Mixed media

Decorating ideologies may vary from person to person, but for me, luxury, comfort, warmth, detail and surprises constitute interesting spaces. It is important to have every section of your home beautifully done up and not merely focus on areas where outsiders are entertained. No space is less important. The same applies to life itself.

Dining on a beautifully laid out table has as much pleasure as eating a meal tucked into your favourite chair watching a wonderful movie. I have always believed that the old and the new must co-exist for any modern space to be relevant, thus creating a harmonious synergy out of contradiction. Appreciating that different connoisseurs have different ideology albeit with one constant--fine aesthetics--I have shortlisted six varying decor styles you can follow while setting up the home. These definitive moods are namely--vintage, art deco, organic, glamour, India and world.

GLAMOUR
You can recreate the opulence of the golden era and bring it back by infusing the space with simple geometry of modernity that blends into any home. The look is always a hot favourite with homemakers across segments as bold textiles, sleek lines, high sheen and metallic colours add a touch of class to the turf. Go for gilded furniture and glam up the interiors with matching accessories. Another good idea is to introduce smooth finishes and sleek designs in velvet and silk drapes to add a sense of scale and glamour to your immediate surroundings. Range of glass chandeliers, haula two-seater and a lounge recliner that make a style statement work best for this theme.

VINTAGE
As an addition to an old school sense of decorating or to modern homes which need character, I feel that nothing compliments vintage more than contradiction, and that makes it very appealing in today's modern times. To replicate this look, you need to start a dramatic transformation, of complimenting the old with the new, and allow the modernity of a home to be accentuated with the detail and story of vintage. An effective and well-balanced mix will stand the test of time much more than a pre-set, pre-defined look. Add a few elements such as sofa and beds in the tanned shades of reds and browns and dull yellows as these retro colours are perfect for vintage look. Rare, one-of-a-kind pieces that evoke a tale forgotten such as ram horns are brought to life in this look. Make your home an eclectic medley of vintage finds, infused with the modernity of today to create a space that is multi-layered and replete with style.

ART DECO
This particular style, which I personally consider timeless and utterly modern stands for clean lines and interesting textures and details. The spirit of this mood is relevant today as classic never really goes out of fashion. To get the look, all you need are geometric shapes, dark woods with light textiles and dashes of metallic. Bring this theme inside your home through luxurious accents--metallic finishes and mirrored surfaces in contrasting light and dark colours such as peach whites, creams, beiges, dark browns and blacks.

ORGANIC
The look is increasingly becoming a norm rather than an exception, as it gives you a space to be with nature. Rustic materials, neat lines, neutrals with beautiful wooden tones of browns, muddy green and creams are perfect fit for an eco-friendly organic look. The design ethos of organic furniture is that it is natural, exemplifies our oneness with nature and it is never monotonous. It does take a certain mindset to use it in regular habitation but its essence is possibly more emblematic of luxury than the conventional because every texture, piece or even the workmanship is inconsistent courtesy the nature of raw materials being used. The main elements to be used here are rattan, wood, dried and processed sea weed, shells and termite homes. Beautiful shell mirrors and sea shell obelisks can add the right amount of organic look to a room.

INDIA
Moving on to the theme India, our country has one of the oldest civilisations of the world, has a rich heritage of art, architecture and culture. To recreate this particular look, each piece has to be a perfect blend of exotic designs with a modern twist that are inspired and intriguing. The setting blurs the lines between art, craft and design and resonates with a contemporary yet, traditional aura. There are no specific colours or patterns meant to be used for this look; each individual object that you place at your home needs to strongly reflect the culture and state they belong to.

WORLD
An eclectic mix of objet d'art from different corners of the planet put together in a cohesive and unique manner is what defines this theme. While setting up this look, keep in mind that it has to be an extravaganza of extraordinary finds from different cultures. A grand Buddha throne from Thailand, a metal wall calligraphy from Turkey that have strong connect with the place can complete the setting as they will make them culturally linked to the city.