Starting up a new office comes with lots of responsibility. One of the main tasks is to design the interiors of your workspace. And you can’t just arrange the furniture and choose a colour for your office interiors without thinking about employees’ productivity, your future clients and your brand.

You need to involve in extensive thought process for designing the interiors that actually make your office look like a modern workspace. You can have a sophisticated and up to date office even if you own small space.

Tip #1 Focus on Space Management:

Space management is should be given great importance when you have to create your entire office in a small space. Having all the data and requirements is essential for managing the space effectively. There can also be some challenges due to the small space. For example, if you have 20 employees but, you don’t have much space to place 20 separate workstations. In such a situation, you can contact office workstation manufacturers and get 4-5 big tables designed with proper partitions as per your needs.

Tip #2 Light and Ventilation is incompetent:

More light and ventilation you have, the more spacious and beautiful your office interiors will look. So, never say ‘no’ to light and ventilation options and add as much as you can to make your office attractive. By this, we don’t mean that invest in too many artificial lights. No, this can affect the eyes of your employees. Instead, invest in big windows and glass walls to have as much natural light as possible. This will add a natural touch in your workspace as employees can also look at the outdoor views. Having much ventilation and natural views will also increase the productivity of your employees.

Tip #3 Spend on Furniture:

Employees spend most part of their office hours by sitting on their chairs in front of their screens. It means that furniture is the most important element of the office interiors as it is related to not only the looks but, also the comfort of your employees. Cheap furniture can lead to general discomfort as well as specific health-related issues like pain in the lower back, neck pain, etc. Buy the most comfortable and modern furniture for your office. Don’t compromise for saving some bucks as good furniture can be used for several years. Buy quality workstations from the office workstations manufacturers.

Tip #4 Put up Quirky Elements:

You can’t let your office have that boring look especially when you are investing so much time and energy into its interiors. So, add some quirky elements to have a personal touch and making your office interesting. Keep your office theme in mind while adding these elements. You can decorate your office with quirky lights, stickers, posters, small accessories, and table pieces. These will provide the needed effect in a budget-friendly way. You can purchase these accessories online at affordable prices.

Tip #5 Keep Things in Order:

No matter what design you choose; ensure that every element is placed in an orderly manner. The main problem with small offices is that due to lack of space they look cluttered every time. Unlike the large offices, there aren’t big storerooms to keep the files and other stationery materials. Due to the scarcity of space, there is no room for separate client areas so; clients usually visit the main working area. So, it’s necessary to keep your office organized. To solve the storage issue, use walls to hang shelves where you can keep files and other office accessories. Otherwise, use big colourful cardboard boxes to place extra materials. You can make beautiful patterns with these boxes near any wall or empty space. They will look better than the piles of files lying here and there on the floor.

Tip #6 Create Informal Break-out Spaces:

Usually, employees remain stuck to their workstation from the moment they enter the office till they leave in the night. They only get up for basic needs or for meetings. This practice is very bad as it invokes lethargy which in turn affects the productivity of the employees. To break this practice, you should make break-out spaces where employees can eat, drink and chill for some time in between their working hours. You can create this space even in a small area as its main motive is to make employees get up from their chairs and communicate with others while having a break. This will make your employees more active.

Tip #7 Experiment without Hesitation:

If you want to make your workspace unique then, you should be open to out of the box ideas. Be ready to implement unique ideas and don’t be afraid of a little bit experimenting, be it a new type of furniture, peppy colour scheme or quirky accessories. You can add different style lamps on each workstation or can design your entire office according to a theme like a green lounge theme or any other theme as per your work area. Experimenting is good as long as you firmly believe in the unique idea that you are going to try.

So, follow these tips to convert your small space into a lovely office!

The kitchen is the heart of the home and a great place to entertain. For this reason, it is imperative to create a space that is both functional and beautiful. There are so many trends to consider for your kitchen remodel-such as a timeless rustic design. In today’s modern world, rustic doesn’t have to equal raw wood panelling or floors. Here are some tips for you to consider when bringing your modern rustic kitchen to life.

Rustic Sink
A great way to incorporate rustic elements into your new kitchen is by installing a deep, industrial sink. It works both as a stylistic component and as a truly functional workhorse. This kind of deep sink will fill a soup pot effortlessly, wash your roasting pan with ease, and just make clean-up so much more comfortable. Don’t forget the faucet. Choose a high faucet with a pull-down sprayer so you can reach those hard-to-reach spots for cleanup. And think of how great this kind of sink will look in your new industrial modern rustic kitchen.This black sink is an extreme rustic choice, especially when paired with this white stone countertop. The style is an old fashioned take on monochrome ideals, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less spectacular!

