Trends To Watch Out For In 2016! For January 2016

Colour Stories

The New Year is here at last! And what better way to welcome it than by incorporating these hottest trends into your home?

The New Year is the best time for a new décor, we say, which is why we have put together this list for you to follow and pretty up your homes for 2016. Whether you're a fan of minimal, vintage, classic or art noveau, 2016 is all about transforming your home into a space that will reflect your own brand of style and personality. This year, it's all about 'You' and your own choices and how to incorporate this with old as well as new styles of décor.

Texturing and contrasting
Textures have the ability to lend warmth, colour and an emotional connect to any space. The objective of any room is to focus on creating depth and textures do this wonderfully and effortlessly, while contrasting them allows for an eye-catching play of light. There are a number of looks you can achieve with varying textures and contrasts. Use textures to add dimension to a space, this can be as simple as contrasting fabric trims, embroidered fabrics or just placing a rug as a statement piece on the floor or a wall.

Dramatic colours and materials
The 2016 palette reflects the colours on the avant garde runways, such as matte pink, peach, and shades of red. This goes astonishingly well with shades of darker hues of green and navy blue. The best thing about these colours is that they are rather unisex and can be mixed up in any room to have the desired effect. As for materials, this year they have replaced multi-coloured walls and accents; wallpapers are setting the scene on fire with their capacity to lend intricate designs to the wall, including scenery and geometric patterns.

Geometrical patterns and designs
Coming to geometric patterns, interior design in the recent past has been taken by storm by new age technology, like 3D printing, which has given rise to this new trend. Geometry inspired designs are all the rage, right from colourful prints, metal wall frames, wall decals to bed covers and throws. Geometry is also inspiring furniture, so watch out for amazing optical illusion tables and other upholstery.

Gold is the new black
Nothing makes a bolder statement than gold. Whether it is gold accents or the main theme of the room, gold never fails to impress. Gold when combined with neutral and darker shades gives an impression of opulence and vintage wealth. So do not be shy and bring on the gold elements! Besides the tried and tested accents and fixtures, also add in new styles of gold in lamps, cutlery, wall elements, mantle-pieces and furniture framework.

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For January 2016

1. Pencils all over the world are coloured yellow ever since the 1890s.You might think it's for the ease of visibility. But the choice of colour has a different story altogether. Back in 1800s, the best graphite in the world was from China. American pencil manufacturers wanted to convey that their pencils were made with Chinese graphite. The Chinese associate the colour yellow with royalty and admiration. And hence, American pencil makers began making bright yellow pencils to attach this "royal" feeling and connotation with China. But Henry Petroski's history of the pencil has another story to tell, according to him, European producer Koh-I-Noor was the first to introduce a yellow pencil.
2. Ever wondered why your favourite cheddar cheese is orange in colour? Firstly, it's orange because they dye it orange. The question remains, why orange? The cheese historians recall that the practice began many years ago in England; the reason being that milk comprises varying amounts of beta-carotene, the yellow-orange pigment also found in carrots. Cow's milk after eating pasture has higher beta-carotene levels in spring and summer compared to fall and winter, as a result of eating less hay. This results in varying colours of natural cheese over different seasons. So as a solution for this problem, cheese makers began adding colouring agents.
3. United Parcel Service, Inc., the world's largest package delivery company in the US, chose to use basic brown coloured delivery vans. Do you ever wonder the reason behind this? Turns out that this decision was taken for practical reasons; UPS first delivered packages using bikes and as the company grew, they opted for trucks to deliver parcels. Co-founder, Jim Casey, wanted to colour the truck fleet yellow. But one of the partners suggested brown, as the colour wouldn't show dirt as prominently. And thus, UPS has brown delivery trucks.

Colour Quotes For January 2016

• "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky."

  - Rabindranath Tagore

• "When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!"

  - Ted Grant

• "When red fights with white, pink is always the winner. Let that be a lesson in love."

