Stuff that you must spam

Priya Jagat 

When it comes to buying stuff for home décor, one feels spoilt for choice. Corner shops, shopping arcades, malls, exhibitions and a plethora of online stores house stuff that can revamp the look of your abode. The good part of spurt in consumerism is that everything is available everywhere, the dark side is exclusivity is a casualty. Another irony is that living spaces are shrinking. The challenge is to fit in everything, keeping it all and yet being able to buy and accommodate more! At the same time, it is also important to know how to declutter your place, what all and how should you do away with redundant stuff. There are certain things that you can recycle and some should only find space outside your house and inside the bin. 

Old is gold 

Besides concrete, a house is also made up of memories — pieces of old furniture, paintings, artefacts, books and other memorabilia. Just because these are old doesn’t mean these should be first on the discard-and-replace list. Blend these with contemporary interiors and these will work magic. Memories always add warmth to homes. All forms of architecture — contemporary or otherwise — look as good with pictures and paintings, you just need to maintain and reframe these from time to time. 

Utilisation of space 

Often there are spaces in every home that get ignored. Galleries, a wall along the staircase, entrance… are some of the examples. These are ideal to hang photo frames or paintings that usually clutter the side tables and cabinets. Make a collage out of these along the staircase wall and you are done with customisation of decor. A collection of memorabilia, from travels to gifts, a lot can go on this wall. Landings are often most underutilised spaces. Keep books, magazines and small showpieces on wall-to-wall shelves. A lot can be placed on these.

Smart storage

The key to smart storage is that everything should be within reach, easily accessible yet invisible to the eye. Coffee-tables underlined with drawers make for smart storage space. Put in here remotes, stationery, spectacles, magazines that end up cluttering tabletops. Wardrobes up till ceiling double up the storage space. Try putting hanging rods on the loft cupboards. A chest of drawers in each room takes in a lot of clutter and if placed in the common area, like gallery or lobby, it can up the décor quotient besides storing essentials like medicines or bed-linen at the same time.

Decor makeover

Always try to recycle your favourite stuff. Try to use some fabrics of your wedding wear like silk and brocade to reframe old prints and paintings, make cushions, curtain lining or curtain tie-ups. A child’s favorite outgrown T-shirt makes great cushion covers for kid’s rooms. Random cups, saucers and teapots make excellent planters for terraces. Your favourite plates, which are otherwise out of use, find a great place on kitchen and pantry walls.

Worthy of bin

Pick and choose and discard stuff regularly instead of letting the clutter pile up. There are charity houses that welcome books, stationery, clothes, linen and crockery. Select and classify what you really like and use what is lying around unutilised and unwanted. Presents that are not your cup of tea, an impulsive buy at a bargain sale that didn’t appeal later should definitely get the axe. A whole new world of online sale of used products is there. The traditional garage sale has also gone global. Avail of the opportunity! 

The writer is a Chandigarh-based interior consultant