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Bonsai Indoor Garden

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Bonsai, a plant native to Japan. Bonsai is seen as a symbol of harmony, peace, order of thoughts or balance and wellness in nature. Bonsai plants are also said to symbolise good luck. Literally translated, Bonsai means ‘plant in a container’.

Bonsais are small plants that grow up to an average height of about 40 inches. The best part about Bonsais is that they can be grafted for new growth.

Bonsai are generally outdoor plants as they need temperate climate for growth, but there are indoor varieties that may be planted for an Indoor Bonsai Garden. Ficus Bonsai is one of the easiest, low maintenance variety of Bonsai that can be grown indoors. Other popular indoor variants include Crassula, Carmona and Sageretia.

Bonsai masters call the process of growing Bonsai an art. It is not an activity for impatient people, they say. During the process of growing Bonsai plants, they have to be shifted between containers as they grow.

Generally, people prefer shallow containers to give the impression of a bigger plant.

There are certain aspects that need to be kept in mind while creating an Indoor Bonsai Garden.

Watering: Bonsai plants do not necessarily need to be watered regularly. Instead, keep a check on when the plant requires it and water it accordingly.

Temperature: The tropical variety of Bonsai requires comparatively higher temperature which is approximately the regular room temperature. Subtropical on the other hand need lower temperature to survive. They bloom better in winters.

Light: Outdoor Bonsai mostly cannot survive indoors because of the intensity of light. The intensity of light is way more in the outdoors than indoors. Hence, even if a Bonsai is to be kept indoors, it should be preferably kept by a window or in a shot where the plant gets adequate light.

Soil: Bonsai need a special type of soil to grow in. The soil they grow in should allow the roots to breathe and also allow quick and easy drainage of water. A mixture of organic and inorganic soil is hence the best combination for the wholesome growth of Bonsai plants.

Humidity: Bonsai plants need humidity to grow. In the case of an indoor Bonsai, the plant may be kept in a tray filled with water and misted on multiple times in a day to keep the humidity levels high.

Decoration: Bonsai plants can be decorated with moss, small grass, rocks or small decorative pieces. Ensure that the decorative pieces do not affect the growth of the plant.

While creating an Indoor Bonsai Garden the following steps have to be kept in mind, especially since Bonsai is a high maintenance plant. Researching and selecting the right type of variety based on the environment the plant would grow in and the amount of attention that can be given.

For an individual who is very keen on growing Bonsai and has multiple Bonsai plants, they can invest in a Bonsai bench. A Bonsai bench is essentially a step for displaying Bonsai plants.

EASY AND SIMPLE IDEAS ON HOW TO DECORATE YOUR LIVING ROOM

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Probably one of the most used spaces in the house is the living room. It is where you relax after a long day, it is where the family comes together to laugh & bond and it is also the space where you host your guests.

The living room décor plays an important role in how comfortable and inviting it can make one feel. While the décor can be modern and of the latest style, it must also reflect your personality and give a “lived-in” feeling of a home. Here are some interior design tips that can help to get the perfect look!

Set A Theme

Decorating styles and tastes are unique to each individual & family and say a lot about who they are. While some like a minimalistic décor, others may go in for a boho-inspired one or a traditional setting. Whatever be your taste, choose one style theme for your living room so that there is continuity across the space. If you try to combine too many styles or decorate on the go, the different elements will clash with one another and end up making the room clumsy.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Choose Your Color Palette

Colors play an important role in setting the mood of any space. They can pep you up, calm you down or even energize you. If you want to set a warm tone, go in for colors like yellow, subtle orange or rust. Choose bright pinks if you like that pop of color. Or if you want a soothing & calm atmosphere, you could go in for whites and soft blues. While you can choose different shades from the same palette, it is important to not mix up too many contrasting colors. Else the room will not have a harmonious effect.

