A walk at the India Design Fair threw up new trends that will change the way we look at our living spaces in a blatantly customised manner. By Ayushi Sharma
Price consciousness and not mindless extravagance, organic paints, tribal and folk motifs on wallpapers, gender-neutral kids’ rooms and adapting the world to our confines rather than bending backwards to look European....the way we live is about to undergo a radical change as we have come to terms with our identity and put an individual stamp in our rooms and outdoors.
Decor lovers are constantly revamping their homes and thankfully every year, there are new trends to consider and go for. The seventh edition of the annual India Design Fair brings together more than 135 exhibitors from India as well as abroad under one roof to showcase new collections and the fluidity of designs which has ensured that our homes are an extension of high art. Day one had speakers on various panels running parallel to the show, such as Gauri Khan with Regis Mathieu, Yoko Shizimu from Japan, founder of innovation studio Lab +1e, Austrian architect and designer Chris Precht, co-founder of Penda and founder of Precht and Partners. The discussions ranged from sustainable urban planning to bio-designs. Meanwhile, a paint company chose the colour of the year as ‘Awakening’ — a shade of plum, alive with the dynamism of being woke. The dignity and power of purple fused with the humility of brown, personifying the strength to stand up when it matters, and to dig in your heels with confidence. It initiated a dialogue towards sustainability and nature. And also of Indianness.
Green is the colour
Walking across the three pavillions, there were a number of podiums displaying all moods a room can have through a variety of colours. However, one of the most striking turned out to be shades of green. It spoke of how the colour has been a significant trend for the interiors as well as in regional fashion over the past two years.
Austrian architect and designer Chris Precht talked about the sustainable architecture and how the design incorporates urban farming on the roof of each installation. He reasoned that an increase in the demand of green colour has come due to a collective desire for more greenery and connection with nature. He pointed out, “Many city dwellers feel that it’s because of increasing pollution and deteriorating air quality index. With the introduction of more plants and flowers, balcony and micro-gardens in apartments as well as the popular ‘green vertical walls,’ this concept is here to stay.”
The designer, who himself carries a highly-sustainable approach when it comes to giving shape to his exterior ideas, by using bamboo to build walls and living spaces, said, “The rooftops can be used for planting food for the owners. In addition to fresh and healthy food, plants on the roof are also used for energy consumption and conservation. They cool down the space and reduce greenhouse gas. The roof can also be used to place solar energy equipment for electricity and irrigation channels through which rainwater can be collected and distributed within the building.”
While 2017 saw a rise in the use of green across interior design, the trend master pointed out how it graduated to a deeper forest green since last year. According to interior experts at the fair, “There is a possibility that 2019 will continue to develop this experimentation further with a mix of natural green hues, floral and forest textural walls, which could be seen in residential and commercial interiors.”
A podium showcasing a personal living space pointed towards how today one can simply add more plants to any living space or can reupholster a bed’s headboard with green velvet or even scatter green and floral cushions across the couches.
NO SPACE IS TOO SMALL
‘Mini’ presented its vision of an urban living concept at the fair. It showed how an urban nest has become more than just a residential building through balcony and rooftop gardening, given its open and flexible character.
It is inviting the public in and becoming an urban micro neighborhood, beating at the heart of the city. It showcased how even mini compartment-like areas and studio apartments can be given a creative shape now that spaces have been shrinking.
Beyond the installation, people can become creators, in keeping with the idea of participative architecture, visitors were encouraged to build their own miniature mini living unit according to their personal preferences, using abstract building blocks made from a variety of high quality materials.
The appearance and texture
Residential interiors are becoming increasingly softer with more nature-inspired palettes that have different textures. There are many wood-look porcelain tiles, matte velvet finish joinery, backsplashes, and feature walls with mosaic and carved forms that reflect the new look and feel. “The trend points out towards glossy finishes which are gradually starting to be replaced by a more humble and gentle interiors,” said a spokesperson from Loco design.
Another installation at the fair by Sunil Sethi, however, screamed of a luxurious lifestyle that has traversed all boundaries and homes. His Naag chair is inspired from the powerful and splendid organic shape of the king cobra, which holds a significant place in Indian mythology symbolising a creative life force. The giant-size chair is polished with silver, giving a royal feel and is a statement piece.
Lighter colour palettes
When there is an array of colours around, you can’t choose which one appeals the most. However, the colour palette at the design fair clearly highlighted the lighter tones and paints. These are not just being preferred for walls and backgrounds but also for doors that through the ages been dark browns and blacks. The traditional dark, heavy doors and joinery are being substituted for lighter-coloured, more contemporary woods, and paint finishes.
The trends spoke about the use of light palettes and wood colours that provide an uninterrupted floor to ceiling block tones, helping to create an impression of extensive space in a typical studio apartment or villa. Avoiding darker colours will help keep spaces livelier and vibrant.
Monochromes ain’t boring
There is something about the simplicity yet illuminosity of white walls. While providing a shade for everyone’s tastes, the white palette is bright, clean and easy to blend with almost every style. Admit it, the monochrome concept for baby rooms or even the whole house has been popular for a long time, and it is not going to stop yet. Using colourful bedsheets and cover, even cushions in the living room is the trend of the hour, while white walls still remain intact.
The idea of monochromes is being used when it comes to nursery trends. The rooms are usually filled with black, white and grey.
Baby Select, a brand for children’s room decor, highlighted that it’s finally time when we are shifting from the conventional blues and pinks for children’s rooms. It showed that their rooms are not gender-specific anymore but are rather based on personal preferences. Well, breaking stereotypes do begin from household, so why not colours and gender first?
“We are finally moving away from the pinks and blues and are turning neutral as per kids’ choices. It’s not blue for just boys or pink for just girls anymore,” said a spokesperson.
Brush Your Interior With organic Paints
Paints release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. Consumer demands have led to the development of zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers like Asian Paints are now going the eco-friendly way with natural pigments minus chemicals.
So what makes a paint organic? For example, milk paint is a healthier alternative that is not a water-based latex or oil-based paint like many commercial options. It’s made from milk protein and is often sold as a powder you can mix with water or ready to go in liquid form. Another safe alternative to conventional paints are mineral and plant-based pigments that are sustainably harvested from the earth.
And while organic is often used in terms of being earth-friendly, Asian Paints also showcased an entire series of wallpapers that draw on our tribal and folk motifs, from the northeast to the heartland, and use earth colours like indigo and moss green.
PRICE CONSCIOUSNESS
Angie Kripalani , who has been in the business of doing up VIP homes for the last 20 years, has tracked some trends that define the modern Indian outlook. “Previously it was about collecting top international brands, no matter what the cost. Now, my clients are more price conscious and definitive about the look they want, even if the styling involves Rs 1000 lamps,” she told us. She senses a return to classicism. “That is never out of style but the fusion is more organic, absorptive and interpretative than screaming.” She has put together a layout of free-flowing spaces with minimalism, an elaborate butterfly work of artist Michelle Poonwalla offset by a muted silk sofa with Indian motifs. She even had Hitkari plates in her dining arrangement. “What’s wrong with our own brands if they have the intended effect?,” she asks, leaving us with more options of our kind of innovation.
(The design fair is on till February 15.)
Photo: Pankaj Kumar
