Contents
What is Vaastu Shastra? ... 2
Vaastu — Living in Harmony with the Five Elements ... 3
History of Vaastu Shastra ... 3
Necessity of Vaastu Shastra ... 4
Why and how to follow Vaastu ... 4
Is Vaastu a science? ... 5
Role of Vaastu Science in 21st century ... 5
How colors influence Vaastu / Vaastu Shastra? ... 6
CREATING MOOD WITH COLOR ... 8
NURTURING NEUTRALS: ... 8 INTELLECTUAL COLORS: ... 8 PLAYFUL COLORS: ... 8 HEALING COLORS: ... 8 ROMANTIC COLORS:... 9 PERSONAL STYLE: ... 9
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE COLORS ... 9
THE COLOR WHEEL ... 10
Know more about your paints ... 11
How to decorate house with Vaastu Shastra? ... 13
The factors to be considered while designing the exteriors ... 14
How to manage the interiors with Vaastu ... 16
Designing a Kitchen ... 17
Bedroom ... 20
IDEAL BEDROOM ... 21
IDEAL BATHROOM ... 24
UNDERSTANDING THE LIGHTING SYSTEM ... 25
MAINTAINING THE LIGHTING SYSTEM ... 26
READING ROOM LIGHTING ... 26
BEDROOM LIGHTING ... 27
SWIMMING POOL / FOUNTAINS LIGHTING ... 27
GARDEN LIGHTING ... 27
LIVING ROOM LIGHTING ... 27
KITCHEN LIGHTING... 28
Vaastu for placing doors & windows ... 28
Vaastu at a glance... 30
The Fundamentals of Vaastu ... 32
Example of a Good Vaastu Two Bedroom House & Description of Details ... 32
The Fundamentals of Vaastu ... 34
Principle One: Auspicious & Inauspicious Directions ... 34
Principle Two: Height & Weight ... 34
Principle Three: Downward Slope ... 35
Principle Four: Open Space ... 36
S
E
W
N
BlackWATER
House of Kuber TRANQUILITY RELAXATION SEXUAL RELATION MEDITATION GrayMETAL
House of Vayu ORGANIZE LEAD BlueEARTH
House of Shiva MOTIVATION PURPOSE STUDENT RedFIRE
House of Yama SUCCESS FAME YellowEARTH
PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL HEALTH WhiteMETAL
House of Varun (Lakshmi) LOVE OF FAMILY PROSPERITY OF FAMILY GreenWOOD
House of Indra (Sun) CONTENTMENT OPTIMISM PinkEARTH
House of Wind STRONG RELATIONSHIP PRACTICALITY PurpleWOOD
House of Brahma WEALTH CREATIVITYWhat is Vaastu Shastra?
Universe is one of the beautiful creations of nature and everything stands alive only in the limelight of truth. Just like every subject of human aspect is governed with rules, regulations & acts, similarly the nature has also got certain key factor principles for smooth governing of its residents, in which "Vaastu stands for nature law" and ignorance of law is not an excuse anywhere.
Vaastu is an inherent energy concept of science. We cannot see energy with our naked eyes but we can realize and see its application in different forms and fashions. We all know that "upto the knowledge of mind is called Science and beyond the knowledge of mind is called Spirituality." Hence, Vaastu is not only a science, but is a bridge between man and nature, thus teaching us the Art of Living.
Vaastu Shastra is the ancient science of architecture that teaches how to live in harmony with Nature and how to influence Nature so that it works for your benefit. It is part of a vast body of Vedic knowledge written over 5.000 years ago. ‘Vaastu’ means dwelling and ‘Shastra’ means scientific treatise — the science of designing and building homes according to the eternal laws of Nature. There is a natural order and structure to Creation and Vaastu sets forth its principles. Although the same Nature exists everywhere, every location is different. Vaastu shows us which places and homes are best to live in.
Whether you live in a simple thatched hut or a substantial estate, if it has been built according to the rules of Vaastu, you will have a heaven — a refuge from the chaos and confusion of the outer world. Nature’s bounty will flow in your life and its severity will be subdued. By living and working in such an environment, Nature will support you and your life will progress in a smooth and beautiful way. The science of Vaastu as a very practical, effective way to solve many of life’s problems. He says, “Good Vaastu creates the main things we need in life — peace, prosperity, power and happiness. If you follow the principles of Vaastu your life will be successful. Vaastu can and will change any person’s life. You can fix your life by using Vaastu. Seriously, it will change your life. In buildings where the secret force of the elements supports you, positive vibrations will flow strongly into your life. I can’t say you will be a huge billionaire, but your life will be so happy. You will be living in bliss. When your land, its surrounding walls, the house and its interiors are built according to Vaastu, it brings a lot of peace prosperity, power and happiness. What else do you need? These are the major issues in human life. 80 % of your problems can be solved through Vaastu. Your life will become very happy and blissful.”
Your home’s Vaastu impacts every aspect of your life. It affects you whether you believe in Vaastu or not. Good Vaastu in the places where you live and work brings good fortune, while bad Vaastu creates unnecessary suffering. By following the principles of Vaastu you can transform the quality of life. You can transform anyone’s life. You can change your experience and alter your destiny. With good Vaastu, health, happiness and success come much more easily. While with bad Vaastu, obstacles, problems and hardships will come, seemingly without reason.
Vaastu Shastra is essentially the act of correct settings whereby one can place himself in such a manner so as to absorb the maximum benefits of the Panchbhootas (the five elements) as well as the influence of magnetic field surrounding the Earth.
Vaastu — Living in Harmony with the
Five Elements
Simply put, this ancient science of architecture teaches not only how to live in harmony with Nature but also how to induce the forces of Nature to work for your benefit. Sri Kaleshwar says, “Following Vaastu means following Nature — living in harmony with the Great five elements. Each of the elements has a proper position on our property and in our home. When the elements are correctly positioned, they become balanced and create the perfect vibrations. Then the positive effects of the elements will flow. Nature automatically cooperates with your soul and your life. In order to live a happy and successful life, you have to take protection in God’s elements, the roots of the tree of Vaastu, the Pancha Pranas, five life forces of Vaastu.
“Each of the five elements behaves in two ways: they have a positive effect and a negative effect. If they are used properly, they give good results. If not, they give negative results. It is necessary to make use of them in the right way. If the elements are not cooperating with us, if we are not accessing their vibrations perfectly, we will receive terrible sicknesses, unnecessarily create enemies, and without our notice, lose a lot of money. You cannot make spiritual progress or receive enlightenment that easily.”
History of Vaastu Shastra
The historical background:In the Vedic period, people built homes, temples and hermitages with a view to have a peaceful and harmonious living. But, in the modern world people build concrete clusters, mainly for the high rate of return. This race to make buildings not in line with the ancient by laws of Nature has led the world into pollution, environment and ecological problems with no peace of mind under any kind of shelter.
