His is a name to reckon with in the world of interior design. Ankush Agarwal owns ANSA Interiors, a leading design form that creates beautiful residential, commercial and hotel spaces. An award-winning designer, he is known for his pragmatic approach to creating interiors that spell comfort and beauty.
“Décor is something personal,” says Ankush. “Each person brings their own personal taste and experience into the process of decorating. But you need not spend a fortune to make your home look beautiful,” he adds.
Ankush says he believes in harnessing simple but statement-making elements such as personal photographs, beautifully crafted wall mirrors, lamp shades, chandeliers and curtains to add oomph to a home. Here are his tips on how to create beauty on a budget:
Lamp shades: There’s a vast variety of materials such as fabric lamp shades made of rustic weaves, pleated fabrics, shantung, burlap, jute and linen; paper lamp shades made of plain as well as exotic papers, classic and translucent oiled parchments, and even eco-friendly paper. And for that urban-chic look, there are lamp shades that are made of stone, porcelain, and glass.
Rugs: If there’s not much furniture in your living room, a dark rug with a heavy pattern can make up for the lack of accessories and furnishings. For a cramped bedroom, a light coloured rug with little or no pattern creates an illusion of greater space. The texture, colours and pattern of the carpet can contrast with patterns of your existing furniture. Loop carpets are ideal for high traffic areas. A cut and loop carpet has a best usage in a bedroom and other areas where traffic is low. The Saxony type carpet is an ideal choice for commercial places like offices and for the family room where traffic is generally high.
Bookshelf: Bookshelves can showcase more than just books. Line them with pictures, vases, and other accessories. While selecting a bookshelf, make sure the books will have room to fit, are sturdy enough to withstand weight, and be visually attractive to express your personality.
Wall Clock: people often choose unique looking wall clocks if they are undecided about artwork. The right wall clock on a bare wall can be just as stunning as a beautiful painting and probably costs less then that too. Decorative wall clocks are both functional and beautiful and can be the centre of your decorating theme.
Coffee Table: Coffee tables come in every style and shape imaginable in high quality material. Rectangular, square, spiral, circular and elliptical are the most widely used shapes. Just choose a table that complements your decor and does not cramp the space in your family room. The right touch of style can highlight and maximise the sleek, modern looks of your living space.
Room Divider: Room dividers serve the purpose of establishing a much needed sense of separation and privacy. Room partitions are not meant just for decoration purpose only; they create little islands of personal space, for example, sectioning off the dining area from the living section. They also provide a decorative atmosphere and add character to a room.
Water Fountain: It is a very soothing and eye pleasing feature in a living room. Indoor fountains come in all sizes, from small tabletop models to large installations. Go by your room size and pick one that looks good and feels breezy.