Simple Table Decor Ideas

Tables or chest of drawers are the most dynamic pieces of furniture in any place. You can spot them outdoors, indoors – in multiple locations each having a different meaning and use.

What is more outstanding is the way each of them can be styled differently on a different occasion. Sometimes you see them styled based on:

Everyday style – something that’s easy on maintenance

Seasonal style – Can be colour based depending on a particular season

Festival style – Like Diwali, Holi, Christmas and more

Special occasion style – Birthdays, Anniversaries, Baby Shower and more

Location – A style of a hotel vs a home

Geographical location – An Indian style may significantly vary from that of an American style

Today, we are looking at some basic ideas on how to style your foyer tables and dining table tables on different days using different elements, and as you do this, along the way you can start adding multiple components and find a right balance that appeals to you.

Foyer / Entry way

In the context of homes, foyer tables usually are stylish pieces of furniture mainly decorative used to keep items like keys, posts etc. They can be styled using decorative items likes vases, flowers, candles, photographs, mirror, frames, books, baskets, and/or artifacts. They can be styled minimally or sometime using multiple elements. Use the below tip to style your foyer table.

You may change the elements based on occasion or season

Image ref – res.cloudinary.com Pinkz passion

Season based style:

For instance, in spring season, you can add some fresh flowers and greens to your foyer table and enjoy the bloom season every day.

Image ref – Home Style Saturday 234 – Southern Hospitality (southernhospitalityblog.com)

Image ref – Indian Wedding Decor Inspiration (decorsutrablog.com)

Dining Table

When styling a dining table, you will see the elements used here change as compared to a foyer table. Here we can see items like flowers, fruits, candles, table runners, decorated with tableware being used more commonly. You may also keep few smaller items together in a tray or a holder that gives it an overall themed look.

Everyday style

Image ref – 8 Décor Tips For Your Dining Table Everyday – Classic Casual Home

and amazon.com and etsy.com

Décor using Fruits & Flowers for a party day !

apartmenttherapy.com / pintrest / flickr.com

Occasion based style

This is one of the things we encounter most commonly where we do up the table based on a personal event like anniversary or a birthday party for a young one. Usage of tableware along with décor may vary based on what you may be celebrating for instance if you are celebrating a romantic evening, you can use candles, flowers of your choice along with flowing fabrics and tableware of your choice vs for a kid’s birthday you may use balloons, colour paper, and disposable cutlery based on the theme you may choose.

amazon.com / tatertotsandjello.com

Centre table or Coffee table

Next most widely used piece of furniture is a centre table and most commonly used items here are small planters, books or magazines, decorative figurines, souvenirs, collectibles, candles or dry flowers and most the most stylish way to combine these elements to find a right match. Like the foyer and dining table, elements may vary based on a variety of factors. Let’s see some examples of centre table décor

image ref – pinkz passion / blesserhouse.com / ablissfulnest.com

Indian Festive Style

desidiy.com

A glamourous coffee table décor – the secret tip here is usage of reflective surfaces like mirror or metallic elements like golden, silver, rose gold and such others along with some rare or unique collectibles.

Ref – pintrest

Remember when you style, it should be a reflection of your personality !

Protecting Home Interiors during Monsoon Season

Monsoons are one of the most exciting season of the year but at the same time the dampness and moisture are disastrous for interiors. Every home maker is worried about the leakages and cracks in their home, which are common in this season. Maintaining wooden furniture from moisture is also a task. Here are some tips to protect your home and furniture.

Wall protection

First and foremost check the shades because it will prevent the water from coming inside your home. Check all your walls and roof for any crack. Ensure any such detection is attended to immediately and protect them with waterproofing solutions and paints. If you see rust on metal grills, ensure to paint them before they rust any further.

Furniture protection

Keep your furniture away from the walls and windows as the moisture will damage it. Don’t use any wet cloth to clean the furniture. Use dry clothes to remove the dust. Place naphthalene balls/purifiers in wardrobes to prevent termites. You can use neem leaves in a small fabric pouch and place them inside your wardrobes.

Floor Protection

Hardwood flooring needs maintenance. Make sure they are free from moisture. Otherwise protect it by wax polish. Tile joints in the bathroom should be checked and sealed both on floors and walls.