  - Jarod Kintz

Colour Tips For January 2016

1. When painting the ceilings, it's easy to lose track of the sections you've already painted. The trouble comes from the fact that you've been looking up, hurting your neck. So, the trick here is trying to work in square sections, by picking up small spaces at a time. You can do two light coats, after it dries a bit, come back to it and leave your roller out. Now, carefully see if any spots are left behind, and then retouch those left out spots. You will be absolutely sure this way and not repeat the spots you've already covered, saving you the time.
2. Yes, it's essential to scrape off things that are cluttering your ceiling to have a clean slate before painting. Make sure you clean it well before starting, but you don't really have to sand the whole ceiling and then mud it, and then sand it all over again for it to look good. The trick is that no one notices the small hitches in the ceiling. It is expected to be a clean ceiling and unless there's anything major that draws attention, it is good to go. People just notice the walls of the room and expect the ceiling to compliment the colours well.
3. The usual way of thinking when painting is that those big, heavy wide rollers get the job done faster, but what we do not anticipate is that once the paint is on, it is even heavier to handle. This might leave you exhausted midway. You can opt for the more common 4-6″ foam rollers which will make the job much easier. You will be able to paint full rooms with them because they are easy to handle, and in much lesser time. Try rollers with longer handles when painting the ceilings.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For January 2016

1. Colours have a deep impact not just on our moods but also on our psyche. They affect us on many different levels. So, one needs to be careful while choosing colours for their homes. Some colours might have a great visual appeal but functionally, they are not appropriate. With the onset of the New Year and right after the festive season, you may think red is a cheerful colour for the bedroom but in reality it may hamper your sleep. A good rule of thumb to go by is that less saturated bright colours are relaxing to the senses, while less bright saturated colours are energizing.
2. The most amazing thing about colour is the attractive appeal it has. The food industry too uses this appeal to make their products look tempting, thus increasing sales. For years, the artificial colouring of food has been a point of debate. Candies, fruit drinks, yogurts, gums, pre-made mixes, pickles, sauces and dips contain ingredients such as Yellow #5, Blue #1, and Red #40 – three of the most popular FDA-permitted ones. These artificial colours are not just limited to foods but also cough syrup, tooth paste and moisturizers contain artificial dyes. For good or bad, artificial colours in foods are here to stay for a while. The consequences however, can be disastrous.

Colours & Fashion For January 2016

2016's fashion will see a shift in colours from bright ones to softer, pale and pastels. So here are the 10 colours Pantone has announced; keep your eyes out for rose quartz, peach echo, serenity, limpet shell, lilac grey, iced coffee snorkel blue, buttercup, warm red fiesta and green flash on the runway this year.

This year's hues are meant to reflect a Zen like state of harmony, inner peace and balance. Of course, this doesn't take away in the least their ability to translate into elegant patterns, modern designs and gender-neutral cuts. Be sure to notice the trends on the top runways which feature these colours in innovative and imaginative ways.

Colours & Gems For January 2016

1. Moldavite, also known as Bouteille Stone, is a fluid glassy material, a mineraloid that is mostly olive green in colour. It came from an asteroid impact about 15 million years ago in central Europe. The good pieces that have a striking shape and colour are often wire-wrapped or drilled and used as jewellery. It must be used as earrings and pendants as it is hard and brittle, like glass. These specimens are also collected by meteorite and mineral enthusiasts. However, the biggest purpose for gem and rough specimens of moldavite is in alternative and complementary medicine. But there isn't any proof about its effectiveness yet.
2. Morganite, also known as "pink beryl" and "rose beryl" for its pinkish appearance, is a rare type of beryl that is found in shades between orange, orange, pink and lilac. The small amounts of manganese lend the gem its pretty pink colour. It is one of the third common varieties of beryl found in jewellery shops. The collection is however very limited as it is difficult to get the proper colour. They usually heat the morganite to get a better colour so that it can be used in jewellery. The heat removes the yellow from the stone and turns the orange into a more desirable pink. Sometimes they even treat the stone to improve the colour.

