4 Ways to Add the South Asian Touch into Your Home

By Sundeep Sandhu, guest blogger  @Designwali
Hey folks. I’m Sundeep and I blog over at Designwali. I’m a South Asian mom of two who lives a demanding corporate life by day, but loves to delve into all things interior design by night. I’m not an expert by any means, but along the years I have picked up a few tips on how to blend my modern aesthetic with a South Asian touch. Here are a few tips on how you can do the same…

Designer: Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Photographer: Tim Street-Porter, Featured in Elle Decor

1.     Fabric
If you don’t know where to start, look inside your Indian suit closet (if you are lucky enough to have one). If you are anything like me, you must have some pretty pieces that probably need to be retired right? Use those old sarees or dupathas for your home. Try your hand at making pillows, stretch it over some canvas for that pop of colour, or frame cut pieces and make a gallery wall?  In my case, I used an old shawl as a throw draped on my daughter’s bed and got an instant fix.

Designer: Jonathan Adler, Photographer: William Waldron, Featured in Elle Decor

2.     Art
Indian themed art can automatically adds a South Asian flavour into your home. Now some of you maybe lucky and may have acquired a few originals while on your travels abroad, but believe it or not there are some talented artists that are local. Look for their work on sites like Etsy  or Society 6 . If you don’t have a big budget for originals, use your own photography or buy some Indian themed calendars and frame them up. Or you know you can always go shopping at your parents’ house for some finds.

Designer: Marie Burgos, Photographer: Francis Augustine, Featured on Houzz.com

3.     Sculpture
Bring out your bowls, vases and brass peacocks if you have them. Sculpture can be a great way to layer character into your home. You can pull out your hand carved wood mirrors, trays or clay pots and have them tell a story. If you don’t haven any to choose from, hit your local flea market or even global stores like Homesense (www.homesense.ca), West Elm (www.westelm.com) & CB2 (www.cb2.com) and you’ll definitely find an ethnic inspired treasure or two.  Just be careful to limit your quantity, otherwise it will look like your mom’s curio cabinet.
4.     Colour
Adding colour is a quick way to bring in South Asian flare whether you punch up your palette with colourful accessories like cushions or art, or pick vibrant wallpapers or paint colour.  I usually stick to a neutral wall palette and punch it up with colourful fabrics and texture. But you can go bold with your wall colour and really step it up a notch! I mean our culture is alive in colour.don’t believe me? When was the last time you went to an Indian wedding without any colour?

Designer: Rafael de Cardenas, Photographer: William Waldron, Featured in Elle Decor

South Asian influences in home decorating are vast and diverse and as long as you love the pieces you bring into your home, you’ll create a space that tells a story and shows a little piece of you.

You can follow more of Sundeep’s design ideas on her blog: designwali.com

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