by Kalwyna Rathod
Change is constant, and the change in seasons gives way to adjustments in our daily lives. It’s all part of the bigger picture which starts from the living spaces of our homes. Architect and Interior Designer Paushika Gupta says, “Seasonal cleaning and simple furnishing changes give an edge to a home and allow one to take advantage of beautiful colours, patterns and textures. No matter what season is coming, one can easily switch their home products for something that aligns perfectly with the times. Change allows a homeowner to give a fresh perspective to their homes, weave a new story, a new memory.” She shares some tips to help you create a space that suits the passage of time, season to season, and have a great time with family and friends.
Colour Palettes For The Win
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
A wall is like a blank canvas. So much can be achieved by changing something as little as wall colour. In the colder months, we tend to live a slower life and spend more time at home. People tend to shift their lives from outdoors to indoors. It’s so blue outside, one lacks warmth, hence the use of warmer tones inside the house during winter time is the best. “In winter, bring in colours like rich golds, mauves, maroons and deep oranges. In summer, life is vibrant, full of zeal, the sun is out, hence, the use of brighter and cooler colours is best. Bright oranges, blues, yellows make up the summer palette. Spring calls for blush tones and mauve beauties. Once the wall colour is in place, one can focus on and move around other objects – cohesion is key,” advises Gupta.
Materials And Textures: Accents And Upholstery
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
One is drawn to a space for the comfort it provides. During the warmer months, one should select airy materials in bright shades such as orange, sky blue, blush pink. With the onset of the colder months, lightweight fabrics should be swapped out with cozy woollens, plaids, in different textures and colours such as wine, navy blue, emerald green. Gupta adds, “Weight of the material is of key importance. Heavier material works well in fall and winter, while sheers are best for spring and summer. Summer is all about light and airy accessories around the home, but with cooler temperatures, it’s time to begin incorporating cozy accents.”
Pillow Talk
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
One of the easiest ways to change things around in the house is by swapping everyday throw pillows for those in colours and textures. Fall is the perfect time to cover the couch in rust and ivory knit throw pillows, whereas during winter, one can go for dark burgundy or rich golden tones that exude warmth. Plaid and stripes are big in winter time. For summers, one can opt for floral prints or fun solids.
Décor Trends: Display On Fire
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
Seasonal change can inspire great home art displays. Mix some accessories with existing complimentary pieces to come up with something stylish and unique for a festive display. Candles, potpourri, and flowers can be arranged in wooden boxes and trays to be placed around the house throughout the year. “For summers, one can do seashells, bright flowers and pops of colour together to form a story. Similarly, for fall, one can place bowls of fresh fruits or pluck out fresh flowers to arrange them in a pretty vase. Trends such as tribal art, earthen traditional looks, and Aztec are on fire in 2022; one can use some elements from these and create mood trays,” says Gupta.
Carpets And Rugs: Warmth Quotient Maximum
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
Carpets and rugs bring together a look and finish it. Not only versatile, but also portable, one can take advantage of how these elements easily transform any interior space in all the seasons. “Carpets add life to a space, hence, selecting hues and textures that complement the rest of the décor is important. Apart from area rugs, they act as a multi-purpose piece of art, be it on the floor or the wall. Even a small area rug with red or gold in the pattern will warm up a room in the dead of winter. When spring arrives, one can replace it with a lighter toned piece. Adding a pop of colour under your furniture can really turn a space around,” opines Gupta.
Flower Power: Serial Mood Lifter
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
People tend to associate florals with summer and spring, however, there is a wide variety of winter florals available to make your interiors look extremely warm and welcoming. For the winter months, one can start by decorating with pines, dried eucalyptus leaves, and preserved flowers to add a chic factor to the space. Lavender sticks, roses or white chrysanthemums add to the décor. Deep red roses are a crowd pleaser in the winters. Moving towards summer, one can easily switch the mood with some white lilies, fresh daisies and peonies. “In summer time, giving way to florals is a must – it is an instantaneous mood lifter,” says Gupta.
Lighting Sets The Mood
Image: Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design
Summer time is bright and cheerful, moving towards colder times, the days get shorter and nights longer. It’s important to get cozy and warm lighting inside the house. Not to forget that lighting also increases the temperature inside, so one can opt for a soft warm glow with dimmer attached. This will make it easy to switch from day mode to night mode. Candles and lamps are big in winter décor – an added bonus is that scented candles like cinnamon and pumpkin can truly evoke the feelings of the season inside the space.