Vaastu Shilpa Shastra, the ancient mystic science and the art of designing and constructing buildings finds its origin in Stapatya Veda, which in turns is a part of Atharvana Veda, one of the 4 Vedas. Vedas are not new to the other parts of the world and there have been people of all levels who have appreciated the depth, inspirations and insight of Vedic thoughts for many years. Our saints knew various mysterious and mystics of this vast universe even before western scientist could start finding them out. One of the systems discovered by them was VAASTU SHASTRA.
Meaning – Because of VAASTU SHASTRA, the whole universe gets good health, happiness and all round prosperity. Human beings attain divinity with this knowledge.
Followers of VAASTU SHASTRA get not only worldly pleasure but also experience heavenly bliss. With the above Sloka, it is very much clear that VAASTU SHASTRA is universal. It is not confined to any particular group of people in the development of all human being irrespective of any caste, creed or religion.
Necessity of Vaastu Shastra
Why Vaastu is necessary?Vaastu is the bridge between man and Nature. Everything is made up of basic 5 elements – FIRE, WATER, EARTH, AIR and SPACE. All these elements are only found on Earth that is why it is the only planet that supports life and Nature. If the residential and commercial buildings are constructed without any regards to these elements then how would it will give any benefits? From each of the basic elements we are getting a strange precious gift due to infinite powers of the universe.
All materials in the world, irrespective of their size, shape, color, physical or chemical compositions have embedded their origins from one of the Panchbhootas. They enjoy peculiar vibration levels, which is evading the intelligence of human beings.
Vaastu is in a position to reduce the gravity of the problems faced by human beings as well as industries particularly those suffering from sickness through vibrations of Panchbhootas which has anchored their roots in the body of the human beings as well as the external and internal building configurations.
Why and how to follow Vaastu
Our sages and saints in India always wanted to ensure happiness and prosperity not only to mankind, but to everything living being in this world. Nowadays we hear a lot about the importance of ecology, pollution–free environment, Nature and all in big seminars and conferences. Our ancestors knew the secret of how to live in perfect harmony with Nature and enjoy all that it bestows in plenty for the upliftment of mankind. According to Mayamatam, Vaastu is used to designate dwelling or buildings and both the terms appear in the list of synonyms.
Vaastu as a legend in Matsya Purana, was born out of the sweat of Lord Shiva, while fighting and killing a giant called "Andhkasur”. A spirit originated out of the perspiration of Lord Shiva and consumed all the blood from the body of the devil. His hunger was still not satisfied. He then undertook penance. Lord Shiva was impressed and highly satisfied by his penance and offered him a boon. “Whoever constructs building on Earth shall offer Pooja (worship) to him and make offerings if they want to enjoy health, wealth, wisdom and prosperity in their new building. However, only those people who do not offer you prayers shall be at your mercy and you may trouble them in anyway.” There is a possibility that these stories were added in the olden scripts only to scare people and make them conscious about the subject. The science of Vaastu Shastra is however no mythological story and has stood the test of time for thousands of years. Vaastu Shilpa is divided into two parts:
(1) Deva Shilpa: It deals with all aspects of temple and religious activities including idol, Yagna etc.; (2) Manav Shilpa: It deals with houses, residential buildings, schools, commercial buildings etc.
The transmission of the knowledge had to take a corresponding form and integrate all the sciences as one seamless discipline. It is for this reason that the Sthapati or Vaastushilpi, the priest architect had to undergo a process of integrated learning. To this day, the Sthapatis take recourse to the collective knowledge of related discipline as to give shape to their creations. To understand Vaastu, one should understand the VAASTU PURUSHA MANDALA. Purusha and Mandala are associated with Vaastu (site). Vaastu encompasses the house with the site and its environment. According to the Vedic thought, Purusha is not only the cause and life behind all Prakriti, but also behind all creations of Man. Purusha is consciousness, the life source. It is also called Atman. Vaastupurusha Mandala is a
grid of square, regarded as a perfect figure, is conceived to be a fundamental form in architecture and all other shapes are derived from it. Vaastupurusha Mandala offered the formula to determine the functions of the building in relation to its orientation. Vaasturatnakara assigns specific functions to each direction. The South-East for example, is dedicated to Fire and North-East to the element Water. Invariably, the correspondence with the elements would determine the position of the rooms in the house. The space assigned to the region of fire, for instance, would be used for building a kitchen or reserved as a source for heat and warmth. The Mandala also served as a guide to locate the buildings on site and determining the position of the shrines in a temple complex.
Is Vaastu a science?
Vaastu science is founded upon the laws of Nature. The equilibrium we observe in the Nature is easily perceivable by us in all moving bodies, but unfortunately we are unable to note this equilibrium in static bodies. The basic source of energy of the whole world is stored at North and South Pole. It flows uninterruptedly from North Pole to South Pole in the form of magnetic waves. Therefore Southward portion of every building should be higher than the Northward portion so that there may not be any hindrance to the flow of magnetic waves.
The cars are so accurately balanced that even deflation in any of the tires can cause a serious accident. Similarly, when a building is constructed without observing the rules of Vaastu science, various calamities, diseases, accidents can occur. This is the eternal rule of the Nature and it has no place for any logic, doubt or debate.
Role of Vaastu Science in 21st century
Our ancient Vaastu Shastra has been founded in such a way, that the inmates can derive maximum benefits from sun rays and the energies of the sun like heat light, UV rays – the only reliable source of Vitamin D (which is absorbed by the blood directly when the bare skin is exposed to sun), which is vital for sustenance of life on the Earth.Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana too are of great scientific importance since daytime will be more than the nighttime in the Uttaraayana facilitating availability of more sunlight.
It is only some years ago that the modern scientists have discovered that the white solar light could be split into segments called visible rays and invisible heat spectrum. But thousands of years ago, our ancient Indian Sages, not equipped with any kind of appliances were able to discern many natural phenomena in a scientific manner and according to the visible spectrum had distinctive names with specific functions besides colors like: Jayanta, Parjanya, Mahendra… to Bhrsha and Aakaasha, which correspond to VIBGYOR.
Other than that, sunrays consist of 7 colors (VIBGYOR) and their effect on human body is immense as it cures several diseases.
The modern astrophysics, during the last few decades, has divided the atmosphere into several zones like stratosphere, ozonosphere etc., but several centuries before this discovery, the atmosphere over which Varuna held its way was divided by our sages into Bhu, Bhuv, Swar, Jan, Tap and Satyalok. The Eastern direction assumes a great significance because the sunrays of early morning emit more light and less heat, hence the best. In the afternoon, sun moving towards West, grow hot emitting infrared rays, which are detrimental to health. Thus, due to all these reasons, it is explicitly laid down in Vaastu Shastra that more open space, more windows and doors fixed, more balconies and verandas should be provided towards the East and North side than to the South and West side.
