Expert Speak: How to Make Your Home Adapt to a New Normal
Top Indian designers & experts share their insights on the must-haves for upgrading a home's decor to suit post COVID world needs
As homes have become a refuge from a raging pandemic, we are spending more time indoors. Everything from WFH to exercising has to be accommodated within the restricted square footage in this new normal. Instead of fretting over space constraints, how about converting your home into a multi-functional, multipurpose retreat zone? Celebrated Indian architects and designers – Puran Kumar, Rakhee Bedi Kumar, Suman Sharma, Meena Murthy Kakkar, Kumpal Vaid and Swapnil Sharma – share ideas on how to rethink the home’s layout to create versatile spaces for work, leisure, and most importantly, living.
Rakhee Bedi Kumar
Co-founder & principal architect
Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates (RSDA), Gurgaon
Rearrange for more space
Try redesigning a more spacious living room layout. Introduce design elements that create a sophisticated and comfortable interior with a touch of glamour.
Make it modern
Choose comfortable, sleek and minimal furniture pieces based on the size of the living room for a modern look. Upholstery materials like leather or natural fabrics in different textures bring in visual interest.
Add metallic accents
Add a high-end, modern decor look with polished metallic finishes such as chrome and stainless steel in the wall accessories, pendant lights, mirror frames, tables. Use these finishes on doorknobs, cabinet handles and photo frames to create balance.
Co-founder & principal architect
Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates (RSDA), Gurgaon
Rearrange for more space
Try redesigning a more spacious living room layout. Introduce design elements that create a sophisticated and comfortable interior with a touch of glamour.
Make it modern
Choose comfortable, sleek and minimal furniture pieces based on the size of the living room for a modern look. Upholstery materials like leather or natural fabrics in different textures bring in visual interest.
Add metallic accents
Add a high-end, modern decor look with polished metallic finishes such as chrome and stainless steel in the wall accessories, pendant lights, mirror frames, tables. Use these finishes on doorknobs, cabinet handles and photo frames to create balance.
Kumpal Vaid
Founder & principal designer
Purple Backyard, Mumbai
Decide on your decor style
The first thing to ask yourself is what’s your decor style. One can find that out by looking at a lot of pictures of different spaces. This will help you along the decor road to make decisions on furniture, colours, window and floor coverings, and accessories.
Size it up
Measure furniture so the bigger items like the sofa and chairs fit in. You don’t want them too big or too small – work out all the combinations before locking in on the final layout, leaving enough space for the traffic flow and creating a beautiful conversational setting.
Anchor the arrangement with rugs
Rugs are a great way to define seating areas, but the number-one mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that’s too small. Remember that all of the furniture should comfortably sit on the carpet. If space doesn’t allow it, make sure that at least the front legs of the large upholstered pieces are on the rug.
Founder & principal designer
Purple Backyard, Mumbai
Decide on your decor style
The first thing to ask yourself is what’s your decor style. One can find that out by looking at a lot of pictures of different spaces. This will help you along the decor road to make decisions on furniture, colours, window and floor coverings, and accessories.
Size it up
Measure furniture so the bigger items like the sofa and chairs fit in. You don’t want them too big or too small – work out all the combinations before locking in on the final layout, leaving enough space for the traffic flow and creating a beautiful conversational setting.
Anchor the arrangement with rugs
Rugs are a great way to define seating areas, but the number-one mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that’s too small. Remember that all of the furniture should comfortably sit on the carpet. If space doesn’t allow it, make sure that at least the front legs of the large upholstered pieces are on the rug.
Suman Sharma
Principal, Head of Business
Mangrove Collective, Faridabad
Set-up a nook
As we spend more time at home, it’s become important to find time for oneself. So, a reading nook and workstation are pivotal. Create a quiet corner to read, to introspect or just to have a cup of tea in the morning or in the middle of the workday. The luxury of finding quietude at home is an important meditative process for most people. A comfortable reading chair is the first step towards creating this nook.
Dedicate a work-station
Working from home has become the norm for many, but it can be a challenging exercise. Carving out a dedicated area for oneself is important and delineating your home space from your workspace – even if it is notional – becomes very important. A stylish, sleek desk with just enough storage to keep all your chargers, cables and paper within easy reach is mandatory. Add to that some softer elements like a nice lamp, a small tray to keep your bits and bobs, and you automatically have a space that is your own.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to help you fine-tune your home
Principal, Head of Business
Mangrove Collective, Faridabad
Set-up a nook
As we spend more time at home, it’s become important to find time for oneself. So, a reading nook and workstation are pivotal. Create a quiet corner to read, to introspect or just to have a cup of tea in the morning or in the middle of the workday. The luxury of finding quietude at home is an important meditative process for most people. A comfortable reading chair is the first step towards creating this nook.
