents love and serenity. Similarly, pink is a wonderful color for your bedroom. Pink represents joy, happiness, love and innocence. This color symbolizes relationships and we all know importance of relationships in our lives.

Red is a dominant color and represents fire. It should not be used on the wall in the bedroom however; it can be used in things like bed sheets and blankets. Green represents growth, hope, fertility and harmony and is considered as very effective for bedroom. White denotes purity and innocence. It can be used in bedroom but only in moderation. Purple symbolizes excitement, passion and motivation and can be used in bedroom in moderation.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Paper Clutter

Clutter is a major problem faced by almost all the households. It is like a never-ending task but like everything else in the world this too has a solution. If you do the cleaning thing on a regular basis, clutter will never become a cumbersome duty. Here, we are referring to paper clutter. It could be newspapers, magazines, notebooks, bills, art paper and several other such things. Basically the list is endless. Families with relatively large number of children, face this problem of clutter on a major scale.

Daily newspaper is the biggest source of clutter. What you should do is to avoid piling up newspapers. Once you are done with reading or collecting your favorite article, keep it aside the same day. Don’t procrastinate it. The same goes for magazines.

Children often create paper clutter whether it’s just playing or because of some painting or drawing work, kids bring along lots of clutter. So what you should do in such condition is to provide them space to display or store their stuffs and once in a while weed out unnecessary stuff. Mail is another object that causes clutter. The right way is to throw away junk mail in a dustbin and store all the necessary mails neatly in a shelf near your workspace. You can further use labels and files for better order. Other probable causes of paper clutter are message boards, school bag, polythenes and shopping stuffs. Now, make these tips as permanent feature of your life and keep your home clutter free.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

How to Clean Porcelain Floor Tiles

Porcelain tiles are definitely one of the most favored choices of flooring for kitchens and bathrooms. The strong point of porcelain tiles is durability and easiness to clean. In fact, one can clean these floors in a better fashion that any other types of floors. The reason is, these tiles are moisture and staining resistant. If you maintain cleanliness on a regular basis by doing just mopping and sweeping, then you are guaranteed to have shiny floors for a long duration. But if in case, you are missing out on regular cleaning because of hectic schedule then we will tell you how to clean porcelain tiles.

While you begin the process it would be prudent to gather some materials required for cleaning tiles. Hot water, vinegar, broom, dish soap, mop or sponge and soft damp cloth are primary housekeeping requirements. Start by sweeping the floor tiles. Instead of a vacuum cleaner, use broom because cleaner might cause some scratch on the tiles. Focus on grout lines because of dirt factor. Once you are done with sweeping, use a sponge or damp mop and sweep away the dirt. Vinegar will come into use for scrubbing purpose. Mix distilled vinegar with dish soap in hot water and you have a very effective water solution. Lastly, use clean water and damp cloth and remove all the residue and here you get; completely clean porcelain tiles.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Decorating Your Kitchen

One of the most important parts of your house is kitchen. However, when it comes to interior decoration, kitchen is often ignored. But that is definitely not a very wise idea considering usage and relevance of modular kitchen in our day to day lives. Imagine, the lady of the house making some real delicious and tasty items in a kitchen that has poor lighting, far from satisfactory paint and awkwardly decorated wall. Well, you are not going to like it. Even while cooking, lady needs a motivating and bright ambience. That’s why it is always recommended to have kitchen that has invigorating and stimulating colors. One can always make innovations in the kitchen. The basic premise while decorating kitchen should be involvement of uplifting colors so that ambience could be created. Good ambience will obviously lead to fun in eating and cooking.

Interior designers use lighter colors if your kitchen in small. Lighter colors normally create the illusions of larger space. You can choose colors like lemon, warm hues of yellow, butter and sunshine yellow. Apart from these colors, one can use options like chestnut, orange, alizarin, peach, terracotta, pumpkin, rust and red shades of ochre, puce, and dusty rose. In case your kitchen is large enough, then you should go for colors that can make your kitchen appear small and cozy. For that purpose you can go for dark colors.

Many people prefer to use monochromatic color schemes because they are easy on the eyes. To make your kitchen look sober, you can experiment with white, taupe, brown or beige. If you are going whole hog then stenciling would not be a bad idea. Sponge painting is another interesting idea.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Designing Bathrooms


Bathroom is often one ignored area while we think of renovating our house or indulge in some sort of home décor. But this article will talk about how to design bathrooms. While you think of designing your bathroom, first thing you need to consider is color. The thing is bathrooms are often small in size so if color combination is good, often the effect is great. By color, we refer to colors of wall and ceiling. Proper usage of color often opens up the space. You can use several color combinations like white or pale shades like blue, green or blue grey.