The most important aspect considered while formulating Vaastu Shastra is the magnetic field of the Earth, which has significant influence on the human life. Human body itself acts as a magnet with the head, the heaviest as North Pole. If the head is directed towards the North while sleeping, the North Pole of the Earth and that of the human body repel each other affecting the blood circulation, causing disturbed sleep, tension and other problems. Thus, it is said by Vaastu Shastris that ONE SHOULD NOT SLEEP FACING HIS HEAD TOWARDS NORTH.
Now-a-days many hi-tech instruments are available by which one can detect Vaastu defect of a house by measuring the energy level of the person residing in. By using Feed Back Energy tester, one can not only detect Vaastu defect by measuring the energy of the human, but the same person can restore the energy with the help of ‘Yong Yang Deep Stimulator’. Another device to measure the human energy field is ‘Lecher Antenna’.
In the most recent survey of the Gujarat earthquake effected regions, the maximum houses destroyed were not according to Vaastu and those intact were constructed on the principles of Vaastu.
How colors influence Vaastu / Vaastu
Shastra?
Colors are most powerful in influencing the human mind and body. It is also the least expensive, easiest and quickest to use, to change and to create a decorating scheme. In Vedic periods, all colors were taken out from vegetables and flowers, which were more permanent in shade, soothing to eye and natural tint. At an early period in human history the symbolic use of colors was made. During early period heart, which was the seat of life and the blood was identified with life and consciousness and was colored red. Yellows were possibly the color of fire and white that of the day. Vaastu Shastra provides vital guidelines as to how to decorate our homes etc. in decent manner to derive maximum delight with dignity and décor.
According to some Vaastukars, the color schemes should conform to the Rasi (constellation / zodiac sign) of the owner to bring good luck and happiness.
If a room has poor daylight, it should be painted in light color and if a room gets good amount of natural light throughout the day, it can be painted in some deep color. If a room has only a North window, which admits cold light, we should not use blue on the walls. If a room gets much direct sunlight, it is not advisable to paint the walls yellow or peach. It is nearly better to have ceilings white and the ceiling temperature should be less than the human body temperature. Some scholars suggest different color to the direction the building faces. They are really the colors of the planets governing these directions.
Color contrast in value is perhaps the most important factor in a composition or a design. Maximum contrast is obtained by the use of colors of extremely strong chromes. A strong yellow on a black field
is an excellent example of maximum visibility. A bright strong yellowish red would be considered as a powerful color. The color of an object depends upon the light it emits or sends back to an eye. Opposite contrast colors are quickly changed when mixed as for black which makes colors both brighter and lighter in looks. Surrounding an intense color with a grey increases the apparent colorfulness of the intense color making. It appears even brighter or brilliant. Surrounded by yellow, a grey color may appear slightly blue. Surrounded by red, it may appear slightly green and surrounding by grey with a bright color on other hand may influence the eye to discern in the greying of the complementary of the bright colors.
One must always bear in mind that no individual is completely white (good) or black (bad), but is an amalgam of the two grey. A sensible good blending can create a forceful creation.
A particular color can activate or can control human glands by different bodily functions. Such as for good appetizer or to give excitement for the low blood pressure patient, a light limited soothing color atmosphere is recommended. Similarly blue color is to stop overeating habits. For a high blood pressure patient, a light limited soothing color atmosphere is recommended. For quicker healing, green color is used in hospitals. For a good, healthy, tasty food, golden yellow or tinted brown color is recommended.
Colors affect our body and mind very much. The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colors the most.
The cool colors are blue sea or mainly blue in cast. The warm colors are red or mainly blue [red] in cast. The warm colors are red and yellow in cast.
Red makes you feel gay while man can work best when surrounded by blue, but too strong blue or red cause depression.
People often feel cold in blue room and warm in a red room. It is the color that makes them feel that way.
Zodiac sign Colors suggested Direction Color suggested
Aries Coral red East (Sy / Sun) Shining white
Taurus Milky white West (Sa / Saturn) Blue
Gemini Green North (Bu / Mercury) All greens
Cancer Rose red, pearl white South (Ma / Mars) Pink, coral red Leo Ruby red, dim white North-East (Gu / Jupiter) Golden yellow Virgo Emerald green South-West (Ra / Rahu) All greens Libra Cement color, milky white South-East (Sk / Venus) Silver white Scorpio Pink, coral red North-West (Ch / Moon) White Sagittarius Golden yellow
Capricorn Dim red Aquarius Pink, blue
CREATING MOOD WITH COLOR
Color has a profound effect on our mood. In clothing, interiors, landscape and even natural light, a color can change mood from sad to happy, from confusion to intelligence, from fear to confidence. Particular colors have different effects on each individual. Response to a color may be influenced by a number of factors such as the body’s need for a specific color, a sad or happy memory associated with a color. In previous decades, certain colors or group of colors dominated every palette. Now in millennium, the stopper is out and uniqueness and personal preferences are really in. There are no absolutes in the world of color. Some colors make you want to get out of your chair, others make you want to nestle down and read. Some colors are articulate and must be listened to. Others are very quiet. Some colors indicate that you have travelled or are well-read. Yet others create a desire for closeness, intimacy and love. Following are some of the most typical responses to various color groups.
NURTURING NEUTRALS:
These colors create a sense of peace and well-being. They foster quiet conversation with family and friends and can dispel loneliness. Throughout time, mankind has found a sense of peace and tranquility when in touch with “Mother Earth“. It follows that colors which impart a sense of warmth and serenity come directly from the Earth. In addition to the Earth colors in the neutral group are colors associated with sea such as sand, shell, coral, pearl, stone, seaweed. GREEN is a color which helps us to adjust to new environments and situations. It will always be found among the ‘nurturing neutrals’. The BLUES represented here will range from winter sky to stream to midnight. The neutrals are somewhat like the furniture while other palettes are more like accents or accessories.
INTELLECTUAL COLORS:
These are the sharp, witty and unique colors which convey a message that the owner has travelled, is well-read and has something to say. These colors will command respect without being overbearing. This palette also starts with Earthy, warm base. Grey is a color which promotes creativity and will often be found in foundation of an intellectual palette. These greys will be warm and gentle. Some tones of blue suggest communication and trust, so it will naturally be found in the intellectual palette. Navy blues will often find their way in this palette, but its effect is warm and never cold and fragile. Red also appears in this intellectual palette, but the shades will be Earthy and complicated burgundy, cranberry.
PLAYFUL COLORS:
These colors are exciting and used for a fun providing environment these playful, whimsical palettes create their own kind of music, like the sounds of children playing. There are highs and lows, lights and darks and always movement and activity. Used in active spaces within the home, a ‘playful’ palette can add energy and vitality. But if overdone, this type of palette becomes irritating and stressful. The foundation of this palette is WHITE. This could be anywhere from vanilla ice cream to snow drifting to winter moon. Then the bubble gum pink, buttercup, wintergreen, all the berry colors and crayon colors. Many of these colors will be cool, and even in lighter tones there will be brightness and clarity. The bottom line in creating this type of palette is that the colors should suggest a sense of freedom, play and downright fun.
