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As strange as it sounds, the bathroom is probably the only area in a home where one can truly find some peace. However, we often neglect to do up this space and are content with just keeping it neat & tidy. Irrespective of the size, you can transform your bathroom, make it beautiful and give it a luxurious feel by following a few décor tips.

1. Color Palette

Choose a color that you find pleasing. Most bathrooms don’t open to sunlight and hence are already dark spaces, lit with artificial light. To give a feeling of more open space and light, you can use light shades. Whites, light shades of pink or blue or sea green are soothing to your eye and easy to maintain. Darker colors like black or burgundy are more difficult to main as they show up water stains easily. Whatever is your choice, remember to one color palette across all elements such as the tiles, tub, basin, toilet and accessories as too many contrasting colors will make this small space look cluttered and untidy.

2. Tiles

Most of us use white or cream-colored tiles in the bathrooms. These are also the standard ones that come with an apartment. However, if you want to add some color and get in a unique look, you can replace these with patterns ones. You can also choose rust or moss-colored tiles that don’t easily show up the stains. Always remember to choose anti-skid tiles, specifically made for bathrooms as you don’t want to have accidental falls on a wet surface.

3. Shower Panel

Separate the bath tub/area from the rest of the bathroom with a glass panel. This not only helps keep the wet area separate but also looks elegant. You can choose from a variety of panels like clear glass, frosted glass or even one with patterned inlay to add some design element to the look of the bathroom.

4. Bathtub

If you are the kind to frequently enjoy a luxurious soak in the tub with scented bath salts, a shower panel won’t work for you. Instead, you can install a shower curtain using a tension rod. Get a good quality bathtub, preferably in white as this is easier to maintain and does not leave visible water stains. You can choose a freestanding one with legs or even build one into the bathroom if you’re constructing or renovating your bathroom. In the latter case, you can add shelves and use it as an additional storage space to keep bath salts, shower gels, shampoos & conditioners so that they are easily accessible.

5. Cabinet

Modern day apartments have small bathrooms. So they don’t have space for a stand-alone cabinet to store your things. Convert the space below the basin to a storage cabinet by enclosing it. While wood is a popular choice, make sure your cabinet are will be free of water as otherwise, it can lead to wood-rot. You also get PVC cabinets that can be painted to your favorite color or ones with even wood finish. You can further section your cabinet into two areas by adding shelves. One can be used to store the bathroom cleaning supplies and the other can house your spare towels, shampoos and soaps. Add quirky porcelain holders on the basin countertop where you can keep your toothpaste, brush, facewash and other toiletries.

6. Mirror

You can make your bathroom mirror a statement piece. For an artsy look, choose one that has a vintage look and paint the frame to go with your color scheme. For a modern look choose one without a frame. Depending upon the space, you can play with the shape and size of the mirror. While the most common ones are the square or rectangular ones, you can also opt for an oval or round one that will give your bathroom a unique look. A mirror with an inbuilt backlight adds a soft glow to the bathroom and also gives you ample light when you want to use the mirror to do your hair & makeup.

7. Plants

Adding a potted plant to your bathroom not only acts a décor element, the correct ones also help purify the air and act as air fresheners. Choose plants that can thrive in a humid environment like ferns, aloe vera, peace lily. If you would like some flowers as well, you can go in for a variety of orchids that are available.

8. Fragrance

It is important to keep your bathroom smelling nice and fresh. While there are hoards of artificial air fresheners available in the market, you can also go natural. Place a glass bowl with some potpourri and add a few drops of essential oil like lavender or rose to it every few days. Or place a ceramic oil burner, add a few drops of essential oils and a candle and you are good to go. Oils like lemongrass, eucalyptus and citronella bring in freshness and also keep bugs away.

All of these ideas are easy to do. They not only help to create a nice ambiance for your daily use but will also make your guests fall in love with your bathrooms as well.

Which of these ideas did you like most and find easy to adapt? Let us know in the comments section below.

The festive season is just around the corner, starting with Navratri. Normally it is a time when friends and family gather and celebrate together. This year, because of the pandemic, the celebrations are expected to be low key. But this doesn’t mean we can’t spruce up our home and decorate it in the festive spirit. So here are some tips for decorating your home this festive season & to welcome Goddess Durga.