Accent Walls

Gone are the days when the entire room was wallpapered. Choose one wall that is the highlight of your living room to use the wallpaper on.  Instead of paper, you could also use texture painting or simply hang your photos or artwork. This is the space that people naturally look towards when they enter your home. So let it reflect your personality.

Create A Focal Point

Every living room needs a place where people can gather around or towards which your furniture is ‘pointed’. Usually, this is in front of the TV or entertainment unit. Some people also use a fireplace before which the seating is arranged. If you have both, make sure they are in the same area. For example, you could place the TV above the fireplace. Since this is the area that people drift towards naturally, make sure you don’t have two separate spaces to avoid splitting up the gathering.

Image by PANAGIOTIS SPILIOPOULOS from Pixabay

Attractive & Inviting Seating

Since living rooms are spaces where your family and friends spent most of the time, seating should be arranged so that it nurtures tête-à-têtes. Make sure that your furniture is comfortable to sit on for a long period of time as you will be spending quality time here every day. Don’t compromise on comfort for the sake of fashion. While some furniture may look good in the showroom or in a magazine, it may be uncomfortable to use or just may not be suitable for your needs. Invest in some good ottomans or chairs that can be used alongside your sofas, in case of larger gatherings.

Photo by Reagan M. on Unsplash

Set The Mood With Lighting

The living room lighting should create a comfortable and relaxed setting. Use warm yellow lights to create this. You can use warm lights in side-table lamps, concealed ambiance lighting or even overhead lighting. You could also keep white lights where dual lighting option is possible as these are better for reading or working. If you like natural light, artistically throw in some votives and lanterns to hold your candles.  They work wonders to set the ambiance.

Enjoy Your Privacy With Window Curtains & Blinds

Apart from the obvious use of shutting out light and prying eyes, curtains and blinds are important items in the living room décor. They add elegance and style to the room and can be used to break the monotony of the wall.  Take care to measure carefully for a perfect fit to avoid a shabby look.

Floor Rug

These are great choices to visually divide the space, instead of using bulky partitions. They can also add color to the room. Take care to choose one of the correct measurements to fit your space as too small rugs tend to make the room look tacky.

Photo by Collov on Unsplash

Bring In The Green

Plants are a great choice for décor items. They are pleasing to the eye and normally go with any kind of theme or style of the room. Choose ones that last indoors and are not bulky. Plants like Snake Plant, Aleo Vera or Money Plant also purity the air and increase the oxygen level. Add a classy touch by opting for unique & statement planters that go with your theme. You can choose from brass, terracotta, porcelain or even custom create your own planter with simple DIY projects.

These easy tips are curated to help you set up a new living room space or even if you are just redecorating your existing one.

So, how did you like this post? Will you use any of these tips in your living room? Do write in to us!

INTERIOR DÉCOR TIPS FOR A PUJA ROOM AT HOME

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In most homes, however modern or compact, a puja room or mandir oraprayer space is a must. Whatever the religion, all of us want an exclusive space in our homes to create a prayer space to talk to God. Be it an independent/large home or a small apartment space, we always find a prominent niche to create the puja room. Here are some expert interior tips to make this space a calming and transcendent one.

CHOOSING THE LOCATION AS PER VASTU SHASTRA

The first and foremost point is to choose where you want to set up your prayer space. The ideal would be to set it up either facing east or north-east. Vastu Shastra also recommends this.  If this is not possible, you could place it in the west too but do avoid the south as this is not considered auspicious.

Ensure that this space is free standing and not placed under anything like a staircase, table, or shelf. Also, avoid keeping anything on top of the pooja unit.

If possible, choose a space that is not noisy as peace encourages introspection and reflection when you pray.

Keep it free of clutter – a neat space brings with it a sense of calmness and harmony, which are essential when you talk to your God.