Colours & Nature For January 2016

1. Great Britain's favourite pet, the golden retriever was first registered as "Golden Flat Coats". Earlier, in the 1850s, England loved their black-coloured wavy-coated retrievers and Labrador retrievers, although yellow ones had always been present. Later, Sir Dudley Majoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth) began his breeding program in the late 1800s, and a golden-coloured retriever was developed as a separate breed. In 1920, they were renamed Golden Retrievers. This breed is one of the most-loved dogs in the world as they are charming, loyal, lovable, easy-going and pleasant companions.
2. Nature has brilliant ways of colouring organisms through cells in the skin. The Blue Poison Arrow Frog from South America contains three kinds of extremely branched colour cells called chromatophores. The animal can change its colour by altering the melanin pigment. By deploying the three types of cells, a wide range of colours can be created, ranging from bright green to shades of brown and grey. The xanthophores in the skin contain pteridines that are yellow, but they can create red pigments. Whereas, the erythrophores inside the skin contain carotenoids (absorbed through diet) which produce intermediate colours like orange and similar shades.

Décor

2016 Colour Of The Year!

A New Year means a new colour, new décor and a new beginning! Check out this year’s colour and how it signifies change in the coming year.

Pantone has, for the first time, announced a combination of two colours as 'colour of the year' for 2016. These two colours are 'Serenity' and 'Rose Quartz' which can be expected to dominate the décor scene, this year. According to Pantone, these shades are a harmonious pairing, which reflect a mind-set of tranquillity and inner peace.

The light pastel blue of Serenity is representative of the vast blue expanse of the sky. If you have warmer or dark tones of wood or upholstery, then curtains or sheets of Serenity would bring a contrasting effect to the room. This shade would also work wonders in a space with plain white walls by adding cushions or rugs of the cool blue. It would help recreate a calming ocean-side feel indoors.

Rose quartz, as a crystal, is used for healing of emotional distress, heartache and anxiety which are three of the most common problems people face in their lives these days with the kind of lifestyles we lead. The rose shade has the ability to capture the essence of solace and a warm welcoming embrace. You can have an accent wall of this colour or even tiles on the floor, to transform your space for the New Year. Another option would be to have fresh flowers, such as carnations or roses of the pale pink variety to add an element of freshness and invitation to the room.

In today's times, people are in search of balance due to their high stress lifestyles and these shades are a perfect representation of those needs. What also makes both these colours relevant to 2016 is the idea of gender neutrality that has picked up pace in the past year and is only bound to get stronger. Customers do not want to be told what colours or patterns are feminine or masculine as they prefer to choose or mix by themselves. So, both the colours of 2016 can be used individually or in combination to create the perfect look you desire because both the shades are refreshingly gender neutral.

3 Decor Resolutions For 2016!

Resolutions are made to be broken, but not these! Follow these tips to ensure a great new 2016 for you and your décor!

1. Declutter
Imagine that you have to climb into a train for a holiday. How would you like that experience to be? Would you be lugging a bag that is bursting with things to the point of breaking or would your bag be well contained with only the things that you actually use and need for the trip? I think the answer is obvious. So, on the next trip around the Sun, it's time that you unpack and repack. By this, we mean that it's time to look around your home and get rid of every single thing which you don't see yourself using and which is not absolutely necessary.

Yes, this is a scary process to begin, if you haven't ever done it before. So just call some friends over and do it together. Your house will benefit from the cleansing of old and stagnant energy and the best part is you'll now have space for new things!

2. Add a splash of colour
This is the simplest way of making a design change and creating a new look to your house. Pick a single bright colour for an accent wall or pick a colour palette and paint walls in multiple rooms. It is a fun process for the entire family to get involved as well. The kids will be able to choose the colours they like and the adults can have their say for the rest of the house.

Why stop here? You can add pops of colour to your home by getting a dinner set in a bright shade or vases in contrasting colours. Even choosing to have all white walls can make a dramatic difference to a space because all the furniture and upholstery will stand out well against it.