HEALING COLORS:
This palette includes the colors which are very refreshing and rejuvenating. Like nurturing colors, ‘healing colors’ also begin by getting in touch with Nature. The first group of colors considered in this
palette is GREEN. Because they have the power to help us adjust to new environments, skillful designers use lots of plants and other forms of green. Healing greens may be warm or cool, but not muddy or mysterious like those in the intellectual palette. Healing palettes also take inspirations from warm Earth tones. These palettes usually contain contrast as well as clarity of color that is inspiring. They will include a range of lights and darks but will never be muddy.
ROMANTIC COLORS:
Many species including the human beings attempt to attract the opposite sex with colors. RED is the color of sex and lust and is often called the most romantic of colors. It is no accident that red is the chosen symbolic color for the Valentine’s Day. In interior design, however, a less intense, softer tone of red is far more conducive to romance than the pure hue. Often referred as PINKS, these colors vary from cool to warm and from light to dark. Pinks have an interesting quality that seems to halt the body’s ability to stay angry. PURPLE is another color which is definitively romantic because of its passionate, unpredictable and quixotic characteristics. Paler, less intense tones of ORANGE such as apricot and peach are often included in the romantic palette, suggesting purity and innocence. BLUES in the romantic palette will be cool and inspired by water.
PERSONAL STYLE:
There are no trends in color as important as personal style. Today, most designers draw from many historical periods as well as contemporary influences and mix them together to create unique personal spaces. The most effective color palettes reflect and enhance the interests, collections and activities of the people who live there as well as architectural features.
The effects of color on mood will vary from individual to individual. Color schemes have emotional messages too. An awareness of the emotions generated by different colors is helpful in planning personal palettes that will be pleasant to live with, but it must be understood that this information is not absolute. Subtle changes in tone can increase or decrease the emotions evoked by a particular color, allowing it to be included in many diverse palettes.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE COLORS
Color is the most powerful decorating element in our homes. Color is memorable and above all personal. An understanding of color can really help us achieve the goal of a pleasant, personal and comfortable home. There are hundreds of options but only one decision maker, that matters and that is you. The people who eat and sleep, entertain, play and rejuvenate in the spaces are the ones whose well-being is affected.If we understand the basics of the color, then we can make a perfect color scheme.
The colors are divided into three categories:
Primary color
These are the three basic hues, red, blue and yellow. They are the foundation of the color wheel and all other colors are derived from them.
Secondary color
When two primary colors are mixed, they form a secondary color. They are orange, green and violet.
Tertiary color
Neutrals
Using neutrals does not mean not using color. Any low intensity color that is used as a background for other accent colors, features, furniture and objects in a space can be classified as neutrals. Neutrals are practical and by changing accessories and fabrics the look of space can be dramatically altered against the same neutral background.
THE COLOR WHEEL
The color wheel is a complete picture of all the colors available,once you understand this, there will not be any problem in forming any color scheme. In the color wheel at the right, the primaries form a triangle with equal sides with in the circle, and the secondaries form another triangle opposite to that. Each color has a ‘complement’ which is located directly across from it on the wheel. Thus, green is complement of red, orange is complement of blue. A perfectly balanced color scheme might use equal parts of three colors which are equidistant on the color wheel. Interior designers often compensate for intensity by either tinting (adding white) or toning (adding black) or by graying (adding complementary colors). In these way they create contrast through a change in value (lightness and darkness) or intensity (brightness and dullness). With even this limited information, it is easy to see how the possibilities for combining colors are infinite and inviting. Using the tints and tones, the total effect is lively and pleasing but not overwhelming, a beautifully colored room. Now here are some of the colors with their effects and the Nature they depict and the places where they are suggested to use.
RED
Red is the most dramatic, emotional and active of the three
primaries. It is an especially versatile color in its effects, enlivening interior spaces by creating excitement, warmth and elegance. The use of red suggests a bold and confident attitude. It is used in those areas where one needs excitement like the bars. It is less often used in sleeping area because of its energizing quality. The complement of red is green.
BLUE
Blue is the only color which is the most universally equated with the beauty. Blue is timeless, linking the present with tradition and lasting values. It is the most versatile in expressive values. Psychologically, blue is associated with tranquility and contentment. In interior design, softer and lighter blues are generally preferred for the larger areas.
YELLOW
It is a powerful color, both light in value and extremely intense in its purest form. It evokes a sense of energy and excitement. Yellow is a perennial favorite in interior design, combining with greens to provide the natural freshness and with red for gaiety and richness.
GREEN
Green is the most common choice of the designers. It is often used as a dominant room color. Green goes with every other color and makes it a natural neutral. It represents the greenery of the Nature and thus provides the room with liveliness.
VIOLET
It seems to be a color of emotional contrasts. Its paler tints are unabashedly romantic, fragile and quiet feminine. It enjoyed the popularity in the Victorian era and now as pure colors emerges again, beautiful violet is certain to be a player.
ORANGE
It is amazingly versatile, capable of emitting great energy in its purest form and as an Earth tone, it evokes warmth, comfort and reassurance. Nowadays, the lighter orange, popularly known as peach, is common in use as it gives a cool effect.
PASTELS
Pastels are simply lighter tints of any hue, white added to red yields pink and light pink is a pastel. There is not any particular definition for a pastel color but when colors become so light that they almost seem to be white, they are pastels. The pastels are becoming more and more popular as they crate the most sober and elegant look.
Enjoy color, take these tips from the professionals and then you can become creative. You must think about the people in your home who matter the most for you and then imagine the things you do together and then finally go for a final color scheme.
Know more about your paints
Paint has been used for centuries to decorate all kinds of homes and in that time a huge variety of finishes and effects have been employed beyond the flat coverage of a simply painted surface. Many of what are now regarded as traditional paint effects have their origins in the great houses of the European aristocracy and were later adopted by the rising merchant classes who wanted to share in those splendors themselves. Paint effects are a wonderful way to express your character and that of your home and the people who live with you.
Transformation, illusion, or more frankly deception, was usually the guiding principle, whether the effect was one of rough stone, luxurious marbling or the opulence of gliding. As early as the fourteen century, for example the art of gliding – applying thin layers of gold to surfaces such as wood or plaster, became an immensely popular way of imitating the real gold decoration that only the richest could effort. Wood graining, for example, allowed people to enjoy the beauty and elegance of expensive woods without the cost, as the finishes were applied over cheaper timber. Today great houses may have the best preserved examples of traditional paint finishes, but there are other good examples of wonderful effects in much simpler public buildings, in homes or apartment. For example, the color blue-grey represents the traditional Scandinavian interior, the dazzling blues, soft pinks and warm ochre’s that outface the Mediterranean sun and the sober tones remind of the interiors of United States. These are styles and finishes firmly rooted in the often harsh climate and economic or social realities of a particular region, perpetuated over centuries by people whom the concept of style has often, for one good reason or another, been meaningless.
Many of the materials used in the past are still available and experts working on great old buildings and antique furniture undertake restoration work using the same equipment and techniques.