CREATING A QUAINT SPACE IN A LARGE HOME

If you are building a house, you could design a dedicated room from scratch and customize it to be as elaborate or minimalistic as you wish. If you are moving into a villa or a large home that is already built, you can easily design an exclusive space.  In this case, you could use a niche and put up lightweight wooden jaali doors to enclose it as a puja room. If you have a passageway with a wall at one end, you could use that space to set up your prayer space.

If you decide to build a puja room, the most preferred material as per Vastu Shastra is wood. Create one with metal details as that is considered auspicious. If you do not want to build a permanent puja unit or a bulky one, you could always enclose the chosen space using paneled wooden partitions.

CREATE AN EXCLUSIVE SPACE IN A COMPACT HOME

Our modern homes are built compact. And these usually don’t come with a dedicated puja room as the overall space available is very limited. However, this does not mean you cannot design one to suit the décor of the rest of the space. Choose from the many options available to create a puja room –

  • A wall-mounted unit – if you don’t have enough floor space. This could easily be mounted as a floating shelf above a telephone unit or a chest of drawers, making optimum use of limited space. Here, you could even think out of the box and get a triangle unit to be fit into a corner space, instead of looking for a traditional rectangular one.
  • Standing Puja Units – If you have the floor space, you could custom build a standing puja unit or choose one from the many ready-made options available. Choose one which has some shelves built in at the base so that you can store and easily access the puja essentials.
  • A chest of drawers – You could use place your deity on top of the chest of the drawers. However, ensure that the storage has related items – Vastu does not recommend the storage of non-puja related items and suggests that this place should be exclusive.
  •  Partition a corner – Wooden jaali partitions can be used to separate the prayer space from the living room. Not only do these partitions offer some privacy, they can also double up as a décor element. Plus they are lightweight to be moved around during cleaning and don’t cost much. In the case of a fixed partition, you could consider one of glass with etched motifs as well.

SET THE AMBIENCE WITH THE CORRECT DÉCOR & ACCESSORIES

Use wood for the puja units or doors of a separate room as this looks rich. In case of movable partitions, using lightweight wood like MDF ensures that it can be easily dismantled, moved, and cleaned. You could use decorative jaali elements in the wood to enhance its look.

If going for a standing unit, you can also consider a marble one. The white of the marble signifies purity and serenity and is a preferred choice of many. You could also put in marble shelves if you have a permanent puja room.

In modern compact homes, the puja space is usually a part of the living room and as such should go with the rest of the décor. Hence, modern families prefer the use of glass and metal for their puja units.

To create a serene ambiance and highlight the space, you could use murals or a glass backlit panel with etching. Of course, lighting plays an important role – use soft warm lighting that will help in meditation. Use brass lamps, bells, incense burner, or candlesticks to up the décor as these help reflect light. If you have a separate puja room you could consider painting it yellow or orange as both these colors attract positive energy. If you like a soothing effect or want to meditate, you could also paint it a pristine white.

What designs did you like best? Leave us your comments and tips. For customized puja room solutions, reach out to our team – we will be glad to help you!

Balinese Indoor Garden

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The Balinese Indoor Garden is the representation of Balinese rainforests within the four walls of the house. Lush greenery with natural elements of the Earth and a hint of exotic is the perfect blend for the Balinese Indoor Garden.

Just like any other South Asian style garden, bamboo is used widely for the purpose of both structure and privacy.

Key elements to the Balinese Indoor Garden are plants, water, stone and shade. The essence of the Balinese Indoor Garden is based on the foliage and type of plants that are used in its creation. The height of the foliage may also give it the effect of a forest. It is hence not a surprise that Balinese Indoor Gardens require large spaces to be able to bloom in their full essence. Plants that grow vertically like palm, bamboo and banana and with horizontal growth like aloe and fern help create the lushness of the Balinese Indoor Garden.

A key element in the Balinese Indoor Garden is ‘Spirit’. This is expressed through a statue of either religious or mythical figures. Such figures always add an element of peace and tranquillity to the space. Like most South Asian origin gardens, Buddha is one of the most opted figures. Since Bali has a majority of Hindu population, Hindu Gods like Ganesha may be placed. Occasionally, animal figures like elephant statues are also opted for.