Carpets and Rugs

Make sure to keep the carpets moisture free during monsoon season. They should be vacuumed regularly to avoid dust and moisture. Use herbal antimicrobial solutions and fabric disinfectants to ensure protection from fungal and bacterial growth.

Curtains

In living areas use sheer curtains to allow maximum sunlight inside the house. Ensure proper cross ventilation, this will keep the space clean and healthy as you are allowing air circulation throughout the home.

We hope that the above tips are helpful to you.

Abode & Beyond is continuously inspired to share our knowledge with the community to help folks facing practical challenges maintain their homes.

Have a happy monsoon..!!!

Note: Image credit – Track2realty

How and Where to use Art work or Painting in your house?

As we evolve, our homes also evolve with us, but what remains is memories of the past in forms of photographs of the best times and best places seen and most beautiful activities experienced.

Creating a gallery wall by adding Painting and artwork makes home more pleasant and attractive too !. Identify spots in your house where you can put up these memories. We have listed down a few below.

1.Foyer wall – ideal for collectibles like souvenirs

2. Sofa back wall – ideal for painting / art work

3. Formal living room – ideal for studio photographs like family photos or photos medal or awards from college & universities.

4. Dining or informal living room – ideal for private and intimate photographs or photographs of children

5 stair case or passage – intimate family and friend’s photos

People wish to buy different varieties of paintings or art work even though they don’t have proper ideas on selection criteria, in that case an interior designer can definitely help you. They can identify the difference between quality art and commercial art and also they can suggest you the right places where you can buy these pieces without making a hole in your pocket.

You should have some creative thinking on this for proper arrangement. In today’s world you will get more expertise’s to add some more attractive ideas to make your ideas more effective.

There is a quick tip to do this – Arrange all the pieces on the floor first and take a snap, compare your options and just go for what you like best.

Commonly used wall décor ideas are artwork, paintings and photo frames. You have to consider these things when you do the arrangement.

1.Selection or Sizing of artwork

Selection of suitable artwork which suits your home and matching with your wall colors. Invest your valuable time for the selection because it is important activity which will impact of your personality and passion. One general criteria if for selection is For narrow walls you can use small frames and if the wall is big you can use larger frames. Based on the wall space you can use multiple frames or one large frame will be more effective.

2.Placement of artwork

Placement of art work require more creative ideas it is better to gather more ideas from your family, friends and designers suggestion add more valuable to ensure the right thing ant right place. A very small painting can be easily overshadowed by nearby furniture. Artwork that is too big for a room will also break the aesthetic balance. Hang your wall art at eye level. If you are placing your artwork over a piece of furniture, then it should not be wider than the width of the furniture. Art should be about 50 – 75 % of the width of the furniture. Place it one hand width above the furniture.

3.Arrangement of wall décor

Image credit: lush home home decor ideas

Before starting decorative activity on your wall try a small arrangement on your table or floor and try multiple rearrangement until you find your perfect combination which is available in your imagination. Take two or three people support to fix your art on the wall and to check the arrangement.

Abode & Beyond always will be in front to support your dream comes true. For more ideas design inspiration visit our website Abode & Beyond

New home Interiors Planning during Lockdown

You have bought a new house and you must use this lockdown to plan your dream home. It is the best time as all family members are together and you can involve everyone as you discuss the plans and get their thoughts too! In your everyday routine it is difficult to take time out for these talks and without a proper plan you may be unhappy with some last minute decisions.

Image credit – workflowmax.com

We can broadly divide this exercise in 3 parts.

Budget planning.
Get an estimate.
Finalizing the design and material selection.

BUDGET PLANNING

In the process of making our dream home, we usually spend more than we thought simply because there was no planning. We will share a few simple tips and practical ideas about how to do this budget planning.

Look at your plan carefully and list down things you need in the new home in full detail including paintings/rugs/artefacts all of them to the last detail.
Now, put a tick against items that you will carry forward from your existing home.
Identify items that you want to buy out from the market as per your choice like décor, kitchen appliances, mattress and such others. Check some websites for realistic prices and dedicate a budget towards these items.
You know how much money is already spent. We are just doing a reverse calculation here. At this point you may want to add items like Electrical, painting, and plumbing in case you have missed these in step no 1.
Identify a list of items for which you will need professional services of a designer who can design and execute the balance work for you. These will include Wardrobes, kitchen, furniture work, false ceiling, electrical, painting and all other related work. From here you move to the next stage.