Many people love to install a large vanity in the bathroom so that they can use the huge space under the sink. But problem with large sinks is they can make the bathroom appear smaller so always go for wall mounted sink or pedestal. It creates space and will be easy on your wallet as well. One can use baskets if more space is required for storage. Lighting must be given proper consideration in the grand scheme of bathroom design. One can add extra lighting at places like corner that will help in opening up of more space. Additionally, one can use recessed can lighting or wall sconces or even a countertop lamp. Those with deep pockets can add solatubes or skylights.

Try using mirrors for creating the illusion of more space. Choose light colors for flooring in the bathroom. Use minimum accessories for better effect. Finally, get rid of any clutter present in the bathroom.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Arranging Furniture

Arranging furniture in the house is no easy deal. While you plan to arrange the furniture make sure to focus upon clearing out the space where furniture will be placed. A cluttered room is very unpleasant to eyes and gives a feeling of restlessness. One must get rid of objects that make room cluttered like boxes, books and other similar things. Once the room is devoid of any objects and is appearing bare to you, it will be easy to know the exact shape and size of it. Now, move on to next step of measuring the dimensions of the concerned area with the help of a tape. This will also require checking out the placement of doors and windows

One wonderful idea is to choose a focal point, around which furniture will be arranged. Keep separate parts for heavy and light furniture. Don’t put them together. Don’t keep all the furniture against the walls. Tables must be placed near the couches. Room must not be overloaded with furniture. One method is to keep experimenting and you will soon find one style that first the bill perfectly.

Make note of height of furniture. Color and pattern setting must be used in accordance. The arrangement of furniture also depends upon your mood. A modern attitude will require you to place brightly colored furniture in the room. But if you want to have a cozy feel then opt for few pieces of furniture in subtle colors. You can also look for some online help and seek guidance from experts.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Buying Bed Pillow

Most of the people take great efforts in purchasing suitable beds. If the bed design is attractive and comfortable, it definitely gives immense pleasure. But have you ever wondered how many people spend good enough time while choosing pillows? Not many. The point is it is very essential for people to choose right kind of pillows for health reason. Knowing the fact that we spend almost 8-10 hours per day on the bed, it becomes absolutely essential to choose right pillows. Pillows are not only responsible for neck but also for peaceful sleep.

There are few factors you should consider while buying pillows. One of them is size. Size of the pillow will be very much determined by bed size. Bed size could be single bed or queen bed or king bed. Then, you also need to think about how you prefer to sleep. Those looking for big pillow can always opt for one. Budget is also a crucial aspect in deciding pillow. Top quality or feather pillow are little expensive compared to foam pillow. You can also have a mix of them for sleeping and leaning purposes.

One important factor is how you sleep. Do you sleep on your back or stomach or sideways? Different sleeping postures will require different pillows. You can try your preferred pillow in the store. Check the firmness of the pillow. Try washing pillow cover on a regular basis for hygienic reasons.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Door Interior

Interior décor is culmination of several factors. One of the small but important elements of home décor is door. A door can be wooden, hinged, sliding or simply folding barrier of metal or glass. We all know the importance of first impression and considering that door plays a major part in defining the overall look of your home. Front entry gates must be appealing to eyes. A door can be your statement about the house. A well planned door can have wonderful impact on your living space. It is crucial in several aspects like ventilation, warmth, protection and light. One can find amazing designs of doors. From being a utilitarian architectural object, it has become an aesthetic tool.

A door has several elements. For example, knob is very important. Similarly, a designer is bound to take care of all the parts of door. If one is willing to decorate entry door, then surrounding effect is very important. One can use gothic style door to arched, modern glass and multi paneled door. Interior doors are used as connecting points between different parts of your house. For that, one can use glass door or flush door.

Talking about particular designs, one can use stained, beveled, etched, mirrored, painted or sand blasted glass doors. Ideal finishing material for metal doors are copper, bronze, brass and pewter etc. you can also use carved decorations doors. Those seeking special doors can use French or sliding doors for wonderful effects.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Desert Landscaping


Interior designing has witnessed new forms of designs and patterns in last year. Now choosing a design is not just restricted to few local themes. Designs from all over the world are being offered at your doorsteps. One of the appealing designer landscapes is desert landscaping. This contemporary form of landscaping is getting huge popularity in recent times. It is also known as going green landscaping. Mostly used in desert areas or places where water is a scarce resource, desert landscaping uses desert plants and saves lot of water. It primarily uses desert plants or plants that use very less water resources.

