Top Indian Bloggers Reveal the Secret to Having a Cover-Worthy Home

Online influencers Esha Gupta, Bhavna Bhatnagar, Sruthi Singh, Disha Mishra Dubey & Sharon Dsouza tell us how to make the home awe-inspiring

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari17 December 2018

Blogger, dog mom

Love leafing through design magazines, newspapers and websites? Sigh at celebrity homes and spaces that spell luxury? What if we said that you too could have a similar super-smart paparazzi-worthy home. All you need to do is to incorporate specific pieces and elements, and style your home such that it looks like an expensive designer just worked on it and waved goodbye.

We invited five bloggers and influencers to help you put together the home of your dreams. Take notes as Esha Gupta of Design Pataki, Bhavna Bhatnagar of An Indian Summer, Sruthi Singh of The East Coast Desi, Disha Mishra Dubey of Design, Decor & Disha and Sharon Dsouza of The Keybunch Decor Blog list out their valuable ideas.

Domiteaux Garza Architecture

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

Esha Gupta
Founder, Design Pataki

I feel in India people are wary of using rugs, but it adds instant warmth and luxury to any space. One can buy low-maintenance rugs as well.
Lighting is key, be it floor lights, pendant lights, wall sconces or table lamps. How you play with these sets the tone to any space. Use them all to create the perfect atmosphere and then you can completely forget about your functional lighting.
Art should not be overlooked. It can be prints, canvases or posters – with art, your home has personality.
Styling is all about creating a personality for your home, whatever your aesthetic sense might be. You can start with soft furnishings. Use large cushions in solids or a bold print mixed with solids. A throw on the bed or sofa adds instant warmth and feel.
Mixed metals together with tropical or tribal prints are big these days. Wall decor, artefacts, table linen or throws can be picked up to add some glamour to your home. Place artefacts on your coffee table, dress up your dining table and decorate your walls with art you like.
Every space must have an element of greenery, so large troughs or vases are a must. All you need to do is put a few palms in and you’re all set. You don’t even need fresh flowers every day.
The fragrance of a room sets one’s mood. Diffusers, candles or room fragrances are a must.

Find an interior designer to help design your home

Sarah Greenman

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

Bhavna Bhatnagar
Founder, An Indian Summer

As they say, you got it, you flaunt it. Or not. That, I believe, is one of the key secrets to having a magazine-worthy home. Living the adage ‘less is more’, embrace only what is most important to you. Design and décor enthusiasts like us tend to pick many knick-knacks and these add to the growing display of pretty objects in our homes to a point where it is just clutter. Clear and clean should be thy motto.
Leading on from above, what to keep and what to throw away? One of the ways is to keep only what brings a certain uniqueness to your abode. When I look at homes in magazines, what attracts me, apart from beautifully done up interiors, is a home that exudes a distinct personality. So, a framed postcard from one of your memorable trips trumps over the thousandth version of a Buddha painting, any day. Objects that are conversation starters, décor pieces or furniture that have stories associated with them should stay. Of course, do see how everything in the home looks aesthetically when put together.
Step back and look at the ‘composition’ of the frame, where the frame is a room. Review the symmetry, review what is in focus or should be in focus (for example, an accent furniture piece), review what is in the line of sight and shouldn’t be. Take a picture of the space; when you look at the picture, you will know what needs to change.
Light, and more light! Let in as much natural light as the home permits, and then play around with different levels of lighting using floor lamps, table lamps and highlighters.
Balance all elements – the colours, textures, heaviness of furniture against the lightness of fabrics, light and shadow. Don’t let one thing overpower everything else.

Here’s how to design the perfect living room

Salt Interiors

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

Sruthi Singh
Founder, The East Coast Desi

Combination of form, function and scale is key.
Curate pieces that are classic and not trendy.
Keep things clutter-free.
Carrying a colour scheme throughout the space definitely helps to make things look cohesive.
Grouping one’s collection makes for an impactful corner.
Layering and adding textures and patterns is a must.
A handful of statement pieces that mirror the homeowners’ personalities, interests and cultural roots is what makes the space individualistic.
And, finally, don’t forget to add fresh flowers and potted greens to make the space come alive.

Learn how to live with plants

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

EB Studio

Disha Mishra Dubey
Founder, Design Decor & Disha

Whether you have a small budget or can spend lavishly, having a magazine-worthy home takes a little creativity and a few key changes.
Clutter is the worst enemy. Get rid of it – that’s half the battle won. Now get down to decorating.
Keeping walls in neutral gives you the opportunity to play with colours, using soft furnishings and accessories, to create a cohesive look.
Adding rich patterns and textures will add to the designer look.
No space can look lively without some greens and fresh flowers. But we shouldn’t strive to have a show home. A home should be inviting, comfortable, lived-in and, most importantly, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Happy decorating!!

Here’s how to have a clutter-free home

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

User

Sharon Dsouza
Founder, The Keybunch
Presuming that the home is already clutter-free and furnished appropriately, simple things like fluffing up the cushions, ensuring that curtains are well tailored and at the right length, keeping the coffee table interesting, and taking care that your artwork is placed at the correct height (a mistake that is often made in India) will help you achieve a magazine-worthy home.

This article was first published on Houzz India in 2018.

Read more:
Houzz Forum: Celebs & Architects Reveal Their Favourite Decor Brands
Houzz Forum: Big Decor Mistakes To Avoid

Tell us:
How do you keep your home cover shot ready? Write in the Comments below.