Hosting guests is a responsibility and it is tiring. The pressure of entertaining, plus the work required to care for them if they stay longer than a short visit, can be quite challenging. Many a times, friction and displeasure arises after a few days of their arrival when boundaries are blurred...

For occasions big or small, inviting friends over for a meal is always special, but it can also be a considerable challenge. What food should you serve to satisfy every taste? What’s the most appetising way to dress your plates? And how should you set your table to subtly express attention to your guests?...

For some it’s their favourite albums on vinyl, for others Hummel figurines. Then there are the shoe collectors. We take a lot of flak from those who believe in owning only the shoes they need, and we are busting out of our limited closet space to boot. Whether you’re a Carrie Bradshaw stiletto collector,...

The power of good lighting can be the make or break factor in the look of your interiors. You can have a killer decor but it can go to waste if the lighting does not compliment it the right way. Here are five tips for lighting your rooms well.

Vertical gardens can be that breath of fresh air or the calming oasis amidst the dreary concrete jungle that surrounds us. If installation, space constraints, maintenance or just the overall planning dissuades you from creating your green garden, start small with your own DIY green wall project. Here...

Given its compact size and enclosed nature, the powder room can be a safe place to experiment with dramatic colors, motifs or finishes. And that’s exactly what the designers of the following 15 spaces — the most popular powder room photos uploaded to Houzz from July through September 2016,...

Aren’t you bored of the greys and beiges on your walls? Doesn’t everyone’s home nowadays share a similar colour palette and everything just looks the same? Make your home stand out from the rest by using a bold, accent colour – my suggestion to you is to consider the unconventional burgundy. There...

Looking for something different? A lot of privacy and lots more of style? Then blinds are the way to go. Windows, if done up right, can become the cynosure of the room. What is great now is that blinds have moved on from being the colourless props hanging from office windows to being this dynamic decor...

A cantilever is a protruding beam that’s supported on only one side. Rooted in physics and structural design, a cantilever can be a stunning architectural element or just a clever way to add a little more light to a room. Discover how designers are incorporating cantilevers in home design, in both major...

The word ‘staycation’ has been around for a while now. And it’s been gaining more and more popularity given that we are finding it tougher to get away for longer holidays. Everyone loves a glamorous hotel room; the inviting decor, the chocolate on your fluffy pillows and the dreamy plush...

This Delhi home has been designed by Kumar Moorthy & Associates as an idiom that evokes residential spaces from the culturally and the architecturally distinct region of Southern India. This home is also a reflection...

When planning a new kitchen, it’s important to consider the requirements of everyone who’ll be using it. For family homes, this means having an adaptable space that can meet your needs and those of your children, both while they’re young and as they grow into teenagers. This is just as important for...

Many of the traits that define modern architecture — large expanses of glass, minimal surface articulation, exposed structure (often steel), flat roofs — keep people from considering a residence in such a style. The glass makes many people feel exposed, minimalism is at odds with the clutter that life...

A fragrance can make us feel good, it can even set our mood right. Why not pay the same attention to the odours of your house as you do about your smell of your perfume? The way your home smells is indicative of how clean it is. Here are some simple housekeeping tricks to keep those bad smells at bay....

What you wear is not the only thing that gives away insights about your personality, your home décor is also a window to your personal style. Just like our tastes, there are diverse décor styles that cater to our sensibilities. From the subtle sophistication of a minimalist design to the free-spirited...

If you’re having trouble deciding on a colour scheme, you could always use your cat for inspiration. With their beautiful fur in a variety of shades, this selection of gorgeous felines show us how it’s done.

When confronted with a design brief and an undeveloped site, architects often look to the edges of that site for inspiration and meaningful architectural solutions. These boundaries, both real and imagined, are exciting places in which to build. The boundary often gives rise to the form...

Bunk beds are not just for small children but can be used till the tween-age too. Along with being a space-saving tool, they are lots of fun. A room with a bunk bed becomes an adventure zone for children – push their imaginations more, and bring in one of these amazing designs into your home. ...

Just one block in from the tall apartment buildings that line Tokyo’s ring road, you’ll find a scenic zone specially designated by Setagaya Ward. Along the area’s central axis stands a line of low-level houses, including this one owned by a couple redesigning after their children left home. As they’re...

Do you know why it is suggested in Vastu Shashtra that one have an open courtyard at the centre of the home? It is because this central space then releases positive vibes and enhances well being. Most traditional Indian homes had courtyards in earlier times. As big spaces turned into urban homes, this...

The Chopras’ tranquil getaway is a space designed to be cheerfully peaceful – it is light and airy but not without an unmistakable character. Tucked away in a coastal refuge, this home marries the soothing hues of the ocean with a vibrant, modern Indian aesthetic. “The client wanted a home that exuded...

Choosing new bed linen has to be one of my favourite interiors pastimes. For me, it’s a bit like buying a new pair of shoes: with the struggle of selecting the right dress done and dusted, the shoes (or in this case, the duvet cover, cushions and throw) are really the icing on the cake. And just like...

Many of us long for lush plants and colourful flowers to dot our homes – but only a few of us are able to achieve the desired effect. While there are several low maintenance options available, care and attention is still required for any kind of plant-life to thrive. But the work is nothing compared...

“When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves,” David Orrhas has famously said. When planning to reduce the carbon footprint of your home, the kitchen is perhaps the best and the easiest area to start with. Adopt these 9 simple steps to make your kitchen a bit more greener and your home a...

More sleep and more sex? Yes, please! A new survey involving 2,000 Brits shows a strong correlation between the colour of your bedroom walls and decor with how much sleep and sex you’re having. The takeaway: People with blue rooms appear to be getting the best night’s sleep, while people with caramel-colored...

You have got your pots, a bag of soil from the nursery, a few seeds and saplings that you have placed on your windowsill or the balcony. You have started to water them twice a day with love and care, hoping to harvest the fruit of your labour soon. But the fruit never comes. Forget the fruit, the seed...

Just look at how these beautiful kitchens use darker colours, and take inspiration from what they do that works so well. Whether you like the idea of pairing dark accents with light shades, or want to go the whole hog and paint everything in your favourite dark shade, read on to find out how to choose...

While we’re just getting to grips with open-plan kitchens and sitting rooms, how about taking this concept into your boudoir with a bath placed just a stone’s throw from your bed? If you’ve ever stayed at a stylish boutique hotel, you can’t have missed the trend for incorporating a tub luxuriously into...

Whether you’re throwing an informal something over a cricket match or a low-key catch up session, there is one must-have your shindig needs to be the hottest ticket in town – a bar. Here are some 10 great examples that can inspire you to create a unique entertainment spot in your own...

Feel as if your kids’ playthings are slowly taking over your house? You’re not alone. If, like a lot of parents, you think your little ones have way too many toys to play with and nowhere to store them, guess what? It’s time to declutter.