To get idea about desert landscaping, one can surf internet or glance through several available magazines. By browsing through magazines, one will get to know what sort of style one would prefer. It is definitely a tempting and appealing home designing idea but make sure to check the available space and budget part. Desert landscaping requires minimum usage of water so one is requested to consider irrigation thoughtfully. Draught tolerant plants should be considered for the landscaping. Plants like aloe Vera, cactus, bluebeard, hens and lamb’s ear plant are the preferred plants. Drip irrigation system is preferred because of less requirement of water. One is also advised to group plants according to water requirements. Rocks and gravels must be put in after planting trees and flowers. Use partition walls to redirect the wind flow. Finally, design landscaping is one of the most economical designs.


Image Courtesy greayer.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Home Decoration- Working on Low Budget


Working on home decoration with a limited budget is definitely challenging but also rewarding. Lets explore few ideas that can work wonderfully well in making our home look wonderful even without spending lavishly. One of the best instruments to make your home look beautiful is using flowers and greenery. It not only acts as a differentiating factor but also gives your home that much needed green touch. Using a classy mix of fresh flowers and silk in the decoration can change the whole look. If you are fond of a specific place in your home then you can use potted flowers and herbs to highlight that area. It won’t cost you much and at the same time will look impressive.

Don’t use expensive lighting. Rather, use hand decorated lamp shades to illuminate your house. You can choose the particular places that require more attention. Getting such lamps has very less chances of burning your pocket. Many people prefer to have homes located at a scenic place. In such cases, nature is your biggest ally. Try to maximize the view of nature from the home by removing curtains.

Make sure to use wallpapers because they accentuate the look of your home. If wallpapers are hand made then nothing like that. You can use chalkboards and stencil patterns to make the whole experience cost effective. Fabrics are other essential elements to make your home look beautiful. Take advice from good interior designers and Use fresh pillow covers and new bed linen will enhance the look. You can also use attractive paint colors to provide that much needed vibrancy to your sweet home.

Home Decoration- Working on Low Budget

Working on home decoration with a limited budget is definitely challenging but also rewarding. Lets explore few ideas that can work wonderfully well in making our home look wonderful even without spending lavishly. One of the best instruments to make your home look beautiful is using flowers and greenery. It not only acts as a differentiating factor but also gives your home that much needed green touch. Using a classy mix of fresh flowers and silk in the decoration can change the whole look. If you are fond of a specific place in your home then you can use potted flowers and herbs to highlight that area. It won’t cost you much and at the same time will look impressive.

Don’t use expensive lighting. Rather, use hand decorated lamp shades to illuminate your house. You can choose the particular places that require more attention. Getting such lamps has very less chances of burning your pocket. Many people prefer to have homes located at a scenic place. In such cases, nature is your biggest ally. Try to maximize the view of nature from the home by removing curtains.

Make sure to use wallpapers because they accentuate the look of your home. If wallpapers are hand made then nothing like that. You can use chalkboards and stencil patterns to make the whole experience cost effective. Fabrics are other essential elements to make your home look beautiful. Using fresh pillow covers and new bed linen will enhance the look. You can also use attractive paint colors to provide that much needed vibrancy to your sweet home.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Personalized Touch to Home Decoration

Sometimes we are constrained by budget while we plan to decorate our home. But that does not mean that we can decorate our home only by lavish spending. Having a limited budget gives us a wonderful opportunity to use our imagination. A bit of creativity and slight patience, that’s all, is required to make our home look beautiful. The first step begins with planning where we can focus upon the part of home that requires utmost attention.

When you want to beautify your home the most important aspects are artwork, paint and fabrics. These aspects play a crucial role when you are working with limited budget or without an interior designer. Factors like above completely revamp the look of your home. At the same time it would be a prudent idea to work on your own rather than hiring labor from outside. That way, you will be saving on your labor cost and boosting the budget as well. It will also give you an immense satisfaction because a newly decorated home will have your personalized touch and you will have more reason to rejoice.

The first you need to take is to use mirrors in your home. Using mirrors n decoration works on two layers. First, it creates the illusion of having more space and secondly it brightens the room. If you are an art connoisseur, try to place mirror beside them because that will help in highlighting your precious art work. We will offer few more tips in next article.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Lighting System

Several elements play a major role in deciding the look of your home. One of the important factors is lighting system. Effective use of light can make your home look spacious and stylish. The natural sunlight plays a major role in deciding how nature looks and in a similar way artificial light is very much responsible for designing and decorating part of your interiors. Good lighting system can make or mar the look of your home.

