Decorating Guides
6 Ways to Design a Duplex House
There are many ways to bring in the wow factor into your duplex design ... our ideas will inspire you
Duplex flats and villas with sumptuous space offer plenty of opportunities for designing and styling. Here, we have chosen for you six homes that offer plenty of food for thought.
In this Mumbai home, instead of the home opening up on the ground floor, the entrance is from the top floor. The first floor is reserved for all the public areas – living room, lounge, bar, terrace and sunken deck. The entrance is marked by a glass-enclosed tree that sets an outdoorsy, nature-friendly tone to the home.
The lower level comprises a dining room and all the bedrooms.
Browse through more duplex flats
The lower level comprises a dining room and all the bedrooms.
Browse through more duplex flats
2. Treat the staircase as a unique feature
One of the most important features in a duplex house is the staircase connecting the two areas of the home. Consider a design that pops out and gives a unique touch to the space. In this home, although the staircase has a light, low-impact design, the lime-green hue stands out and makes a lasting impression.
One of the most important features in a duplex house is the staircase connecting the two areas of the home. Consider a design that pops out and gives a unique touch to the space. In this home, although the staircase has a light, low-impact design, the lime-green hue stands out and makes a lasting impression.
In larger apartments, a free-standing spiral staircase in the middle of the room can look eye-catching and smart.
3. Make the most of tall walls
When duplex houses have high ceilings, they allow for an array of experimentation. Big walls can be used to display super-sized art, decorations or even a tall water feature.
When duplex houses have high ceilings, they allow for an array of experimentation. Big walls can be used to display super-sized art, decorations or even a tall water feature.
4. Break up socialising areas into smaller, intimate spaces
If your duplex home has a big open-plan space like this one, then do what these homeowners have done. The living room has been further segregated into seating zones with a light jali partitioning the kitchen and dining area.
If your duplex home has a big open-plan space like this one, then do what these homeowners have done. The living room has been further segregated into seating zones with a light jali partitioning the kitchen and dining area.
5. Establish an indoor-outdoor connection
One way to bring nature inside a duplex house is by having a skylight – it not only visually connects the upper and lower floors, it also provides a look at the outdoors. Also, this way, constant sunlight can flow into the home, making it a bright, welcoming space. Of course, this is only possible if you have an independent home or your flat is on the top floor, with access to a terrace.
One way to bring nature inside a duplex house is by having a skylight – it not only visually connects the upper and lower floors, it also provides a look at the outdoors. Also, this way, constant sunlight can flow into the home, making it a bright, welcoming space. Of course, this is only possible if you have an independent home or your flat is on the top floor, with access to a terrace.
6. Design an eye-catching exterior
Independent duplex homes tend to have taller, larger facades which means there’s ample opportunity to experiment with the design. If you don’t mind investing in a unique-looking exterior, then you could borrow ideas from this one. The facade of this home has a standout look thanks to its materiality – brick has a charming, poetic quality. The exterior displays a unique screen design made of mild steel flats (10-12 millimetres in width) laid between brick palettes. When you look from a distance, the metal rods disappear and you just see just the floating brick lines.
Browse through images of exteriors
Independent duplex homes tend to have taller, larger facades which means there’s ample opportunity to experiment with the design. If you don’t mind investing in a unique-looking exterior, then you could borrow ideas from this one. The facade of this home has a standout look thanks to its materiality – brick has a charming, poetic quality. The exterior displays a unique screen design made of mild steel flats (10-12 millimetres in width) laid between brick palettes. When you look from a distance, the metal rods disappear and you just see just the floating brick lines.
Browse through images of exteriors
Another way to have an intriguing duplex house exterior design is to paint the facade. This home shows colour blocking, where the red, blue and yellow create a striking contrast against each other and the greenery around.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: The Villa Life in a Mumbai Apartment
Tell us:
Do you live in a duplex? How have you designed the interiors? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: The Villa Life in a Mumbai Apartment
Tell us:
Do you live in a duplex? How have you designed the interiors? Tell us in Comments below.
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There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to duplex house plans and the distribution of functional areas. While generally the ground floor holds all the socialising spaces with the bedrooms upstairs, there’s no reason you can’t try a different design. In this home, the open-plan dining-cum-kitchen is exclusively reserved for the upper floor, while the bedrooms are downstairs. Ample sunlight streams into the room and the white shell helps keep the ambience inside light, airy and warm.