Materials of today are less toxic and many are available in a wider range of colors, they offer an attractive alternative. Painting walls has often had greater significance than the simple imperatives of domestic decoration and display. Many ancient civilizations decorated the insides and outsides of their temples and state and public buildings with paint.
Choosing the color and finish for the walls are probably the most important decision you make when decorating a room. The paint should reflect the character of those who live and work there and the atmosphere they want to create. However, daring to try something new is fun and may reveal a new side of you, the possibilities are endless.
Creating the right wall finish for a period interior was once time consuming and expensive. Today successful substitutes have been found for the unusual and expensive products required using the different permutations and combinations, one can easily reproduce the interiors with an authentic look. Any style of interior is now within your range – from a country kitchen to a baronial hallway. Paint techniques can also be used to disguise some surface imperfections, which is much cheaper than having your walls re-plastered. Thus, one should always consider the following tips while doing the paint.
A poor surface treated with the right paint technique can be transformed into a wall of character. Equally, a perfectly smooth new wall can be given instant interest and texture.
Each room must be treated individually, even though you may want a cohesive scheme throughout your home.
Remember some areas suffer extra wear and tear; certain finishes may not be practical for kitchens or bathrooms, and others need special attraction.
Always choose the color according to the space. Pale colors give a sense of space and darker ones make a room even smaller.
Remember too that the color of the base coat will greatly alter the glaze coat applied to it. The most striking color effects are often achieved by using white as the base color.
Here are some of the effects of the paints that one can create apart from the flat surface, but one should be aware of the effect, one desire to create.
COLORWASHING
Color-washing is among the group of finishes that have their beginnings in fine art, they are often known as broken-color technique. Specifically, it involves the application of thin washes of glaze in which the brush marks are left apparent to give the finish texture and depth. It provides an interesting alternative to flat color and can be used to decorate period or modern town or country interiors .
SPONGING
Sponging is a modern broken-color technique. Natural sponge, moistened with water or soaked in glaze and used over the opaque base coat to produce a softly mottled effect – either by removing or adding color. Usage of sea sponge creates more interesting textures that normal household sponge.
STIPLING
Traditionally stippling entails the reworking of newly applied paint to create a finely textured, matt finish. A well prepared surface is essential and a steady hand. An elegant effect which adds subtle ageing to a room, it looks good on wood paneling, furniture and frames.
DRY BRUSHING
In this technique, the brush is kept relatively dry as glaze is applied lightly over a base coat to create a cloudy effect. It can be subtle if applied in soft tones with soft strokes or bold if you use hard bristled brushes and strong colors. An easy way to give texture to modern interiors, it is also used to create an aged finish for period settings. It is ideal for highlighting architectural moldings and because it is extremely resilient, for furniture.
MEDITERRANEAN LOOK
The word Mediterranean gives us impact of wonderful chalky colors of sun baked, painted house. It gives a very country look kind of the atmosphere. Random brushing and hard rubbing create the characteristic roughness and depth of tone. It can be used on a variety of surface but is natural suited to uneven plaster and textured surfaces.
TEXTURING
There are many different ways to texture paints. The obvious advantage of texturing is that it is a wonderful disguise for imperfect wall. But it can bring character to any surface, or a tough finish to a garden room or exterior wall.
WOOD FINISHES
Paint finishes on wood can be as authentic and fantastic as you wish. Color is the determining factor but with today’s wide choice of colors, the scope for experiment is enormous. Paint effects can also ‘age’ new wood quickly. This is an important period setting, where new wood is often ill at ease. Stairs, handrails, floors and frames can also be aged to add a period feel to any home.
BORDERS
Borders are nowadays becoming very common and people are having a keen interest in them. Painted borders are a neglected way of bringing additional interest to wall surfaces. Borders painted by hand are essentially individual. One can choose color and patterns one wants and can make them simple or complex.
How to decorate house with Vaastu
Shastra?
Great importance is given for the decoration of the house with the paintings, idols and especially the main door decoration. The main door was considered very important in ancient days and even today as the people used to think that all the prosperity and money comes from the main door.
The following Sloka explains the rules relating the above things:
"Grahe Na Ramayan bhatatha hawan chitram kurupanahvamindra jalikam . Shilocha yaarnyamayam sadhasuram bheeshmam kurutha krindhanaram thvanambaram.
Vaarah shaardhul shiva prudhakavo grudhabi golukapothavayasaa Sashye nagothadhi vakadhi patrino vichitratha no sharane shubhavaha."
Meaning - To display the following in a house is not good - war scenes from Ramayana and
Mahabharata, fight scenes using swords, Inderjall (magic) scenes, stone or wooden statues of terrifying giants or demons, scenes of weeping and crying people in tears.
Paintings, portraits, statues: Decorative lights, chandeliers, bookshelf, vases, flower pots and
furniture etc. should be meticulously and tastefully selected and placed in appropriate settings so that they look attractive and follow Vaastu principles etc.
The pictures, painting or models of the animals like pigs, snake and birds like eagle, owl, crow, pigeons, vultures should not be placed in a house.
All pictures or wooden or metal figures of wild beasts like tigers, lions, wolves, bears, jackals, and wild asses, hounds etc. should be avoided.
The heavy furniture should be placed in the Southwest side of the room and the light furniture can accommodate in any corner.
Symbols like Swastika, Om, Rangoli decorations stop the entry of evil spirits and evil influences in the house.
The photographs of the ancestors should be placed on the Southwestern side of the house.
The clock should be placed on the Eastern, Western or Northern wall.
Installation of Idols in homes and other buildings: A Pooja or worship place is a must in a home; it
is better to have one in office, factory, schools, colleges and other buildings too. The appropriate place is the North-East corner of the building and if not then the North-East corner of the room in house and central chowk or garden or lawn of other buildings. The deities like Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar, Surya, Inder should face East or West and four-headed Brahma, six-headed Kartikeya, five-faced Shiva can be placed facing any direction. Hanuman-ji should face Southwest.
Whatever is exhibited should be pleasing to the eyes and mind bringing joy and cheer to those who view them; aesthetic and cultural aspects also should be borne in mind, while selecting decorative pieces or paintings and pictures and placing them in our home.
The factors to be considered while
designing the exteriors
Whenever we buy a plot, the first thing that is done is to prepare a site plan for the approval of competent authority before preparing the building plan. Once it is approved, one goes for the building plan. For each type of building the requirements are different as prescribed by developmental authorities, but Vaastu Shastra apply the same basic principles to all the buildings used by humans whether it is a house, office or shopping complex. Here one has to meet the requirements of Vaastu as well as the authority to make a building plan. So here are some points which one should always consider before designing the plan.
The open space around the building: We have to carefully examine the space given to us around the
building and make sure that you are leaving the maximum space in North and East side and less on South and West sides. The construction should never be on the Northern and Eastern wall as this violates the basic principle of Vaastu. The left area in North should not be less [smaller] compared to the open area left in the South as this is very bad according to Vaastu so one must correct it defect before developing this plan.