The importance of light in your home got a complete new makeover with the invention of incandescent bulb in 1978. Research findings also prove that lighting is greatly responsible for productive environment. A good light system in the work environment can dramatically increase the output. In our homes, we can use lights in an aesthetic way. It is suggested that lights must be used in right directions. Appropriate lighting system is very crucial in maintaining the look of the home. It is also good for your eyes.

When the interiors are well lit, eyes tend to work more effectively. The sparkle and contrast of light tone is also useful in stimulating eye. Lighting is divided into three types of Accent lighting, Task lighting and General lighting. The first one is used when you want to highlight particular features or objects in the home. They are more of an auxiliary to the general lighting. Task lighting is suitable for painting or reading like tasks whereas general lighting, as the name suggests is used for overall illumination in your home.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Making Your Living Space larger



These days most of the houses in the urban India are not that spacious. Real estate Mumbai have increased like anything and very few people can afford a spacious house as per their heart’s desires. So what’s the solution? The easiest one is to make the most of one’s living space at home. If things are planned properly there is no doubt about your home looking spacious and larger.

One can start with placing full length mirrors. Yea, that’s a surprising suggestion but having a mirror of that size gives illusion of space. Low lying furniture will be another wonderful addition to make your home look more beautiful. One of the basic suggestions is painting one wall of your home with different color than the rest of them. This works wonderfully in giving that feel of depth to your home. To make your home appear brighter and larger always try to use pastel shades.

One of the best things you can do to make your home appear larger is to throw out things that are not required. It is understandable that you feel nostalgic or likewise but then ask yourself have you used that particular thing in last three years. If the answer is resounding no throw that immediately. Because chances are if you did not use the thing in question in last 3 years you might never require it again. There are several other things to make your space larger that we will look at coming posts.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Preserving Books – Tips

Books are known to cause great things to humans. It has helped in building empires, winning wars and establishing great businesses. In such context, it would be really fitting to accord books the due respect in your homes. One of the best collections any person can ever have is encyclopedia collection. Make sure your kid is in possession of an encyclopedia. It’s a wonderful thing, full of knowledge. These days’ kids are having huge number of questions. The general IQ level has increased and so it becomes quite natural that kids keep asking one question after another. One can not have answers for all of them. In such cases encyclopedia comes very handy. Not only kids will come to know about their answers you will also get to know so many facts you were previously unaware of.

While decorating your home with books make sure that they are taken care of. Don’t forget to apply preserving tools once in a while so that your books remain with you forever. Few of those suggestions include, never keep your books in the sun and placing your books horizontally instead of vertically. Don’t laminate your books because that causes damage due to acid. Filing away and not folding is a much better option. Make sure to have your bookshelf cleaned regularly. That action will take care of bookworms and dust factor. Keep your books away from humid places. Apply all these tips and keep your home rich with books and knowledge.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Books Decoration

Books hold a world of significance for many people. Some of the avid readers love to collect books and decorate their homes with books. Books are object of art and they demand care and respect. Book collection is one of the strongest hobbies for many people. So why not make this wonderful collection in some kind of collectibles. Let’s start with building a bookshelf. It could be a wooden shelf or a metal one depending upon the choice. If you have large number of books, it would be a pretty good idea to have a shelf that runs all along the four walls of a room. To be more precise, you can make it and place it below the ceiling by a foot or two. Once that part is done, place books of same size. Of course, it will look more aesthetic.

You can also place books of same size on the mantelpiece. It will look even better if most favorite books are bound in red leather and kept between carved bookends. Many people love to categorize books as per the genres or eras or using any other category. Like, if one is in possession of kitchen related books, those books can be kept in kitchen. Similarly, book like Panchtantra or Harry Potter should be placed in child’s bedroom. One more wonderful idea is of having coffee table books. Keep it on coffee table because that’s where they look the best. Not to mention, these coffee table books are a great source of interesting conversations.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Children’s bedroom



One of the most exciting things in the world of interior decoration is decorating and planning for a children’s bedroom mainly because it gives one great scope for creativity and surely it is a lot of fun especially when you are dabbling with colors. However on the part of the interior decorator, it is important to get into the shoes of a child and understand what it would be that will make this room enthralling from a child’s point of view. Many parents forget to involve their kids while doing the same which is not how it should ideally be.

Now contrary to the popular belief, children’s room is not only about placing soft toys and sticking animal posters. There is a lot of planning and deep involvement to make the room a good learning environment for the kid. Hence, apart from all the jazz and decoration, there is planning of placement of small table chair for the kid to learn, placement of bed, placing bean bags, side tables, small kid gym equipment and all of that.

