“I believe that trends must have the capacity to stay relevant for a long time; at least a few years, at any rate. Otherwise they are not worth the money and the trouble. Accessories of course, are the exception to the rule because that is the easiest way of updating a space and giving it a new lease on life.” -Shilpa Sharma, Co-founder Jaypore.com

Here are some of the bigger trends that Shilpa Sharma foresees in 2016:

ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH WITH HANDMADE PIECES: There is already a resurgence in everything handmade. While there are consumers who want to adopt popular home décor styles because it has currency in their environment as well as the affordability factor attached to it, there are others, in a different life stage, with a personal aesthetic sense and a scheme that has evolved over time, shaped by their experiences. Such consumers would rather have their living spaces speak for who they are than go in for a fad. A great way of personalizing your space is to employ handloom textiles in home furnishings and handmade decorations that have timeless appeal and come from a place close to nature and hence will always be relevant. I think design will increasingly become about supporting India’s artisan communities, doing our bit to revive languishing crafts and in the process getting something irreplaceable and truly Indian in our homes. I think traditional designs accompanying organic fibres, natural materials and organic shapes will make an appearance in everything from home furnishings, accents, wall art and bed linens in the coming year.

GIVE THE OLD A MODERN TWIST: Looking at it from my vantage point, I can see the tremendous potential India has in terms of design. More and more designers are experimenting with colors, textures and materials and more importantly keeping new, ‘young’ design tethered to our Indian roots. There is also an increased acceptance of new ideas that are a mix of Indian and global, in the minds of the end consumers. So we are likely to see the popularity of accessories like digital prints with very Indian design inspirations, hand painted decoupage storage boxes and trays; you may see more inventive accessories and home accents like silver diyas on semi-precious stone bases, ceramic serve ware mixed with other materials, upcycled home furnishings and even accessories. I think we are also going to see a lot of bold, contemporary geometric shapes mixed with organic materials to create a diffused, stylish look.

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EXPERIMENT WITH TRADITIONAL ART: India has a very rich heritage of traditional painting forms like Gond, Pichwai, Pattachitra, Mata – ni – Pachedi and Madhubani art and Jaypore works with a lot of artisan communities that produce these art forms. I believe these and other Indian painting techniques will be seen in more homes in 2016. Traditional Indian painting forms reflect our culture, history, mythology and our challenges as a people in unique ways and home owners every where will find aesthetic value in them. I also think, intricately painted Madhubanis and hand painted Kalamkaris as wall art will also make Indian art relevant to a global audience, a trend that has been on the upswing for a while now.

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GET INSPIRED BY ART DECO: Another trend that I believe will have a lot of traction in the coming year is bright, metallic home décor accessories reminiscent of the Art Deco Era. I think the functional materials of the last few years like stainless steel and chrome will not fit the bill any more. We can look forward to lavish materials such as brass and silver to be placed in a great many homes. Also imagine more homes that use bright jewelled hues on everything from walls to furniture, glittering table lamps and bold light fixtures like Sunburst Chandeliers as well as sumptuous fabrics like silk and Chintz.

GROW GREENS INDOORS: The trend of adding green patches, like a living wall to home interiors, will continue and grow bigger in the coming year. Living spaces are going to keep decreasing in size; I think home owners are now more than ever aware of the benefits of adding some greenery to enclosed spaces, so you can hope to see ‘green accents’ in homes. Think succulents plants, foliage and dry flowers.

CHOOSE UPCYCLED FURNISHINGS: Upcycling is the new global mantra and India has been at it for a very long time now with traditional upcycled fabrics like Khesh and Kantha and Gudri having been around for ages. But I see a new trend of using contemporary upcycled home accessories and furnishings instead of the traditional use of upcycled fabrics for a uniquely Indian design language that can be understood globally.

PLAY WITH VINTAGE ELEMENTS: I see a lot of vintage accents making an appearance on the global home décor scene and I think it won’t take a long time before this trend travels to India as well. Industrial accents like old carts, big wheels and rough wooden benches lend a vintage-urban appeal. You could also infuse some old world style into your home with wonderful finds like old maps and vintage tribal clothing. It gives your home a very lived – in aura and I think this trend is going to catch on in a big way in India soon.

Most home décor projects will require time and investment to take shape. But if you are in a hurry, try introducing some statement area rugs to your floors, or turning a hallway or gallery into a vignette with hand picked paintings and personal photos or framed objects and you could do the new in a jiffy.

Excerpts from this article were first published in India Today.

Content & Images via Jaypore & Chindi.