The proportion: The ratio between the length and breadth of the building should normally be 1:1 or
become a ‘long bar’ shaped plot and is not at all auspicious for anyone. The building dimension should preferably be longer in North–South and shorter in East–West.
The levels: At any level, whether ground level or first level, the West, South, South–West sides
should be more elevated than the North, North–East and East sides. Basically the flow of water should always be from the South to North or West to East as it creates a lot of positive energies.
Roofing: The roofing slope should always be towards East and North so that the water always flows
towards North and East. Nowadays, it’s a fashion to keep the roof sloppy, for that one must always be careful to make the slopes in North and East sides. Slanting towards South or West should be avoided as it causes serious health problems.
The height: The height is another criterion, which in one way is again related to weight. The height
either be kept equal everywhere in the building or it will be preferred to keep the South and West higher than the North and East as the South, West sides will automatically get heavier and this is very auspicious. But never keep the North and East sides at more heights than the South, West.
Terrace / porch / portico / balcony: All these should always be located in the North, East or North–
East sides of the building to bring the health, wealth and happiness. The balconies should always face the North, East or North–East.
Compound wall: The compound is the wall that covers the boundary of the house. The compound
wall either should be of same height and thickness in all 4 sides or it will be best if it is thicker and taller in Southern and Western sides as compared to the Northern and Eastern sides. This is preferred as the thick wall of the South and West sides will prevent the infrared rays of the afternoon sun and the setting rays of the sun, which are harmful for the humans. Light walls in North and East sides will allow the beneficial morning rays to come and penetrate in the house, they are full of Vitamin D and are the only source of obtaining it. This way the South and West sides will also become heavier than the rest which is very auspicious.
Garage / out house: The best place to construct them is the North–West and South–East corner and
care should be taken not to block or cut the corners at the South–East or North–West and the quarter walls should not touch the wall at the East or North side.
Guard’s room: A concrete or wooden shelter is made either in South–West and the shelter should be
facing the East or North but it is important to ensure that the watchman is able to see every movement.
Over–head tanks: These tanks should be placed either in North–East as water is considered good in
this direction or in South–West as the tank becomes very heavy. North–East is not to be over loaded with overhead tank though water in North–East is considered very good.
Underground reservoir: It should always in the North–East, the place of God supreme and should
never be in South–East. Another choice is East or the North zone.
Well / bore well / tube well: These should be placed in North–East or Eastern sides preferably in
between the mid North and North–East as it brings all round prosperity and new opportunities for growth.
Thus, if we consider all these points, we will never make a mistake to design a house which is against Vaastu and then the people will stop suffering from the defects of Vaastu.
How to manage the interiors with Vaastu
The stone of Vaastu is to make us live in harmony with Nature taking advantage of the magnetic fields, gravitational effects etc. of the Earth, the rainfall, the galaxy and the whole of the Nature and the universe and duly invoking the blessing of the Gods of the directions. Doing interiors with Vaastu is a bit difficult job but if everything is planned carefully, one can open the doors of the prosperity for themselves. Now we will discuss every room in the detail. Every room has their eight directions again, so one must be aware of the facts how to design the rooms.Worship / Pooja room: It has been known the Pooja room is best suitable in the North-East corner of
the house, now Pooja room has its own directions. The deity should face West, can face East or North but it should NEVER face South.
North-East zone is considered most appropriate for worship for another reason also. In the morning the sun’s rays straight fall on North-East side of the house which is most auspicious and good for health. It keeps our mind fresh and the soul pure and clean - a thing needed utmost for real prayer. Placing Pooja room in the North-East will bring all the happiness, prosperity, monetary gain, health, wealth, peace of mind and happiness with the blessings of God.
Main door decoration
Care should be taken to decorate the main door. The objects of the main door as prescribed in the text are:
Kula Devata: The image of the family deity. Its dimension should not be more than one Hasta (18") of
length.
Two Prathiharis (sentinels or guards): Well decorated in ornaments bearing staff and swords in their
hands, well clothed, glowing with youth and beauty, along with lady Prathiharinis and placed on both the sides of the door.
Dhaatri (a dwarfish nurse): Her maid companions should follow it, the happy jesters i.e.
Vidhushakas.
Shanka and Padmanidhi emitting coins.
Asthamangala: On the seat of lotus wearing a sacred garland of 8 auspicious
symbols.
Lakshmi: Lotus-seated and well decorated and being bathed by elephants.
Cow with her calf and well ornamented with flower garlands etc.
Motifs of serpents, giants, owl, wild animals, elephants, Daityas, nudes, fight between God and demons, hunting, house on fire, trees devoid of flowers should not be placed on the main door.
Nowadays people in their over-enthusiasm to decorate the house use figures of Gods like Krishna, Ganesh, Vishnu etc. and also many other prohibited motifs.
Bathroom with WC
As we have already discussed that bathroom should be either in the South-West direction or the North-West but should never be in the North-East corner of the house. Now if we come to the bathroom layout, following things must be considered:
Now the bathroom will also have a North-East corner, in this corner either a shower or a floor trap should be placed. One must make it a point not to make a WC in North-East corner of the bathroom, as there is no remedy for it.
Mirror should always be on the East wall.
WC should always be on the North-West side and facing East.
The dirty linens should be placed in the West side of the bathroom as setting rays are very harmful for bacteria and kill them.
If there is almirah, it should always be on the South-West side of the bathroom.
The geysers, heaters and all other electrical equipment should be installed in the South-East corner. The entrance of the bathroom should preferably be in North or East.
Designing a Kitchen
There is no ambience in the home more loved and lived in by all the members of the family, the best of the family, the best place to savor the pleasure of being together with all the tastes, memories and daily habits of the family. These are feelings which need a suitable ambience, where the warmth of wood combines with the strong character of the stony materials, such as marble and granite of table tops and the counter.
The hob also has a central position with a canopy formed by its hood which destroys odors and fills the ambience with light at the same time. The electrical appliances are carefully concealed beneath the worktop. Function and harmony from the dominating characteristics of the present collections. The basic concept is to finish this ambience which is the most lived in the entire family with the aim of making it a place in which it is pleasing to be together. To create, therefore, a little domestic paradise in which several people, all there together will find it easy to move about among extremely functional articles. There is no need for large spaces, but it is attractive and welcoming, perfectly in tune with the surroundings with the reminder and exaltation of stories, traditions and rediscovered family values.
The marked personalities of this modern and innovative kitchen bring into the home the soothing atmosphere of colorful and lively activity. There are as many as 4 colors which gladden the eye and communicate a note of joyful serenity of the ambience which they furnish, creating together a happy scene.
A kitchen layout should be customized to the specific requirements and needs of the users. Hence, it is important to ascertain the individual preferences overall lifestyle and eating habits of the direct users.