Children love colors! Hence their bedroom should be well decorated and colour coordinated. Ceilings can be decorated with star and moon shaped figures that glow in the night. To make the room personalized, photo mugs, photo frames, and other photo showpieces can be used. Keep some space for your child to express his creativity by dedicating a wall on his name. Children’s room can be decorated with wind chimes as well. A bunk bed is a good option to choose for in case the room is being constructed for two kids.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Bedroom furniture

If anyone would ask me about my favorite place in my home, I would say bedroom. It is the perfect place for comfort and relaxation. And hence, bedroom interiors are very important. Bedroom furniture is usually made of wood, but these days plastics can also be used. In the interior decoration industry, there are many bedroom designs and styles that have emerged over time. One will usually find drawers, side tables, chests, mirror frames etc in a bedroom.

You also need to take care of hardware items like bed parts, knobs, trunk parts, lamps, drawer pulls, hinges, hooks, door hardware, casters, key hole, single post pulls, covers etc also make a big difference to the look and feel of a bedroom. People, who prefer to buy economical furniture pieces, can go for adjustable beds which can be converted to a sofa set. Stainless steel furniture can also be considered.

Some people prefer antique bedroom furniture with delicate carvings. It greatly adds to the beauty of a bed room. Antique bedroom furniture usually has golden appearance with decorative mirrors. The contemporary look of antique bedroom furniture has a great charm. Antique furniture is increasingly gaining popularity.

When planning a bedroom for kids, it is recommended that you decide on what type of beds are required, a double bed, a bunk bed or a queen bed. Make sure to involve your kid in the decision Afterall it is his or her room! Do plan things in advance so as to avoid last minute forceful selections.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tips for Healthy Home

It has been scientifically proved that a house with abundance of natural light is very healthy for the inhabitants. Innate brightness and proper ventilation system can work wonders for your health and spirit. Never ever allow your house to remain dark and dingy. Facility of cross ventilation will provide you with much needed fresh air. Try to open your windows as much as possible so that natural light enters in your home and create a fresh feel.

Food should never be wasted. But sometimes, you have to face conditions when food is left by the kids or guests. Make sure to never leave food exposed overnight. That will be one thing you can always do to safeguard your health. Garbage should be disposed everyday even if the garbage collector does not turn up. That is one sure way to keep insects away. Bathroom plays an important role in health matters. Make sure to have your bathroom cleaned regularly so that no gems get a chance to survive. It is also recommended to clean your drain once in a week. If you are extremely health conscious then try to tile the walls of the bathroom up to the top. That way you will find it very easy to clean.

In kitchen, try to have granite counter tops. They are quite easy to clean. Better the cleanliness less will be germs and bacteria. Many households opt for water based plants. In such cases, try to change water every two days. That will help you from mozzies. Follow the above mentioned tips and enjoy a happy and healthy home.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Healthy Home

Our homes tell a lot about us. A healthy home always signifies a healthy mindset and cleanliness-conscious personality. If the house looks neat and clean not only we enjoy it but our guests also relish it. However, sometimes by neatness we refer to only outward cleaning. The tiles, the corners of the walls, bed sheet and balcony etc are measurements of our outward cleaning. But you also keep in mind there may be few unwanted elements that are hiding in those corners. In such conditions, you need to de-clutter your home thoroughly.

You can start with getting rid of all the junk hidden beneath the bed or in lofts for eternity. Give them away or sell them but just remove them from your house. Normally out of all those things kept beneath the bed, some are never used. You must clean and sweep your house everyday. That goes without saying. Apart from that make provision of one day for special cleaning of whole house. Make your kids work with you. Take care of dangerous elements like white ants, ants, cockroaches etc. They can do much more damage than what you had anticipated. Use repellants for them regularly. Try not to use thick curtains because they are more likely to attract dust. So go for thin curtains with cotton or canvas fabric. These are quite easy to wash. Many people also prefer to have blinds because of the washing feasibility.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Vastu Tips

Now that we are already aware of concept of vastu Shastra, let’s have a look at it from home decoration point of view. We have heard about calm and peaceful effects of implementing vastu rules in our homes. The best part about this scientific study is it is not at all complex. All we need to do is to follow some simple guidelines. The implementation of vastu is not just restricted to homes but also to any construction. It could be temples, buildings, industry, commercial complex etc. so how does it work? Vastu actually helps you in extracting positive energies of all the five forces of nature. It brings happiness and prosperity by combining solar energy of sun, magnetic effects of earth, lunar energy of moon and wind energy along with several directions related to placement. The best way to use wonderful effects of vastu is by consulting a vastu expert and then following whatever he has to suggest.