If you find difficulty in doing the above, reach out to us www.abodeandbeyond.in and we will be happy to assist. Please quote reference of this article.

GET AN ESTIMATE

Once you know things you want, share this with a few shortlisted firms whose work you like and share your requirements with them and ask for a budgetary estimate. Some of them may ask you questions, for which you will have answers only if you have worked on stage 1 in detail.

Support your enquiry by adding a few reference picture of design or concepts that you have liked. (Take suggestions from family members at this stage) This will give them an idea of your choices and preferences. Ensure that you send your floor plan as a must along with this list. If you can put all the details together in a file, it will be great.

Once you have an estimate from a few companies, you will know an average market price. Shortlist further as per the estimate that suits you and meet the representatives in person. As this is mostly a one-time activity for most people, it is good to know who you are going to work with, and you are sure of their know-how towards the subject. This will also help in relationship building, as you may be interacting with each other for a minimum of 30 -45 days and you definitely want to have a good experience.

FINALIZE THE DESIGN AND MATERIAL

After step 2, you have now finalized who you are going to be working with. Trust your decision and gut completely and leave the rest to the designer. Ensure to let them know about any prerequisites like vastu compliance, any special need that may require deviating from the standards, or any such thing that you may feel relevant in your case.

Remember, communication is the key. If you like something, appreciate; in case you do not – let them know, so that they can modify the design/selection to meet your requirements. Understand that it is a process where both parties need to be equally invested.

CHOOSING A GREAT CONTRACTING TEAM FOR HOME INTERIORS

“No human masterpiece has been created without great labour” – Andre Gide , French Author

Before you begin this journey of finding the right team to do your home, office or interiors for any commercial use, it is very critical that you understand that you are going be a part of a onetime process, an ongoing process and that it is not an over the counter sale.

As you have an understanding of this, you also acknowledge that you are going to build relationships along this process with people including your contractors, vendors, designers and also labours.

For the masterpiece that you are going to be creating (feelings that you are going to experience) at the end of this process is intangible and for some of you it may be a home of dreams or an office that you always wanted to have a café that everyone must know about, so the key is to be patient while you follow the process and make the right decision.

Let us look at the technical aspect of this process now. In India there are many traditional and modern ways of doing this job, however I am only listing down the professional ways of doing it. I will be talking about:

Ways to go about doing the job right
Importance or role of a contractor
Setting your expectations
Pricing
Things to know – Do’s & Dont’s

WAYS TO GO ABOUT DOING THE JOB RIGHT

1. Turnkey solution- This is the best case scenario, where you hire services of one team who does both design and execution of work for you which includes design, drawings, co-ordination with all the teams and delivers the project within the committed deadline. Work against a plan of action and keep your contact with a single person to avoid any confusion.

2. Designer + Contractor – This is another way of going about this process where you have one expert designer and their team with whom you interact, share your thoughts and feelings about the house and your requirements. Indulge in this process to an extent that even your wardrobe’s drawers and shelves should be planned. As the market for home interiors is so dynamic, there are new products being introduced every now and then, these guys are the ones who are updated with the latest materials in the market. After this you find a professional team who can execute the design that your designer has made and a BOQ (Bill of quantities or estimate of work) that co-relates to the design.

IMPORTANCE OR THE ROLE OF A CONTRACTOR

It is very important that you hire the services of a contractor. This individual is your one point contact between various other teams like civil, plumber, electrician, carpenter, false ceiling, painter and such others that may be involved in the process. The contractor is the person who knows the sequence of works to be done as most of these are inter – related. He/She has knowledge in all these fields and is the one who can guide you right through this process.

A contractor or his/her representative (site supervisor) is responsible of the progress of work and keeping all the parties in loop and keeping them updated with the latest progress at site. A contractor can suggest places in the market from where you can source the right material at the right price.