The kitchen is probably the most used (or misused!) room in any home, requiring an efficient combination of storage spaces, working counters, seating areas and free passages. It has to be functional, practical, elegant and comfortable, all at the same time and hence, great emphasis should be laid on the overall layout design of the kitchen, especially the small (and seemingly minor) details. There are various practical points that must be considered and discussed before commencing the designing of a new kitchen or the modification of an existing one.
The style of cooking (which varies greatly due to influences of country, state, religion, health and personal choice) would greatly influence the design and layout of a kitchen. Importance must be
given to the type of materials, ingredients and mediums used as well as the appliances and working space required for that particular style of cooking.
A minimal, modular, straight lined no-fuss work area where the emphasis is on efficiency, workability and cleanliness. There are no wasted spaces and no unnecessary display of items or clutter. Most of the appliances are built-in and the work areas are easy to maintain and clean.
According to the theory, an efficient and practical kitchen layout is one where ideally the 3 major elements, sink / washing area, refrigerator and cooking range, are conveniently located so that the user can work and move about easily. The distance between the refrigerator, the cooking range and the washing area should not be less than 6 meters.
This working should not be broken by full heights, fitments doors or passages.
The flooring, mostly used is mosaic, ceramic tiles, marbles. Stone flooring or ceramic tiles are recommended for Indian conditions, keeping in mind the surrounding dirt and dust since the material is impermeable, hard and stain / scratch resistant .
The walls in most kitchens are usually painted. Good quality plastic emulsion paint for areas under the sink and near the wash area.
Cabinets are usually made of 19mm commercial block.
The best location for the kitchen is the South-East corner. When the entrance of the house is from East or South, then the kitchen may be shifted to the North-West corner of the house. In the layout of the kitchen, following rules should be followed:
The cooking platform should be towards Eastern sidewall of the kitchen, as good results can be achieved when one faces East while cooking.
The sink should be in the North-East corner of the kitchen.
The slope of the water flow should be from South-West towards North-East.
The cylinder should be placed in the South-East corner.
The Geyser should be installed either in the South-East corner or the South wall.
The electronic gadgets should be placed on the Southern platform.
The storage for all the food grains, utensils, the overhead almirah should always be on the Southern and the Western walls and not on the Northern and the Eastern walls.
The fridge should be placed in the North-West corner of the kitchen.
The exhaust fan should be installed either in the North-West corner or the South wall.
There is a saying goes that "To way to a man’s heart is through is stomach", so kitchen is the only place from where one can win anyone’s heart. For a housewife, this is a place where she has to spend the maximum of the time and for a working woman, it should be so that she feels fresh as she enters the kitchen tired. There is no ambience in the home more loved and lived in by all the members of the family, the best of the family, the best place to savor the pleasure of being together with all the tastes, memories and daily habits of the family. These are feelings which need a suitable ambience, where the warmth of wood combines with the strong character of the stony materials, such as marble and granite of table tops and the counter.
Every family has different expectation of their kitchens as they follow different cultures. While the basic function of the kitchen is to serve as an area for the preparation of the food, the need of each individual household differ and often the kitchen has to cater to additional and varying requirements. A kitchen layout should be customized to the specific requirements and needs of the users. Hence, it is important to ascertain the individual preferences overall lifestyle and eating habits
of the direct users. There are various practical points that must be considered and discussed before commencing the designing of a new kitchen or the modification of an existing one.
DESIGNING
Before designing the kitchen, one should identify the tasks to be performed in the kitchen. A kitchen should be designed to match the preferred style of the individual user and the general décor of the rest of the house. It may be designed in a country / farmhouse, contemporary, colonial / English, laboratory, futuristic / high-tech, European / Mediterranean or ethnic style with matching decor and finishes.
PLANNING
Kitchen planning revolves around the three main work centers – storage, washing and cooking. These form three corners of the triangle. These centers should be connected with the work counters. The work pattern generally moves from the décor to the functional flow of traffic in the kitchen.
STORAGE
The most important aspect of the kitchen design is a well-planned storage. It can facilitate or impede the main task of cooking and keep the kitchen either tidy or a mess at the end of the day. Storage units have a variety of internal arrangements and dimensions to suit the items they are going to contain.
FLOORING
Flooring should be non-slippery, resilient, hard wearing and easy to clean. Marble is the most common choice but one can also go for Kotah stone too. Granite tends to be slippery when wet.
LIGHTING
Kitchen lighting should be bright and functional. Care should be taken to ensure that the light does not cast shadow on the major working areas. Light fitted on the underside of the overhead cabinets light up the counters effectively.
VENTILATION
Ventilation is the most important aspect that should be taken care of properly. Kitchen is an area which generates lot of odors and smoke, thus this has to be immediately emitted out. An exhaust fan is a considerable help in dispelling smell and for air circulation also.
The hob also has a central position with a canopy formed by its hood which destroys odors and fills the ambience with light at the same time. The electrical appliances are carefully concealed beneath the worktop. Function and harmony should be the dominating characteristics of the present collections.
Kitchen walls should be able to withstand all kinds of fumes and splashes. The walls in most kitchens are usually painted. Good quality plastic emulsion paint for areas under the sink and near the wash area.
The sink plays an important role in overall efficiency of the kitchen, linking cooking accessories. Even if you have a dish washer, a roomy, easy to clean sink is still essential.
The counter top is the most wear tear area. Materials such as stones, glazed enamel tiles, stainless steel, laminates can be used for counters and each has its own pros and cons.
Thus, the basic concept is to finish this ambience which is the most lived in the entire family with the aim of making it a place in which it is pleasing to be together. To create, therefore, a little domestic
paradise in which several people, all there together will find it easy to move about among extremely functional articles. There is no need for large spaces, but it is attractive and welcoming, perfectly in tune with the surroundings with the reminder and exaltation of stories, traditions and rediscovered family values.
Bedroom
After the day long toil and turmoil every living being earnestly requires a rest; for that only the Nature has endowed us with day and night. For the bedroom, South-West is best for the master bedroom. Generally the eldest sleeps in the South-West room, the elderly in the South-Eastern room, the next in the North-West room and only the children should sleep in the North-Eastern room but not the couple. Now there are some points, which one should always remember:
The bed should be located in the middle of the room or should be in the South-West corner of the room. The idea is to keep moving space around the bed and if Vaastu is taken care of, South-West becomes heavy as we put the heaviest bed there.
Bed should not touch North or East walls, but may touch South or West walls when we keep our heads towards South or West for sleep.
A shelf of books may be kept in South-West or West side of the room. A reading table with chair may also be kept in this corner of the room.
If there is some TV or electrical equipment, they should be placed in the South-East corner of the room.
Now the biggest question is why not sleep legs facing towards SOUTH? This is the most common question that Vaastukars face nowadays. I have seen most people had a misconception in their mind that you should not sleep facing the legs towards South as South is not a good direction and it causes ill effects. But this is the biggest myth, no direction is bad, there is a scientific reason for not sleeping with legs towards South.