Clear Away The Cobwebs

The first step to decorating is to clean. It is also considered an auspicious start to the festivities. Get that vacuum out and clean away all the dust and dirt and cobwebs from every nook and corner of your home. This would be a good time to clean your home mandir too and polish the silver, brass, copper figurines and puja items to give them a good shine.

Courtersy – Google Images

Flower Decorations

Nothing creates a festive atmosphere like brightly colored flowers. Yellow & orange marigolds add that auspicious colors associated with celebrations and instantly transform your home interior. You can choose real flowers, string them together and place them across your home. Natural flowers also bring a heady fragrance with them, which we so associate with festivals. The flipside of choosing natural flowers is that they start withering after a day or two. And since Navratri is celebrated for 9 days, you may have to change them 4-5 times during this period. To avoid this, you could choose from synthetic flowers which will give you a similar appearance and which can be stored and reused at a later date too. If you have the time and are good at craftwork, you could create paper flower strings too. There are many DIY videos available that give you a detailed tutorial.

Add The Glow!

Lights play an important role in setting the décor of any space. This is true for festive lighting too. There are many options like string lights in different shapes, lanterns, LED lights or candles. The natural light of flame from oil lamps and candles add to the mellow setting. You can choose Shadow Lamps too and set it against a plain wall as a statement piece.

Rangolis

Known by different names across India like Rangoli or Kolam or A____, it is supposed to invite the Gods into your home and signifies good fortune and luck. Traditionally hand drawn outside the doorstep, these days there are many varieties of Rangoli. You could do it with natural color powders, or flowers and leaves, or even place terracotta diyas as a border. You also get Kundan Rangolis which are readymade, created on an acrylic base with decorative pearls & sequences and can be used as a whole set or in single pieces to give a new look each time.

You Temple Space

Depending on the space you have, spruce up your puja room by adding brightly colored cloth decorations, a string of flowers and rangolis. Make a special space for a small mandap or a pedestal and place an idol of Goddess Durga as this festive is all about celebrating Shakti. You could choose a brass idol, a painted clay one or even just the face in typical Bengali tradition.

There are different colors associated with the 9 days (Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey & Purple) – you could use these for decorating or even use them to dress up the idol. Aarti is an important part of any festival in India. Choose an aarti thali that is bright and attractive. You could create one yourself by simply painting a steel plate in bright colors such as Yellow or Red and drawing intricate rangoli patterns on the same. Add a small diya and your thali is ready!

Navratri or Dusshera is celebrated across India in many different ways. You could incorporate these traditions too in your décor.

In Gujrat, earthen pots are painted and decorated with cloth and people pray & dance around it. This signifies the goddess. You could use this as your theme for decorations – use bright colors to draw traditional designs and motifs on the earthen pot, hang mirror work and thread work torans and decorations to bring home the flavor.

Down south, Dusshera is celebrated as Bombe Habba or Golu or Kolu. It is a festival of dolls. These dolls are passed on from generation to generation and are arranged in steps during the festival. You could use this theme and arrange all the dolls & figurines that you have on a table or chest of drawers. Marapachi Bommai or a pair of boy-girl dolls made of wood is important to this festival. Make tiny clothes for the dolls with paper or cloth & you are all set!

Setting The Overall Festive Mood!

Place torans at the entryway, above your door. They are considered auspicious. Traditionally these are made from mango leaves and flowers. You can also choose decorative mirror-work and embroidered cloth ones.

Similarly, decorative hangings can be placed at strategic points to add to the festive touch. These can be made of brightly colored tiny wooden birds and animals. You also have ones made from mirrors, pearls and sequence.

Place brass figurines and traditional lamps on side tables or on the console in the foyer. Brass bells & hanging lamps are also good décor options for festivals. If you have urlis or even glass bowls, you could fill them up with some water and float flowers and petals and candles to add to that warm glow in the evenings!

We hope that these tips will help you start the festivities! Do write to us on which one you found helpful and do share your special tips with our other readers.

Happy Navratri!

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