Dedicate a work-station
Working from home has become the norm for many, but it can be a challenging exercise. Carving out a dedicated area for oneself is important and delineating your home space from your workspace – even if it is notional – becomes very important. A stylish, sleek desk with just enough storage to keep all your chargers, cables and paper within easy reach is mandatory. Add to that some softer elements like a nice lamp, a small tray to keep your bits and bobs, and you automatically have a space that is your own.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to help you fine-tune your home
Swapnil Sharma
MagnaOpus
Principal designer, Ahmedabad
De-clutter
I feel now there is a vital need to reconsider the wants and needs of a living space. First and foremost, keep it uncluttered. Since the living areas serve as personal dens, opt for more organised and accommodating furniture units to meet the functional requirements, subject to the nature of one’s work.
Invest in multifunctional storage
Centre tables with storage space, sectional sofas that can be regrouped or reorganised based on a need per se, and small dining units that can work as your conference set-up for virtual presentations come in handy in such scenarios. Tall display units with storage space are a must-have since they serve as perfect library- or study-cum-recreational nooks. Make provision for folding activity tables if faced with an area constraint. Don’t forget to add functional lights above work and activity areas.
Maximise on light, ventilation
Last but not least, allow the flow of natural light and fresh air to the living areas as you will be spending a lot of time here. Add natural indoor plants as they bring life to any space. Use sheer drapes to keep connected to patio, terrace or balcony areas to the maximum possible extent.
Look for furniture and accessories on Houzz
MagnaOpus
Principal designer, Ahmedabad
De-clutter
I feel now there is a vital need to reconsider the wants and needs of a living space. First and foremost, keep it uncluttered. Since the living areas serve as personal dens, opt for more organised and accommodating furniture units to meet the functional requirements, subject to the nature of one’s work.
Invest in multifunctional storage
Centre tables with storage space, sectional sofas that can be regrouped or reorganised based on a need per se, and small dining units that can work as your conference set-up for virtual presentations come in handy in such scenarios. Tall display units with storage space are a must-have since they serve as perfect library- or study-cum-recreational nooks. Make provision for folding activity tables if faced with an area constraint. Don’t forget to add functional lights above work and activity areas.
Maximise on light, ventilation
Last but not least, allow the flow of natural light and fresh air to the living areas as you will be spending a lot of time here. Add natural indoor plants as they bring life to any space. Use sheer drapes to keep connected to patio, terrace or balcony areas to the maximum possible extent.
Look for furniture and accessories on Houzz
Meena Murthy Kakkar
Design Head & Partner
Envisage, Gurgaon
Bring in functional seating
With the work-from-home system here to stay, replace temporary seating arrangements with functional furniture. You can invest in foot hammocks to prevent health issues from constant hours of working.
Illuminate well
Lighting is also one of the easiest ways to transform and upgrade a space while redecorating – highlighting an artefact or a painting can completely change the vibe of the house.
Insist on a personal touch
While redecorating, it is imperative to personalise your space and bring the entire family together in the process – having a DIY wall, or including objects of sentimental value in the space could add a personal identity. Similarly, growing small kitchen herbs and hydroponic plants in and around the house helps bring in a feeling of tranquility.
Read more:
Expert Speak: How to Design the Perfect Living Room
Houzz Forum: Big Decor Mistakes To Avoid
Tell us:
What are your tips to upgrade a home? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Design Head & Partner
Envisage, Gurgaon
Bring in functional seating
With the work-from-home system here to stay, replace temporary seating arrangements with functional furniture. You can invest in foot hammocks to prevent health issues from constant hours of working.
Illuminate well
Lighting is also one of the easiest ways to transform and upgrade a space while redecorating – highlighting an artefact or a painting can completely change the vibe of the house.
Insist on a personal touch
While redecorating, it is imperative to personalise your space and bring the entire family together in the process – having a DIY wall, or including objects of sentimental value in the space could add a personal identity. Similarly, growing small kitchen herbs and hydroponic plants in and around the house helps bring in a feeling of tranquility.
Read more:
Expert Speak: How to Design the Perfect Living Room
Houzz Forum: Big Decor Mistakes To Avoid
Tell us:
What are your tips to upgrade a home? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Comments (0)
Principal architect
Studio PKA, Mumbai
Embrace smart furniture
The pandemic has changed the way we interact with the world at large and has percolated into our homes as well. With a paradigm shift in the utilisation of space, spatial configurations and design interventions that are flexible and can adapt to our needs are crucial – enabling us to work as well as connect with ourselves.
Set up multi-functional zones
Break-out spaces – in the form of a reading room, study, exercise zone and so on – which can be dynamically organised and designed. This allows one to quickly and easily alter furniture arrangements to meet immediate requirements. Multi-functionality provides options to the homeowner, and improves the quality and adds character to the living experience.
Read Designer Tips to Make Over Rented Flats Into Luxury Homes