Few major recommendations under vastu shastra are; while constructing a plot it is advisable to use west, south and southwest direction. The shadow of tress should not fall on your house. One should definitely place in the ground some plants in the compound but make sure hey are small. Plants should not be used in east, north and northeast direction. Make sure to place a water body in the northeast corner of the house. One should not use any pictures in the house that depicts any form of violence. Another important suggestion is to construct the house in such a way that north and east directions should have more open space. Always design the house in such a way that there should be no dearth of sunlight and cross ventilation.

Monday, February 23, 2009

The concept of Vastu Shastra

The concept of Vastu Shastra is gaining popularity amongst people with house designing interests. Not long ago it was an unheard of but now a days several people prefer to design their houses keeping in mind Vastu rules. It is basically scientific study of directions. The main purpose of Vastu is to create equilibrium by taking into consideration different elements of nature. It creates equilibrium and is immensely beneficial for humans. It is believed that implementing vastu in your home causes happiness and prosperity. Vastu is not based on assumption. It is a proper scientific study that is very rational.

Vastu has a glorious history and is in practice since ages. Wise men of past made this art evolve into one universal phenomenon in the interests of humans. Vastu Shastra is based upon certain principles that include five elements of nature. The five elements are; Sun, Air, Water, Earth and Sky. As we all know sun is very crucial for our survival. It provides light and heat and this has lot of significance in vastu. Talking about air that is the source of oxygen, it acts as lifeline for humans. Our survival is very much dependent upon air temperature, humidity, air flow, air pressure etc.

We Indians consider earth as the mother that is the source of our existence. Whether its flora or fauna or landscape or factors like gravitational force or magnetic effects, earth is very crucial for sustaining our existence. We don’t need to really dwell upon importance of water. Without it we just can’t survive. Finally the sky, the sum total of numerous galaxies that plays a crucial role in our solar system.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tools for Home Decoration

Many people prefer to decorate their homes on their own. These people do have a fair idea of decoration themes and several designing concepts. Such people are also quite creative and prefer to give their personalized touch to the abode. For people with ‘heart is where the home is’ philosophy, using their own sense of designing is very crucial. However, while going to decorate the home on your own, you need to have home decorating tools that will be very crucial in house decoration process. One benefit of self decoration is that one gets it done quite cheaply. There is no huge expense associated with self decoration thing. The toolbox needed for 'Do-it-yourself' home decor projects, contains all the necessary items. These items help in finishing the home decoration job.

To begin with, one needs to have a step tool and a toolbox. Toolbox contains useful tools. One needs to have several accessories that are very crucial in decorating home. Things such as, paint brushes, colors, ribbons, gold and silver touch-up pens, sandpaper, spray paints, buttons, fringes and lace etc are useful accessories. Cutting items like utility scissors, box cutter and measuring items like level, yardstick, measuring tape or T-Square etc are also needed. Apart from that adhesives including sticks, glue guns, spray adhesive can along with rubber bands, sewing needles, fabric wallpaper, staple gun, staple boxes, plastic twist ties and fusible interfacings are essential tools to have in home décor. Other required items include, gardening tools, cup hooks, plastic anchors, thumb tacks, push pins and picture wire etc.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

House Designing Tips- Themes

House themes could range from star wars, nature lovers, Barbie’s home to period décor, nautical mile and ethnic. Further more, we can choose particular ideas for color of walls, windows, ceilings, furniture, accessories, doors, furnishings and showcase area. A showcase area is best suited for displaying our beautiful collections that can include arts, crafts, prizes won and other precious collections. Once the theme is chosen we can focus on modifying things that do not suit into the overall scheme of the things. We can either alter the settings or just eliminate things that don’t gel with décor of the room. This way we can also save ourselves from purchasing unplanned and unnecessary decoration items and impulsive shopping element.

Every one of us loves to collect a particular item. It can be coins, stamps, trinkets or even dolls or books. We also love to display our collection items in a particularly creative way. Many people display their collections in a linear arrangement but lately it has become a dull way to display so going for a more creative way would be better. Creative way can include grouping the collection items and presenting them in some kind of glass cupboard or specially carved wood designs. We should also use artifacts in tune with chosen theme so that overall look comes very impressive. Special attention should be given to related items like furniture, furnishing, beds, sofas, shelves, linen, pillows, fabrics and seating arrangement etc so that these things conform to the room décor. Harmony must be maintained by using proper colors.

Monday, February 16, 2009

House Designing

Home is perhaps the most important place for all of us. Most part of our lives is spent at our homes. This is the place where we stay put, rejoice our most amazing memories and spent the best time with our spouses or kids or families. So having a house that also satisfies our creative needs just work wonders. We would love to have a beautiful house where after day’s hard work we get utmost relaxation and comfort. The designs of our houses should also satisfy our aesthetic tastes. We all love to add our character or personality to the place where we live in. for example, if the house is plain black and white and does not have any colors combinations, its definitely going to look dull. Our home is nothing but an extension our personality and our culture.

