A splash of colour and shuffle of furniture here and there can give your room a dazzling new look

• By Times of India, Lesley D Biswas
• December 30, 2013
• 17 Views

This festive season give your interiors an instant inexpensive makeover with a splash of colour, change of ambience, shuffle of furniture and some warm textured floor mats. “Ask yourself what exactly you want to change?” says Ravi Pugaliya, interior designer Ravi Pugaliya and Associates. “Make a list of the elements and look around the house for items that could be shuffled. Consider rearranging the furniture or varying the lighting for a new look,” advises Pugaliya.

“If one wall needs touching up consider painting only that wall with a contrast colour instead of spending on the whole room,” suggests interior designer Jaydip Gupta, Sun Interiors. “Knock down furniture is cost effective,” says Gupta.

Here are some ideas:

• Add some bright cuddly cushions in mixed colours, rich fabric and swarovsky embellishments for that special festive feel
• Change the ambience by varying light. Fluorescent light covers are the easiest and cheapest way to go from the usual yellow light to a cheerful new hue. Experiment with chandeliers
• Curtains and drapery tend to age very soon. Create interest by mixing velvet with organdy or silk with linen for an elegant touch. Install stained glass, etched or frosted glass or the contemporary alternative glass block to window panes
• Photo frames are affordable accessories and can be used to make a big impact. Display you favourite pictures of family and friends
• Dress up nooks and corners with vases and decorative containers.
• Vases have the versatility to look beautiful both empty and full. Textured vases in different shapes of china, terracotta, glass, brass, marble and wood are some options
• Add smart functional units to your kitchen. Change tea, coffee and sugar containers from wooden to steel. Get a bright coloured bread basket, spoon stand and some decorative cutlery. Bring in herbs and add a new polish or coat of paint to cabinets
• Try wall art in floral, geometric, mythological figures, birds and animals, architectural and abstract designs for eye-catching variation.
• Change the floor mats and carpets. When choosing a floor cover coordinate with the room décor
• Small pieces of furniture give your room a new appeal. Introduce a coffee table, curio cabinets and make sure you tie it up with the décor.

Importance of colours in interior decoration

• By Hindustan Times
• December 30, 2013
• 17 Views

We live surrounded by colors, shades and light. Each tone and sometimes we don't even notice it, influences our mood, each color has a meaning and intertwines with our frame of mind. There is nothing arbitrary in this world: it's all harmony

Yellow and orange are extremely warm colors. They are usually associated with the sun and with tropical fruits (oranges, bananas, lemons). Both have a positive impact, however yellow could be taken as a symbol of jealousy and deceit and let's not forget that some time ago, in Spain, executioners wore yellow.

Why are we afraid of colour?

The first step to relinquishing fear in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effects it has on us Red is known to stimyou only get one chance to make a first impression. When it comes time to choose your next office color, though, you might only get one chance to make a couple years worth of impressions.

But make no mistake, office colors and décor are subject to trends and changes, just at a slower rate. So the next time you redecorate, don't be surprised to see a more subdued, textured, naturally based palette than in years past.
But make no mistake, office colors and décor are subject to trends and changes, just at a slower rate. So the next time you redecorate, don't be surprised to see a more subdued, textured, naturally based palette than in years past.
YELLOW IS CHEERFUL COLOUR. IT IS CONNECTED WITH INTELECT & EXPRESSING THOUGHTS. IT HELPS IN DECISION MAKING , GIVES ILLUSION THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT ENHANCES GOOD ORGANISATION.
AT HOME IT GIVES LOTS OF ENERGY LIGHTENS THE INTERIORS. IT IS BEST COLOUR FOR THE PLACES WHERE WE LEARN, BUT YELLOW NEEDS TO BE BRIGHT AS BROWNISH YELLOW IS ASSOCIATED WITH UGLINESS. YELLOW GIVES OPTICAL ILLUSION THAT THE ROOM IS LARGE.
Use the psychological effects of the color yellow to create a bright, optimistic feel for your home.
"The color yellow can add a burst of sunshine to any room."
'Yellow always works', said a seasoned interior designer RAVI PUGALIYA to me a little while ago. I’m not sure I agree!
But the color yellow is definitely a force to be reckoned with. People respond strongly to it; they usually either love yellow or they hate it.

Yellow is often described as an optimistic, life-affirming color that reminds us of sunshine and stimulates our mind, body and emotions. Some people also find that it helps them with concentration.
The effect of the color yellow obviously varies with its intensity and hue. A pale, atmospheric tint of yellow on walls or ceiling can add ‘sunshine’ to a room, while saturated, intense yellows might make you feel cranky after a while.
Because opinions about this color are so divided, I suggest you don’t worry too much about how the color yellow affects others - unless you share a home with them, of course.
Your personal response to all things yellow will help you get the most out of this color.
You may not necessarily want it on a wall in your home, but there are other ways of utilizing the psychological effects of the color yellow.
For example, yellow makes for great highlights. You could use smaller doses of it in accessories, flowers, or pictures to brighten up darker areas and make them ‘smile at you’.

KITCHEN OR DINNING AREA EFFECTS OF YELLOW. The colors you choose for your kitchen can influence how well your children behave at the table, the taste of your food, and your digestion. Bright yellow for years was a popular choice for kitchens and dining areas. People believed it made for a cheery atmosphere. This may be true, if you are not a small child. Small children love bright, primary colors. These colors "excite" them. Bright reds, yellows, and blues are stimulating colors, and do physically impact the human body, particularly young bodies susceptible to stimulation. If you paint your dining area bright yellow, your children will very likely become fidgety, distracted, and irritable while sitting at the table. There's simply too much yellow. If yellow is your color of choice, you can still use it. All you need do is choose a lighter shade, more creamy than bright. Then add a bright yellow accent, such as a vase, a water pitcher, a print. The colors will create a calmer atmosphere, conducive to sitting at the table, and enjoying a meal. And that's the whole point of the dining area, to enjoy a meal. But why is it that ham and eggs in one kitchen tastes so good, while in another they taste too salty or bland? Lighting influences color. How your food tastes, to you, is largely due to what it looks like. You eat with your eyes first. If your walls are bright white, and your only lighting is an overhead bulb, those ham and eggs are going to look yellowish. You may not perceive this subtle color shift, but it's there. Your brain processes the food with a yellow cast and tells your tongue this food tastes old. If there is no natural light coming into your dining area, there are two steps you can take. First, use the more energy efficient fluorescent coil bulbs. Unlike the fluorescent bulbs of yesteryear, these emit a soft, clean light. For your walls, choose a deeper color, a neutral tone that won't bounce light off the walls. Wheat colors, leafy greens, and creamy beige tones all work well in a room with no natural light. If your dining area does have natural light, exploit it. Paint your walls with a bolder color, allowing the natural light to bring a glow to the space. But remember to stay away from primary colors. Instead, choose a tone that compliments the incoming light. For example, if your window faces north, choose a warmer color to counteract the cool blue undertone. For a southern exposure, cool things down with a smooth blue or green. By balancing the light and color, your food is more likely to look more natural, and so taste better. When food tastes better, you tend to relish it, and so eat a little more slowly. This helps your digestion. Furthermore, enjoying your meal puts you, and so your body, in a more relaxed state. This also aids in digestion. Relaxing and taking pleasure in sharing a meal with your family is an important part of family life. Your dining area colors are an important element in creating the right atmosphere for your family meals. ASTROLOGICALLY YELLOW COLOUR IS COLOUR OF JUPITER AND IT SIGNIFIES PROSPERITY , RICHNESS, BUSINESS, MONEY.