Setting up an “Indian” home with Patachitra paintings, Palm leaf engravings and more

Your home is your personal paradise on earth. Adorning it is an uphill task. No, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get those décor items at place- but perhaps because there are so many ideas splashed on the Internet and the magazines, you are often overwhelmed simply by the choices you have at your disposal.

Is it that difficult to decorate the home exactly the way you want?

The trick here is to zero in on a single idea that you want your house to reflect. Since it’s your house, there’s always going to be a bit of “you” in every room. You can keep this point in view to pick up the décor materials that you think will comply with your personality and convenience the best. Offbeat décor materials range from anything like frame-less mirrors to bedroom fairy lights and blended wall fixtures. Today, we are offering a few home décor tips for those who are looking at decking up their home with purely Indian home décor arts and crafts. Let us read on.

How to Decorate your home with purely Indian home decor arts and crafts? 

To start off with, let us tell you that nothing on earth can render that much coveted earthy feel to your home as well as Indian Home Décor can do. India is a country known for its rich heritage and exotic art. The creative acumen of Indian artists and craftsmen has drawn praise from the entire world. It stands unparalleled to this day. In fact, Indian handicrafts are famous across the globe since the times of Mohenjo-Daro.  Here are a few tips with the help of which you can set up an “Indian” home of your dreams.

Trendy Home Decor Items Online

It’s all about Patachitra, Palmleaf and Dhokra

One of the items immediately associable with Indian décor is patachitra painting. Patachitra painting is very simply described as scroll painting done on cloths. Hailed as the traditional painting of Odhisa, India, Patachitra paintings have adorned many a homes across the country and are eternally associated with class and refined tastes. The colors used in this form of painting are completely natural made by the Oriya painters or Chitrakaras. This style of painting remains the oldest types of painting in the state.

As far as home décor is concerned Patachitra paintings can well be the “life” of your living room. A large painting taking up that central wall of your room, accentuated by the right kind of lighting can just turn out to be the cynosure of all eyes.

Palm leaf engravings or paintings, once again, make for one of most ancient crafts of the world. Also known as Talpatachitras, palm leaf engraving is an art which has reached new heights today as far as homedécor is concerned.

Anybody looking to render a completely Indian look to his or her abode first turns to palm leaf paintings. The ethnic art comprising inscriptions (made on palm leaves) adds a whole lot of flexibility to your choices. Though the palm leaves are generally cut into standard sizes, you can always aim for a custom look by choosing shapes that are a little quirky and unique in their own ways.

Dhokra is a metallurgy based art which has been a traditional favorite of homemakers as well. At the heart of Dhokra craft is brass-ware. Have you seen those beautiful brass showpieces – tribal couples, elephants, candle stands and bells? They generally make for a regular feature at the trade fairs – no matter in which part of India you are.

Make sure you are including these décor items in your home while setting up your dream “Indian” home.  

Go Ethnic with Your Handmade Home Decor

If we discuss popular ethnic handmade home décor items, we visualize cushions with mirror work, wall hangings, embroidered table and sofa covers, hand carved mirror or photo frames in copper, fulkari bed cover and so on. Does not these images present a perfect ethnic home décor? Interestingly, all these items that people all over the world rave about are handmade. The intricate thread work may give you an impression of some machine but as a matter of fact, there are families who have dedicated their generations in past and will do in future as well, to these art works. These skillful artisans have inherited the talent as legacy and sometimes are forced to choose this over any other profession. Let us discuss some novelty handmade home décor items that will give your enormous flat in posh locality or a modest home in a small town an ethnic home décor.

Choice of Colours

Colours go a long way when you want to give ethnic Indian flavour to your home décor. So, when you plan makeover, include warm coloured items to your room. We understand that changing the wall colours are not always possible and we are not insisting for it either. But if you incorporate décor items like sofa covers, cushions, wall pieces, and curtains in different shades of red, orange, yellow and brown, your home will look cosy and welcoming.

Indian Handicrafts available online for Home Decoration

Concept of Ethnic Look for a Living Room

Ethnic look will be incomplete without woodwork items. Hand-carved wooden decorative items look very sophisticated and they complement any décor. Similarly the zaffri work also gives an elegant and inviting appearance. But if you don't have them and including them would mean exceeding your budget in leaps and bounds, don't feel disappointed. Get your old wooden furniture and varnish it in glossy finish. Zari work table cover in earthly hues will take your décor to another level. As mentioned before, bright coloured cushion covers with mirror work all over are integral to your handmade ethnic home décor. Similarly, curtains you are using can be embroidered for that extra impression. Don't forget to gather them and tie up with a silk tassel. Rugs and carpets look great in an ethnic themed décor but to be truthful, handmade one would cost a fortune.

Ethnic Home Decor

For the Indian essence in your bedroom, you can put some efforts from your side. Stitch your old silk sarees into curtains. Add zari, gota or appliqué to make it even beautiful. These days you will find different bed sets that are essentially Indian in look. With golden thread work, raw silk patches and even sequins embellished here and there, they make your room mutedly gorgeous. A lampshade with dokra work or stained glass will give it seal of perfection. At the end of this make over session, you won't stop smiling at the final result of your handmade ethnic themed home décor.

Some Essential Items

We all know that Indian handmade art and crafts are high on demand. It will be no short of foolishness not to include them in your home décor. A white and blue ceramic vase at the corner, wooden horse or hand-carved elephant on the glass shelf, hand-carved wooden or black metal jewellery box for your beautiful wooden dresser, soapstone jar of jali work beside your music system, pattachitra wall piece, jute-made lamp shade on the side table with sofa, a brass lamp hanging from the ceiling and the list can go on but you will never fall short for options to make your home sophisticated with ethnic handmade home décor items. However, catch is to maintain the thin line between giving your house an ethnic facelift yet stop right before it becomes your personal museum.