So it’s quite natural to add a personal touch to our abode. Decorating home also goes a long way in making us feel comfortable and intimate with the place. So why not take a step towards decorating our house which is perfectly suitable to our personal tastes. After all home is where the heart is. One must begin with the theme of the room or home. It should rather be taken as a guiding force. The various parts of our personality like tastes, culture, likes and dislikes should be reflected in theme chosen for the home. There are various themes available and one can also consult an interior designer for specific themes.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Design Ideas for Bedroom closet

One of the most important elements in a house is facility of proper air circulation. Appropriate air ventilation and dehumidification designing ideas work wonder for a home. While designing a bedroom closet, this particular point holds even more importance. Many closets are done with hampers and in such designs; air circulation is a must element. There are several ways one can apply for such facilities while designing bedroom closet. Air fresheners and ventilated doors are foremost. Apart from that having active and passive fans are another wonderful idea, one can look forward to. Closet is a closed space so chances of humidity and resulting germs like mildew, air breeders and molds are very high. To be on safety side, one can use small dehumidifiers in the closet.

Island cabinet is quite popular for big walk-in closet. Island cabinet is composed of several drawers where one can keep shirts, ties, undergarments and scarves etc. these drawers are mostly flat in nature. Bedroom closet needs to have specific place for keeping shoes. A space for shoes is as important as clothes space. To fulfill that purpose, one can have closet with shoe stacker or shoe cubes. Chests that are mostly open faced are designed in such way that individual bins are given horizontal as well vertical shapes. Lastly always make sure to have hamper bins in the closet. The space must be sans any hanging space or shelves so that they can be used to keep storage basket or individual wire bin.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Bedroom closet

Bedroom is perhaps the most important part when we think of interior designs. We all love to have a beautifully decorated bedroom which is not only aesthetic but comfortable as well. Within the bedroom, closet is a very crucial place when it comes to décor. Closet serves various purposes like strong daily usage things, clothes storage and shoes as well. Many people also prefer to keep cash or loose change in the bedroom closet. Considering the importance of closet, it becomes understandable to design closet carefully.

Many people are very particular about how should the closet be designed. Being so particular and choosy about it is an obvious fact considering its usage and importance. So, designing a closet with care is very important. Emergence of interior designing market and rising awareness of it provides us with many options in designing bedroom closets. There are a lot of ideas and options available for designing in regards to colors, materials, sizes and styles for closets. We will go through few of the attractive ideas and consequently we ca decide about the most suitable choice.

Lighting is a very important feature in closet design. However, it is often ignored when people think of designing aspects for closets. Bright lights are very useful in closets because they provide you with adequate lighting when you go through searching for valuable contents in the closet. Similarly, filament bulbs or fluorescent bulbs are not suitable for closets because of their insignificant lighting. These bulbs provide low light waves and that often proves to be inadequate.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Elements of Scandinavian Interior Design

Scandinavian designs mostly use airy and light fabrics. Simple patterns for the fabrics work wonder in the Scandinavian designs. Linen and cotton, the natural fabrics are considered as the best choice for this peculiar sort of designs. If we talk about decor, the preferred patterns are checks and stripes. Also floral pattern is highly recommended for enhancing the elegance of bed spreads, beautiful pillows and designer curtains.

Scandinavian designs focus a lot on windows, lighting, ceilings and flooring elements. These particulars make or mar the designs. When the windows are of leaded glass, it helps in significant elements of air and light. With proper flow of natural light and air, room illuminates and everything looks so bright and shiny. The design focuses on using lace curtains on windows so that better ventilation can be ensured. Hardwood flooring and high ceilings are other essential ingredients of Scandinavian designs. The choice of woods differs from person to person and on your budget also. Iroko or maple woods are quite unique and not so common choice of usage. So one can go for them because that will act as differentiating factor. Hardwood flooring will also add to the look and beauty of the décor. When it comes to lighting fixtures, then don’t look beyond table lamps, chandeliers and sconces.

Color is an important element in any design and especially in Scandinavian designs. The ideal colors are, white, light shades of beige and blues, and natural light wood tones. One can also use a single color or mixture of two different colors. Lastly about furniture, the most appropriate choice is of curves and sleek lines blended together. Chair seats must be cushioned or upholstered. Scandinavian designers mostly prefer white pine, ash or beech as the preferred wood.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Scandinavian Interiors - Introduction

As mentioned in the previous articles, interior decoration has established its roots in India. Now people are getting more selective and choosy about their preferred deisgns. When it comes to designs and decoration there are plenty of choices. One does not need to stick to only India specific designs. The world is a much closer place today with advancement of technology blurring all the distance. If one wants to know about culture, traditions, food habits, movies etc of other nations, all these information are just one click away. Everything is on your finger tips.