The thing is ONE SHOULD NOT SLEEP FACING THE HEAD TOWARDS NORTH. We all know that all of the body, the head is the heaviest and consists of all the iron and other elements. The North direction has an ill effect on the blood circulation and the organs of the body, which are away from the brain, will not get sufficient blood resulting in headache, irritation, insomnia.
Bedroom is a place to unwind, let your hair down and put up your feet - all very casual and private activities. For all the time spent and the intimacy it demands, a bedroom takes very careful and detailed planning. Not because it is the most personal room in a house but because it is a room WHERE YOU DREAM!!!
What is life without dreams? And what is a better place to dream in than your own bedroom? So that is what a bedroom really is a place to rest and relax, to share a few quiet moments with yourself, to sleep away the weariness of a long, hard day.
As the most private, personalized space in a home, the bedroom must necessarily reflect its user's lifestyle, his practical needs, aesthetic preferences and also his dreams, and this is exactly why a bedroom decor poses a challenge to interior designers. To design an ideal bedroom for a client, the designer must get to know the client's innermost thoughts and ideas, his cultural background and upbringing, his temperament and his personal conception of a dream bedroom; besides the more tangible factors such as his needs in terms of the storage space provided or his taste in terms of the color scheme he would like best. All these diverse factors govern aesthetic decisions, which explain
the high degree of subjectivity involved. That is why one can’t really set up aesthetic byelaws; nor can these byelaws find an easy acceptance, if indeed they are made.
The first thing to do when your home starts feeling cramped is to analyze the way you are using available space. All too often, there is too much unrequired furniture. Even clearing out stacks of old magazines, empty bottles and worn out clothes, will make you realize how much space you have and how incorrectly you have been using it.
The basic principle of not breaking up a room into little bits is equally applicable to the floor. This is why a room with a wall-to-wall carpet looks much bigger than a one with rugs scattered all over. However, given the Indian climatic conditions, maintaining carpets and rugs requires a huge effort; and can only be risked in air-conditioned and dust free environment. The latest option is laminate flooring, and it does seem to have a lot of advantages, while also being aesthetically appealing, and free from the hassles of ordinary wooden flooring. It should be noted that the same flooring sweeping through several rooms gives a better, more spacious effect.
Lighting in a home must do more than dispel darkness. Most rooms benefit from a combination of functional and decorative lighting, relying on the former to set the scene and the latter to add interest. So every room must have primary as well as secondary lighting. The primary lighting fixtures (tube lights) are essential for daily household chores like cooking and reading; but for dramatic effects, shades and shadows, secondary lighting (spotlights, dimmers, up lighters ) is extremely important. Bright colors and bold patterns advance and make up the space look smaller; while pale colors and small, all-over patterns recede, reflect light and make the space look bigger. Contrasting colors and textures in a room break it up into several different areas and make it seem smaller.
The way a room is decorated has a major effect on how spacious it looks. Even though you have not actually pushed out the walls or raised the ceiling, you can use color, texture and pattern to create that effect. The colors for walls and ceilings, the choice of flooring, the treatment of windows and design of the lighting system are all important aspects of décor. Also, there are a few other aspects specific to bedroom decor such as bedspreads, quilts and cushions which must be given due consideration.
For centuries, sumptuous bedspreads, coverlets and quilts have been important elements of bedroom furnishing. These accessories should be seen as a part of the whole bedroom scheme. Cushions, although small, have the potential to pull a scheme together with accents of pattern or color.
Windows let in light and are usually a prominent focal point of the room. Decorative window treatments can lend style to rooms that have no distinct character of their own or accentuate architectural details that already exist. Curtains, which give life to any room, come in unlimited colors, designs and fabric. Only the heaviest tapestries and weaves are unsuitable because of their weight and bulk.
IDEAL BEDROOM
The bedroom is usually a smaller room which can be seen in its entirety with just one glance, for this reason it is important that the furniture matches, and if all the pieces are not the same style then should at least have uniformity of color and texture.
The walls and the lighting should be tenuous and not be concentrated around the head board.
The essential function of the bed is to provide a surface which is neither too hard nor too soft for the back and body to response in the correct position.
Choosing the right mattress is also complicated as there are many different types to choose from: foam, latex, spring, and combinations with one side for summer and the other for winter, anti-allergy, traditional wool ones, and a sybaritic tendency to place several mattresses one on top of other, one spring and other latex.
Wardrobes and beds are usually combined in the bedroom and are designed to make the most of the space available; they incorporate comfortable details such as doors which open with just a light touch and the indispensable interior lighting.
Wardrobes are usually from 1.90 to 2m high and 55cm deep and have interior steps for adjusting the shelves. If the wardrobe has only two doors it is a good idea to put mirrors on the inside to be able to see oneself from behind as well as the front.
When deciding how to finish the walls and the ceiling in the bedroom one must know the kind of atmosphere desired and how to maintain it. Normally it is recommended to paint the headboard wall a more outstanding color than the other three which should all be the same relaxing, warm color. So if the furniture and the upholstery have already been chosen, the walls and ceiling should be their appropriate background.
Carpeted walls are another alternative for the bedroom which normally is considered when the floor is carpeted as well, very appropriate for colder, more humid climates for their insulation and warmth.
Bedroom lighting should have a special treatment, the tone of the light should be warm and cozy, to achieve this, apart from the ceiling light and the lamps on the night table, we recommend that the light intensity might also be adjustable. The regulator of light intensity, also called a dimmer, is a mechanism which permits, apart from the normal function of a light switch, gradual control of intensity of the light, allowing one to choose the exact level desired between the total lighting and the total darkness of the room.
Interior door frames should be as decorative as the doors, highlighting their design and quality. If the frame should expand or contract due to wood's movement it will have to be carefully planned, checking the measurements regularly, re-hanging the door to check the progress until it is correct, and remembering that there should always be a little pay.
When decorating one's bedroom one usually mixes and matches coordinating fabrics, in the curtains, bedspreads, pillows, lampshades, headboards, walls, but avoid overdoing it.
Whites and creams adapt to both classic and modern styles and are found in fabrics made of cotton, polyester, wool and embroidered linen.
Fabrics with a natural design create a bucolic atmosphere, with light lovely colors, with fabrics like cretonne, polyester and cotton chintz, silk, faille, taffeta.
One romantic finish is to cross two embroider muslin blinds held open with two wide velvet bands. There is nothing better than a wooden rug to warm up a room, placing one at the end of the bed is not only a basic decorative element but also an object which adds warmth, calm and intimacy. The choice of a rug depends primarily upon the floor, furniture, walls, upholstery, luminosity, space and if the bedroom has a specific decor, one will be obliged to choose a coordinating rug which is essential to create the right atmosphere.
Bedspreads, sheets, blankets, quilts, comforters, and pillows all enter into the play in the decoration of the bedroom. One need only know the decorative style and have bit of extra fabric to combine walls, curtains, canopies, headboards, lampshades etc. with the indispensable bedding.