Adding a stone pathway through a foliage enhances the experience of enjoying the Balinese Indoor Garden.

Water adds the element of movement and life to the Balinese Indoor Garden. A small pond with koi with may be incorporated into the garden. Alternatively, a pond laced with lotus flowers adds to the aesthetic of the garden. If there are space constraints or the individual does not want to put in a water body, a small fishbowl or earthen pot with aqua vegetation may also be incorporated. A water fountain may also be a good idea.

In a Balinese Indoor Garden that has a large amount of space, a gazebo made of natural material such as hay, bamboo and wood may be put up. These create a cool escape within the garden. Bamboo tables, chairs and even swings would create the perfect relaxing environment.

The best part about South Asian indoor garden styles is that there is no compulsion of the kind of space that they require to be built in. They may be created in a small corner of a garden using the basic elements or may an extravagant indoor garden embracing all the space in a backyard garden.

From the maintenance point of view, Balinese Indoor Gardens are easy to maintain. The maintenance mostly involves watering and basic gardening. Depending on the foliage chosen, regular manicuring would be required as tropical plants may grow rapidly in the right environment.

If tropical and exotic gardens is your aesthetic, then the Balinese Indoor Garden is definitely meant for you.

Thai Tropical Indoor Garden

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A Thai Tropical Indoor Garden is said to be the perfect celebration of modern homes and nature. Most tropical plants can be grown indoors. As long as there is a good irrigation system built and with cool temperatures and adequate space, tropical gardens can thrive.

Thai Tropical Indoor Gardens have the essentials of a tropical garden which include plants with large leaves and thick vegetation along with a water body or fountain. Additionally, certain elements add the charm of a Thai Garden.

Bamboo: Asian Countries consider Bamboo to be a lucky charm. Not only does it abide by the rules of Feng Shui, it also adds an element life to the tropical garden. Asian culture also considers it a symbol of good fortune. Bamboo is mostly used to provide structure and create steps. Bamboo is also a fast-growing plant and creates a wall like structure that provides privacy.

Stone: Stone is added to the Thai Tropical Indoor Garden to add an element of aesthetic. Round stones may be placed on grass, or stone tiles are layered on the walls to create an appealing backdrop for waterbodies or fountains.

Elements of Nature: Earth, Fire, Air and Water are prominent features in any Thai Tropical Indoor Garden. They are given utmost importance. Among these, water is considered the most significant as it connects the different elements of nature and creates a soothing and tranquil aesthetic.

Furniture: The furniture in the Thai Tropical Indoor Gardens is generally bamboo furniture to appeal to the aesthetics of the setting. In the modern Thai Tropical Indoor Gardens, however people also invest in comfortable, neutral coloured furniture. Contemporary furniture may also be repurposed to suit the beauty of the Thai Tropical Indoor Garden.

Decorations: Decorations in the form of earthen pots filled with water and small fish, or with flower petals are often included to add an element of life and colour to the Thai Tropical Indoor Garden. In place of a pot, coconut shells or any similar alternative may also be used.

There is also a cultural significance to some elements of decoration that are added to the Thai Tropical Indoor Garden. Buddha, elephants and serpent heads are considered an integral part of Thai culture and are often added to the Thai Tropical Indoor Gardens. People also add the symbol of a lotus either in the fountain or as a bowl since lotuses are sacred flowers in Thai culture.

Thai Tropical Indoor Gardens may also be set up in small spaces like a balcony where faux grass may be utilised and smaller plants are placed with a wall of foliage or a bamboo screen. Folding chairs can be used for easy furniture and earthen pots of water complement the element of life to the minimised tropical indoor garden. A small Buddha fountain or a lotus bowl can easily be added to bring authenticity to the Thai Tropical Indoor Garden.