Believe in your contractor as you may be doing this for the first and last time, but this contractor is doing it on a daily basis. They come with tricks to handle labours too!

SETTING YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Remember that communication is the key.

Before you start, communicate what your expectations are from each other in terms of following the 2D and 3D drawings, ensuring the finishes are acceptable, timeline and deadlines, pricing or any other aspect that may be relevant in your case.

Since the process of home interiors is a team effort of various people from different fields of work, you may not understand everything at once, but if you wish to know and understand, ask your contractor or designer. This will avoid last minute surprises.

PRICING OR RATES

Here we are going to be talking about the various methods in which you can finalize the estimate or work order.

1. On square feet basis – This is widely used and most common way of calculation. This is also a great way if you want to compare rates between 2 or more different contracting companies.

Eg- you wish to build a wardrobe where the dimensions are – width – 3 feet, height – 7 feet and the depth of the wardrobe is 2 feet. For square feet calc you will multiply 3×7 = 21 sft.

Understand that the material used to construct the depth of the wardrobe is included in the rate quoted.

2. On percentage basis – A contractor will charge you a certain percentage of all the material procured. This percentage covers the labour cost and the profits. Material bill will be clearly shown to the client and he/she can verify if they wish to. You must clear in the beginning the percentage rate and on which items will it be calculated on.

Eg – The agreed percentage is 35% on material. Material is procured by the contractor.

Plywood worth – Rs 2 lakhs ; Hardware worth – Rs 20 thousand ; Laminates worth – Rs 35 thousand ; Miscellaneous items like fevicol , screw , tape etc worth – Rs 7 thousand – Total Rs 2,62,000/-

Project value – Rs 2,62,000/- + total payable to contractor – Rs 91700/- = Rs 3,53,700

(35% of 2,62,000 i.e. Rs 91,700)

3. A fixed amount – Once you have the designs and a BOQ ready go through them thoroughly with your contractor discussing each and every item in detail and then at the end you may agree to close it a certain fixed price mutually convenient.

Remember – extra work other than agreement = extra payment.

Above are professionally accepted methods of pricing or rates in this market, and we recommend you stick to one of these.

THINGS TO KNOW – DO’s AND DONT’s

1. Hire services of a professional interior designer – everyone who knows how to use CAD software are not interior designers.

2.Do not work with individual teams – a contractor is a must who can co-ordinate between teams so you can go to work without worrying about site conditions. Follow this tip and save yourself from the trouble of blame game and co –ordination between teams. Please understand that you are at the losing end in this never ending blame game.

3.If possible, meet the heads of various teams like carpenters, false ceiling etc so you can establish a human connection with them and they also feel a sense of acknowledgement and respect.

4.Gain some knowledge about the material and its behavior before you decide you use them. You may want to consider factors like your geographical location, your style, your taste and preferences, and do not go by anything and everything you see on the internet. For e.g. – if you live in a cold place, you do not want to choose marble as a flooring material, you may choose wood or other material with good insulation properties.

5.Visit places, look at the internet or any other medium so that you know your style. Every individual has a style. Try to identify yours. I like floral walls you may like a city skyline or a superhero!

6.Ensure that you work with a registered vendor/contractor.

Note – Above thoughts are keeping in mind Indian market for home interiors and my experience in the last 6 years. We are – Abode & Beyond based out of Bangalore. Please visit our website for more details.

Decorating Rental Homes without spending a lot…

Do you know why every home is different from another? People say that your home is an extension to your personality and it can reflect a lot about you as a person. Of course when your friends come home and compliment you about the way home looks, you feel elevated.

Every individual is unique in their own way and so are their choices. It is easy to set up a home when you don’t have to worry about the owner fussing over small things, but the real challenge is when you stay in a rented property and tight on budget.

It’s important to understand that you can not do this overnight, it is an indulging process, so do it from all your heart. Here are a few tips to make a boring , unimpressive space look bright and uplifted.

Wall Paints

Well, this is one of the most economic ways in which you can do up the walls of a certain space. Find a suitable wall and you can get them painted from a professional painter or paint it yourself. The choice of colour can depend on your likes of course and how much natural light is there. If you do not receive a lot of natural light, you may want to avoid dark colours, especially if you read or study in this place.