If all the information is so readily available to you then why don’t you use latest of interior designs or try exploring famous designs of the world and keep one step ahead of all your contemporaries. Lets explore one of the most famous interior concept and design in the world; Scandinavian interiors.

Scandinavian style interior is very common and popular among the people with interest in interior designs. Scandinavian basically refers to countries, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. These countries are renowned for their development, prosperity, education, high level of health care and peaceful societies. These countries are also quite traditional in nature. If you want a slice of style and simplicity, go for this particular design. These design styles are in existence since centuries and they have traveled far and wide across the globe. Many other countries have adopted this style and India is slowly also waking up to refreshing Scandinavian interior style.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Interior Designers



Interior designers are quite in demand now a day. Most of the people with a residence or bungalow or a small sweet home look for a person who has specialization in interior decoration. Our homes reflect our personalities. It is a great place to showcase things as per our desires. Whether its bed room or bathroom or even drawing room, everybody is looking for an ‘experience’. Imagine yourself coming back to home after a hard day’s work and finding a place where no placement of things is able to cheer you up. Dim lights, dull paint, poor placement of show items or not so good design of carpets, uncomfortable bedroom closets etc are reason enough to make you feel low. When things are like that, its time to look for an interior designer. Make your own wish list. Use your creativity. Try finding the placement and setting of the things that can make you feel bright and cheerful. Have your house designed in such way that, you can proudly flaunt it to your social acquaintances. Now, you no longer need to think about how people would be feeling inside your home. When you are comfortable with the design, you know you have made the right decision.

One can always find specialists in interior designing. All the interior designers have different specializations. The specialization ranges from landscape designing to residential or business designs. Many others are more focused upon particular parts of the house like bed room or drawing room or kitchen. These professionals also take care of your allotted budget and plan accordingly. Interior designers plan as per tastes and preferences of the clients. Right form specifics like drawings, wall decoration, roof designing to decorating furniture and other indoor objects, lighting etc are taken into consideration. So what are you waiting for? Make your dream home look like a heavenly abode.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Concept of Interior Design

Interior decoration started to get popular in last few years. Earlier, this concept had not picked up because of diverse reasons. In early days, most of the population used to live in rural areas where having a much important than elements like decoration and designing. Just having a plain, simple house was reason enough for people to be happy and satisfied. Very few people were even aware of this concept of house designing. As Indian started to travel across the development path, urbanization also took place. Sooner than later, economic growth and rising income of middle class families brought many changes in Indian households. It is also a natural fact that, once the basic needs are satisfied, people look for new forms of recreation. Till last decade, interior designing was still an alien concept for normal Indian households. It was a trait of western world which had yet to be picked up in India.

But things changed and they changed dramatically. It is one of the most popular specializations in last few years. Growing number of people have started to take this concept seriously. Every body loves a well designed home. In the early days, all the work was done by architects including the interior and exterior parts. Design was not a specialized job to be assigned to professionals. But now, people are more aware of terms like design, decoration, layout etc. whether, its office or home or even factories, these elements are greatly taken into consideration.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Interior Design

The word design refers to a wonderful combination of creativity and artistic talents. This word holds a significant importance in our day to day lives. Design is not restricted to any single field. It’s a creative term with implications on several layers. It also encompasses several fields. Designing caters to fashion, product, graphics and the topic of our interest, interior. We all live in a beautiful place called, home. For each one of us, our home is the most beautiful place to live in.

Ask someone who has recently joined a job or ask a salaried middle class person, what’s his biggest dream? Can you guess the answer? Yes, most of them will say, buying a new house. One of the most satisfying achievements in a person’s life is owning a house. So, now that house has been purchased, don’t we think of decorating it with beautiful colors, shades? Yes, we do. We love to see a beautiful house, more so when it’s our own. Right from deciding about the shades to be used in wall color to kitchen, bed room interiors, carpet setting, we don’t like leaving any place uncovered. The interiors of the house define who we are and how we want to project ourselves.

If we go by the definition, the best possible arrangement of our living space is called interior designing. It encompasses all the possible living space including, homes, malls, commercial establishments, offices, hotels, retail shops, film studious, conference rooms, airports, showrooms etc. the prime objective behind concept of interior designing is attain functionality and create right sort of atmosphere. This blog will aim to inform about several attractive facets and types of interior designing. Keep watching this space!