3. Individual Style
Often, when we seek out inspiration, it is from what others have already done - be it on Instagram or Pinterest. While this is fine to do, why not try finding what inspires you? For instance, if you have a picture in your home of a sunset which your family enjoyed together, you could use that as a starting point. You could then easily re-create that memory with a similar colour palette on the wall or motifs on the cushions.

Maybe you visited a garden and were moved by the flowers you saw and smelled. You could then transform your bedroom into that garden by mixing and matching flower patterned sheets with pale lime coloured walls. To give a breezy effect to the space, use lightweight flowing white curtains and voila, you have managed to personalise your room in a way that is truly 'you'.

Texture It Up!

This is for all the nature lovers out there who know the benefits of adding a little greenery to their décor. Find tips and tricks to add more of nature to your living space!

You may ask, what is it that makes some homes so beautiful and cut above the rest? Well, you may think the use of furniture, light, colours, etc. Yes, these are some obvious answers but there's a secret, only designers will be able to tell. The secret is the use of textures in a room. Textures can enhance the beauty of a space and take them to another level.

Now, everything has a texture, you may think. So, what are we really talking about here? The kind of textures we are referring to, are wood and fabrics. Their patterns and movement make the room come alive. These things make a room feel inviting and cosy. They look interesting to the eye and add a personality to the whole space. This makes absolute sense as to why texture is so big right now among interior designers.

But like everything in life, the cardinal rule is to strike the right balance. A lack of textured elements can make a space look cold. However, it is quite subjective; to one person a space full of texture could look pleasing, the same space might look disturbing to another person. The key is to find a balance you are comfortable with or the kind of textures that suit your tastes.

What we've done is put together a mix of ideas for you to choose from. See what you like and then decorate. Have fun with textures.

Textured Textiles
The easiest and the most fun way of incorporating textures are through textiles. Fun bed sheets, covers, sofa fabrics, rugs, throws all add to the fun. They can add colour to a plain room, design to a simple space.

Textured Rugs
Right from woollen rugs to ethnic design ones; rugs add instant warmth to any room. They set a tone for a space and work the texture up. Go black and white, stripes, dots, motifs, prints, go crazy with the patterns.

Plants
Plants are the original textures. They instantly purify the air and the mood of a space. They add colour without being too jarring. From living rooms to office spaces to bathrooms, plants add their own texture which is very hard for the eye to miss.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Now, start adding your own mix of textures to have a spectacular experience with design.

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For January 2016

Today, we share some Feng Shui tips for the urban “renterati” – a term for people who stay in rented houses. So, if this is you, check out these great tips!

Feng Shui Tips for the Urban "Renterati"!

Are you a young professional, who is ambitious and hence always on the move looking out for good opportunities, changing homes every once in a while? Then, this article is for you. We share Feng Shui tips for the urban "renterati" – a term for people who stay in rented houses.

So, the struggle is, you are always moving houses, cities and sometimes even countries. With so much going on in life already, you have very little time to apply Feng Shui to your home. But this practical guide shows you how to benefit from Feng Shui, while setting up the ever-changing house. Right from the furnishings to the décor, here are some tricks you can follow.

The secret really is in the way you arrange objects around the home. The key aspect is seeking balance, (between yin and yang) despite constant change. There's an ideal place for every object (books, TV, lamps, furniture, etc.).

When the laundry is the only thing permanent in your life, how do you achieve a Zen space? Let's start with the bedroom, a space where you spend most of your time. The most important object in here is the bed. When placed properly, the bed can provide security and better sleep, resulting in good health. The ideal way to place a bed is diagonally opposite the door. You should have your head against something solid, like a wall.

Next is the young professional's second most used entity - the desk. Don't let less space determine the location of your desk. Make sure you never keep it in the bedroom. A desk is one of the most powerful objects that shape your growth. Position the desk diagonally opposite from the door. This gives an imperious view of the room, allowing clarity in thinking. When you study, make sure you are not showing your back to the door or against a large window (both are distracting).