To this new background wall, you can now do a variety of things like stencil , wall sticker and a few more that you can find out below.

Wallpapers

Everyone knows this, but for some reason they believe it’s a lot of hassle. Quite frankly this is most simple and best option. Firstly, its economical (starts from about Rs 30/- per sft) and it’s a clean job. There is zero dust in this process as compared to the painting work.

Also you can get a larger variety of design and colors as against wall paints or even stencil/sticker for that matter. Its recommended that you get the wallpaper fixed using a service of a trained wallpaper installation team.

Photo frames / Paintings / Wall décor pieces

Let us talk about these one by one.

Photo frames – We all have some memories that we will cherish forever, no matter what. And what is the best way to remember them over and feel joyful about it ? Frame it. !

Its super easy on the pocket -Try this and you can thank me later, for when your friends and family come over, its definitely going to be a part of your dinner conversation remembering those good old days.

Paintings – At some point in everyone’s life, you would have worked with paints right ? OK, if they are not worthy of a display on your wall, you can always buy the ones you like. But the most important thing here is that you do not hang them on the wall simply because you saw an empty space there. If you don’t have any emotions or affection towards the piece of art, don’t bother, there are a lot of things we can do with that wall.

Wall décor pieces – Let us take a look at the choices that we have today with art pieces and the variety of material that is used to make them. I am just jotting down a few below , each of them can be dealt with individually as per space available, but let us look at few options and suggested places to buy them.

wooden art work – Mysore , jodhpur
porcelain and ceramic art work like plates – Rajasthan – famous for blue pottery
metal art works – available online at great prices

Souvenirs / Décor

While you are still reading this, you may feel related to the tips mentioned above , but this is going to be your take from here today.

We all travel and blindly buy items that we call souvenirs, but what do we ultimately do with them ? Well, next time you buy them, be more mindful about your choices. See what is available and from that collection, if you can buy that 1 thing that can be displayed and can remind you of your vacation , trust me it is not an expenses but an investment that you have made.

Dedicate a wall in your house where you put up your collection of these items. As you put them together , just stand in front of that wall and you will see experiences and not just souvenirs. Next time you want to tell your children enriching real stories – use these !

If you look out for great work then these don’t come very easy on the pocket, but these are investments that you make for lifetime. These can be carried over by generations to come.

You may also have display unit / or a wooden shelf where you can out up smaller pieces or mix them up with paintings or photo frames.

Plants & décor

Well, I know plants are not just décor but your babies, but I am clubbing it here with décor, because now is when we add colour to the space.

Set up indoor plants and balconies with your choice of plants. These are inexpensive, and with time they only make your space look more beautiful. Usage of colorful rugs , cushions, décor pieces (please do not buy anything for the sake of buying) throws, runners, drapes , sheers ,tapestry and such others can transform your living spaces from dull to impressive.

Indoor succulent plants makes a greenery in your home. You can place it in your window sill, living rooms and even in kitchen and bathrooms.

These simple and affordable rental friendly decorating tips makes your rented home more attractive and decorative. For more ideas and inspiration visit Abode & Beyond

You may write your comments/feedback at aandbdesignstudio@gmail.com

NB:- Images used are representative only. Taken from various platforms using various mediums. We do not claim all of these to be our photos.

Balcony design ideas and Decor Inspirations

Balcony is that spot where you can breathe and unwind from a full day of activity.. Our tips on balcony design will make your balcony functionally and aesthetically attractive.

Few things you can arrange and rearrange in this place every time giving the whole space a new look is by adding outdoor plants, some furniture, carpet rather durries, decorative lightings and decor.

Balcony design would vary from type of the house and type of the room it is attached. How you want to design your balcony depends on the area size.

But no matter how small it is, there is always some room for greens.

1.Adding Furniture

You can add table and chairs in your balcony to enjoy your leisure time. These furniture can be either fixed or foldable. If you have the luxury of space you can use swing for sure.. Do not hesitate to add pillows and cushions. Make sure they are colorful to make the space look vibrant.

2. Bring in Greenary

Slowly start adding a few plants, and as you learn the habit of taking care of them, you may go all out and add and many of them as possible. There are different ways in which you can add them, we will write about that too !

