Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly comfortable, like the place wrapped you in an embrace? Well, that’s what we call warmth and when you talk about tastefully decorated interiors, it’s not about how much fortune has been spent on the decor or the size of the artifact, it’s about a thoughtful concept that gives that certain something to the space that is its destiny is worthy.
A well-designed home should strike an interesting balance between aesthetics and functionality, and to achieve that, all it takes is a seamless play of design elements. So what exactly are these elements that help create a home that exudes a sense of lightness and comfort? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Swapnil Sharma, Senior Interior Designer at Studio Archohm revealed:
1. Define rooms – Space planning is the most important part of designing. It’s about understanding the space and categorizing it by function. Zoning establishes the ground rules that help associate specific activities and moods with their spaces. Entry foyers should be welcoming, formal areas should be the focus and entertaining, and personal spaces should be custom and comfortable. This identification of spaces is the first step in achieving the transition of a house into a home.
2. Play with volume – Usually, a small area is equated with coziness, but does that mean a large open space can’t exude the same? Can’t a double height room be warm? Well, that’s not true. All you have to do is play with the volume and create focus with the height. Depending on the function, works of art, tall sculptures and plants that outline lonely corners can serve the purpose. You can never go wrong with a beautiful tall houseplant as it brings nature inside and exudes calm and oppression in its own way. Adding decorative dividers to divide spaces and playing with the floor pattern to ease the visual impact of a smaller space (without disrupting the flow of movement) are other ways to achieve the same thing.
3. Personalized Corners – Cosines in homes can also be created by creating intimate seating areas. Not only are they conversation starters, they are also practical decisions. Especially with huge living rooms, which are well suited for entertaining large groups, it is easy to overlook the need for small seating groups. These little corners usually become the most popular meeting places, adding value to every inch. Even an oversized sofa lining a room can serve as the perfect tool to create an area that exudes casual comfort.
4. Warmth With Good Lighting – The play of light indoors is much more important than most people think. It beautifully enhances the aesthetics, functionality and efficiency of a space. Light coming from multiple sources creates mood and contrast and contributes to the design language. The right combination of decorative and architectural lighting together produces the best results. Because lighting is extremely space-oriented, it’s important to understand how it’s used. For example, for a soft coziness in the late afternoon, you can simply turn on the decorative lighting to watch TV, read your book under a pretty lamp, exchange dialogues or simply enjoy an aperitif. The ambiance of any space can be changed throughout the day with well-planned lighting. It’s the main player that has the power to add visual warmth and make anything and everything look better.
5. Choosing the right materials and textures – The range of materials plays a very crucial role in defining spaces. A material like wood not only functions as a decorative or functional element, but also provides balance by adding texture and warmth. Due to its organic nature, it helps bring natural coziness into a space with ease on floors, walls and even in patterned ceilings. Home textiles, on the other hand, are the obvious choice to add character. With a diverse range of textures with their distinctive characteristics such as the luster of warm leather, the raw luxury of Sweden on sofas and the softness of carpets, the wide range of home textiles help to create welcoming and alluring spaces.
6. Set strong contrasts with accents – Cosiness can also be achieved by simply setting accents. It can be a classic piece of furniture, an accent wall that makes a statement, or an eclectic mix of small elements that can help enhance the narrative. But in order not to overdo it, answering the question of how much is too much should be carefully considered. Balance, rhythm and symmetry are keywords that help achieve the same thing. Carefully designing a space with rich, saturated and comfortable fabric seats with a play of patterned cushions, accompanied by a muted wooden coffee table, and an interesting collection of books to talk about is one such example of a simple yet evergreen warm living space.
7. Lifting with elements – Fireplaces are a classic. Designing a space around it immediately provides effortless comfort and luxury. Even if a built-in fireplace isn’t possible, adding a portable fireplace to any room in the home instantly takes the comfort quotient up a notch. Like fireplaces, artwork is the other obvious answer. To add the perfect amount of warmth, a work of art of any kind can be a painting; a tapestry, a sculpture, a hand-woven rug, or anything the user connects with helps create a sense of safe lightness. Water features are one of the oldest elements chosen to give a room a sense of calm. The steady murmur of running water is still a popular choice that satisfies body and soul.
In summary, a cozy home is a space filled with warmth and effortless functionality that evokes comfort and contentment that is achieved through carefully designed interiors.
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