Another important aspect of urban living is the electronics. Electronics emit energy and currents that can be distracting, especially while sleeping. So make sure you don't have too many in your bedroom. The ones that you can't absolutely avoid - keep at a distance of two feet from the bed.

With this simple list of object placement, you can achieve a more peaceful and positive space that will contribute towards your growth and also make shifting much easier!

Reiki For January 2016

Is your life just too hectic and stress driven? If the answer is yes, then learning Reiki for self-healing might just be the answer you’ve been looking for!

Reiki for Self-Healing!

Are you a busy person who always gets winded up by the end of every week? No matter how many spa sessions you attend, nothing seems like a permanent solution for handling this constant stress. If this is the story of your life, then learning Reiki for self-healing might just be the answer you've been looking for. While getting a Reiki treatment is the second best option, self-healing is a much more reliable and efficient choice.

In the practice of Reiki, there are usually three degrees of training, each one progresses from the former, building up to the latter. Each one has a specific purpose and scope of objective to be attained. Though, the primary focus is always practical Reiki self-learning.

The typical study of Usui first degree class lasts for over 8-12 hours. You will have to practice Reiki self-care. This class prepares you in a way that you can perform Reiki on yourself every day. The class lessons teach you hand placements, techniques and how to perform Reiki in critical situations through "spot therapy." There are different kinds of Reiki sessions conducted for healthcare professionals where they are taught Reiki for a clinical setting. The sessions in both kinds of settings are mainly experiential; however, the teacher also helps you understand the history and origins of Reiki for a deeper understanding. The most important aspect of the class is to empower students to learn the power and use of energy. The first degree course has four initiations that teach you how to practice Reiki on yourself and family members.

The second degree is about distant therapy. In this, you learn how to replace the hand-to-body contact with a mental connect, so that healing is possible even when touch is impossible or inappropriate.

The third level is to attain the Reiki master title. In the early years, this training was exclusively offered by invitation only. Accomplished students who were ready to give their lives to Reiki were the ones who were eligible for invitation. This training is a little different from the other two as it requires you to complete an extended apprenticeship with a Reiki master. In order to teach another, it is mandatory to go through the third level of training.

Vaastu For January 2016

Let your home be an abode for the gods with our Vaastu tips for your home shrine.

Vaastu Tips for the Home Shrine!

Just like a best friend, a book or good advice, Vaastu is something you can always go back to when you have doubts in your mind. You will certainly find a solution and a positive one at that. This month, we tell you how you can use the ancient principles of Vaastu for your modern day temple at home.

Home temples, shrines and altars are our go-to spaces when it comes to seeking positivity. They are the most auspicious elements of any home. Being an integral part of the home, we all want to follow the proper ways of keeping the gods happy. One of the most important aspects in achieving this is the direction. If the direction is not right, the home will not benefit from the veneration. To have God's blessings always showered on you and your family, make sure it is Vaastu compliant.

Home shrines should be designed cautiously as they are sacred and connect us to the divine and the cosmos. The positive vibrations will improve the overall energy and increase the benefit of prayers. Make sure the divine sanctuary you build in your home is placed higher above so that the deity's feet should be at the level of the devotee's chest. Inside the shrine, whichever god you worship, the idol's height shouldn't be more than 10 inches as it is considered inauspicious.

Place the shrine in the north-east corner of your home. However, due to any reason, if the north-east corner is unavailable, then you can place it on the east or west side of your home. If you are planning to build a shrine from scratch, consider using wood or marble with a dome on the top. Do not place the shrine directly on the floor as it is considered to be disrespectful towards the gods. Place the diya, candle or incense in the south-east direction for the positive vibes to spread. Also, keep in mind to not place your ancestors' pictures in the temple alongside the gods.

These simple tips, when followed sincerely, can yield positive results and help you grown in your life and career.