3. Flooring Styles

Designer tiles, pebbles and carpets are commonly used in modern balconies. Artificial grass turf carpets are one of the best option in the balcony floor.

4. Adding some Privacy and Shade

Waterproof curtains are great for closing off your space a bit and adding some shade too… You can even buy bamboo curtains that will create a more private space.

5. Decor Lighting

Hang some décor lights or lamps to make the balcony shine. Lanterns and candles, bulb and fairy strings and chandeliers are some of the lighting options in the balcony.

There are countless ways to design a stunning balcony in your home. I hope these tips will help you to design your balcony in your own way.

To book an appointment visit Abode & Beyond

Foyer Design ideas from Abode and Beyond

Foyer is the welcoming space for a home. Some people are not ready to do the foyer design because of the space constraint. Depends on the people’s interest we can go for the foyer design. There are so many varieties of entry way design ideas in Abode & Beyond.

There are so many ways to decor a foyer. Some prefer decor items, tables with some decor items on top, mirrors, artworks, and plants.

Placing large mirror or large piece of art work is also trending. Consider the floor and door too. Make them more attractive.

Here are some foyer design ideas

For more Interior ideas and inspiration visit our website www.abodeandbeyond.in.

Home decor ideas…

If you are looking for home decorating ideas or decorating tips, here are some simple tips to help you create your dream home. We want each space to reflect your personality and sensibilities. At the same time it should be practical and comfortable.

As bedroom is your private space, no one else sees it. But from our design ideas you can create your own perfect resting space. Here are some designs that you can try in your bedrooms. By changing your bed headboard, rugs, paint color or adding some elegant wallpapers you can make it more functional.

As the living rooms are welcoming space in the home, the paint color for the room should be relaxing. For better look each object in the living room should match. Choose some elegant wallpapers which reflects your style or you can use some decor items shown above. This brings warm texture to the walls.

Kitchen is the heart of a Home. You can try some decorations there also. Arrange some small plants in the shelves. Your kitchen will be more brighter when you use lighter colors for walls and counter tops. Metal vessels are very good for attraction. For any kind of kitchen whether it is modern or traditional we will help you to design.

Abode and Beyond – the complete interior solution for your home and office. Customized interiors in an affordable budget. For more ideas and inspiration visit our website or book an appointment with us

Living Room Design Ideas…

Every room having some design challenges. In the case of living room, it is the one which you spend most of your time. Also this is the room that visitors will seen first. Everything matters, what type of furniture is using and also where to arrange the furniture. The arrangement is difficult if the space is small. So try to do something to make it spacious.

Flooring in Living Room

open living room with fireplace and wood floors

Hardwood, Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Porcelain tile, Marble, Concrete, Vinyl, Laminate, Painted wood etc are some of the flooring materials. These are commonly used flooring materials. The flooring materiel color should match with the wall paints used in that area. Then it will be more good to see and also gives sufficient light in the room. Use good quality and affordable materials. If you need any help our team will ready to give the guidance.

Living room furniture

Furniture in the living room creates a welcoming look. Choose an attractive sofa as the centerpiece. Then introduce pattern with a mix-and-match collection of patterned cushions and a geometric rug. Place a bookshelves in any corner and arrange your reading collection there. That will be the main attraction for your guests. The modern TV units are arranged in a large space. Most of the people preferred wall mounted TV unit with a table below containing gadgets, books and other accessories.

Wall arts in the living room

Wall arts are one of the main attraction in the living room. You can use paintings, Photo collage or wallpapers for decorating the living room. There are some rules for placing the arts in the wall. The dimensions are important. The painting size should not be larger than the furniture near to that. It should be same or smaller than the furniture piece. Otherwise it looks weird. The height of the wall art from the floor is 6 to 8 inches. It is better to place it in the eye level.

False ceilings are one of the latest trends in modern interior. They are light in weight and moisture resistant. False ceilings can be made from different materials including Gypsum, Mineral Fiber and Metal. By using this we can do some decoration in the ceiling also.

There are so many other things to decorate the living room. We can add some plants in the living room. Indoor plants are trendy now.

For more ideas and inspiration book an appointment 9035796876. Visit our website Abode & Beyond