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Let These Be Your Design Resolutions for 2022
Take a pick from these interior design goals to kick off the new year
Vinita Kunnath
7 January 2022
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
Make the most of what you have, live your best life, be kind to people and nature – truths that were always there but unrealised, have now hit home and seeped into the way we live, into our very homes. Taking into account the new way of life and our focus on our families’ wellbeing, we’ve rounded up a few new year design resolutions – some old, some new – that should help you kickstart the year.
1. Declutter and reorganise
This is not a new design resolution but is one that often falls by the wayside as the year progresses. Our suggestion? Take the bull by the horns and dive straight in at the onset of the year. There’s nothing more cathartic than giving away clothes that have been unworn for years, getting rid of unused or out-of-date gadgets, throwing out condiments and preserves that are way past their expiry date, passing on extra pots and pans when you know you use just the one or two favourites. Here is a step-by-step guide to help your efforts.
This is not a new design resolution but is one that often falls by the wayside as the year progresses. Our suggestion? Take the bull by the horns and dive straight in at the onset of the year. There’s nothing more cathartic than giving away clothes that have been unworn for years, getting rid of unused or out-of-date gadgets, throwing out condiments and preserves that are way past their expiry date, passing on extra pots and pans when you know you use just the one or two favourites. Here is a step-by-step guide to help your efforts.
Once that’s done, you’ll be surprised how space appears, as if by magic.
Tip: If there’s one thing that should be on your shopping list at the beginning of this year, it is smart organisers. Think bins with wheels that go under beds, hooks and various hanging organisers, modular storage. Take pains to slot, shelve, label – it will save you time and exasperation.
Tip: If there’s one thing that should be on your shopping list at the beginning of this year, it is smart organisers. Think bins with wheels that go under beds, hooks and various hanging organisers, modular storage. Take pains to slot, shelve, label – it will save you time and exasperation.
2. Focus on natural materials
Quality of life is invariably intertwined with being eco-aware and using materials that are sustainable. Choose natural elements that suit your style. Where possible, try and use recycled wood (one of the warmest materials) that integrates itself into any decor style, from the rustic and countryside to the modern and contemporary.
Find an interior designer from the Houzz directory for your next home improvement project
Quality of life is invariably intertwined with being eco-aware and using materials that are sustainable. Choose natural elements that suit your style. Where possible, try and use recycled wood (one of the warmest materials) that integrates itself into any decor style, from the rustic and countryside to the modern and contemporary.
Find an interior designer from the Houzz directory for your next home improvement project
The appeal of brick, similarly, is timeless. In its raw form, it can add texture and colour; with a lick of paint it can be transformed into a subtle and stylish backdrop in any space.
3. Incorporate a home office
The home office could well be a feature that’s here to stay, at least for a while. Glass partitions to separate spaces, an unassuming niche, the nook under the staircase, multifunctional furniture – even a cupboard – can be turned into a home office.
The home office could well be a feature that’s here to stay, at least for a while. Glass partitions to separate spaces, an unassuming niche, the nook under the staircase, multifunctional furniture – even a cupboard – can be turned into a home office.
4. Make outdoor living a priority
Being in lockdown has given rise to new appreciation for nature. It is time to put more emphasis on making outdoor spaces an extension of our interiors. It’s time to look beyond the odd rattan sofa and concrete slabs for patios.
Being in lockdown has given rise to new appreciation for nature. It is time to put more emphasis on making outdoor spaces an extension of our interiors. It’s time to look beyond the odd rattan sofa and concrete slabs for patios.
Outdoor arrangements that are long lasting, which double as second living rooms or dining areas, are on the rise. We are talking durable furniture and spaces that are as comfortable as the indoors.
5. Make way for multifunctional spaces
With the home becoming almost a one-stop shop for all kinds of activities, it’s imperative to create spaces that offer more than one function. For example, if you have tall ceilings in your space, you could utilise the vertical space by adding shelves for storage or, maybe use a niche as a workspace.
With the home becoming almost a one-stop shop for all kinds of activities, it’s imperative to create spaces that offer more than one function. For example, if you have tall ceilings in your space, you could utilise the vertical space by adding shelves for storage or, maybe use a niche as a workspace.
Multifunctional furniture is the perfect fit for tight spaces. Think sofas that pull out into beds, leaf tables that can fold up or extend, nesting tables or multitasking consoles.
As lines between multifunctional spaces in the home get blurred, zone off areas by using decorative elements such as movable partitions, carpets and so on. Using different colours and materials is a nice trick for distinguishing these regions.
Read more:
No Guilt: 7 Super-Easy Decor Resolutions For This New Year
10 Perfect New Year Gifts For Friends & Family
Tell us:
What is your design resolution for this new year? Do tell us in the Comments section.
Read more:
No Guilt: 7 Super-Easy Decor Resolutions For This New Year
10 Perfect New Year Gifts For Friends & Family
Tell us:
What is your design resolution for this new year? Do tell us in the Comments section.
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