Rustic Countertops
Another way to achieve a rustic kitchen design is with your countertops. A neutral-toned countertop, such as 6046 Moorland Fog, is a great way to bring your modern rustic kitchen to the next level. The soft and gentle tones of this granite inspired countertop are the perfect balance between the traditional and modern rustic kitchen. Opting for a butcher’s block in lieu of an island is another stylish way to increase the functionality of your new kitchen. When remodeling your kitchen, it’s important to know what direction you want to go stylistically. If you’re someone who likes the feeling of cozying up in a cottage that’s nestled quietly in the countryside, then the rustic look may be for you. From a worn-out wooden appearance to a metallic industrial vibe, there are so many ways in which you can incorporate a rustic look into your kitchen whether you live in a builder-grade home or in the heart of a city.

Rustic Flooring
When you're exploring rustic farmhouse kitchen ideas, a wood floor seems almost a given. But don't move so quickly - you have other options as well. Sometimes laminate flooring that looks like wood can give you a great rustic farmhouse kitchen flooring style. Or, you can choose black and white tile or even checkered linoleum. If you go with wood, you can decide to either leave it natural or paint it. Both go with this style. Many of your options will depend on what other design elements you have chosen. If there's already a lot of wood in the kitchen design, a wood floor may seem too much.
On the other hand, if you've chosen shaker-style cabinets or a lot of white in the design, a warm wood tone can be exactly what you need to add depth to the space. If you're ready for your rustic farmhouse kitchen flooring design, choose your flooring material next. Concrete or stone floors is a great way to put an industrial spin on your modern rustic kitchen. The texture and the style are all about living simply but still beautifully. This type of floor is all the rage in the high-tech world of open floor spaces. Or how about the truly classic style of hardwood floors? These floors give the appearance of a rustic lifestyle but can certainly be updated in a cool rustic modern kitchen by adding a sheen or gloss.

Rustic Cabinets
For a country kitchen, start with rustic kitchen cabinets. These don’t have to be made out of barn wood or leftover pallets, threatening to give you slivers each time you open a kitchen cabinet door or drawer. Rustic cabinets are every bit as polished and high-quality as something sleek and modern, but they have an unfinished appearance, or wood with grain and knots that give it character, or a distressed look with dings and dents.There is so much you can do with cabinets in a modern rustic kitchen. Take, for example, oak wood cabinets painted white. You can add modern touches, such as metallic handles, to offset the rustic look. Another idea for cabinets is all metal. Why not install metal cabinets and counters? They will help create the look of a truly industrial modern rustic kitchen.

Rustic Lighting

Rustic lighting is loosely defined, but these fixtures typically feature an antique or vintage feel. Look for distressed finishes and open designs that create an inviting glow. Want to capture the farmhouse look in your own home? Try these rustic kitchen lighting tips.

• Farmhouse Pendants: Often used as entry or foyer lights, these tend to feature an open cage design with a traditional candelabra base. A hot trend in kitchen design is using these pendants in lieu of the typical chandelier over a kitchen table or island. This creates an incredibly warm, inviting look!
• Rustic Chandeliers: Two alluring trends in chandelier design are distressed or multi-toned finishes and frames that resemble leather strapping. These chandeliers are perfect for homeowners who want to achieve a charming, rustic look while retaining a touch of tradition.
• Outdoor Lights Inside: Today's outdoor lights are designed with a keen attention to detail, so why not consider using them indoors? (Yes, it's okay to do that!) Try gas lantern-style outdoor lights in the kitchen to transform your space into a rustic paradise reminiscent of inviting inns.
• Vintage-Style Mini Pendants: Mini pendants may be one of the hottest trends in contemporary kitchen design, but they can certainly be used to create a rustic kitchen design too. Look for styles with antique-inspired elements like gas lantern turnkey accents, metal shades and weathered finishes. Bronze and copper finishes work particularly well.
  
  
  

.It’s exciting to think of all the possibilities when redesigning your modern rustic kitchen. Use this guide as a starting point and see where your imagination takes you.

Covid 19, has changed and is changing behavioural patterns across the globe. One tiny virus has done the unthinkable just a couple of months back - shutting down the entire world and making human beings sit at home! The changes that this is bringing and will bring into the world is unprecedented. Our approach towards life itself will change. Relationships will have new meaning. Words like luxury, satisfaction, comfort, joy will find new definitions.

Once Covid 19 outbreak is under control and the world comes back to normal, India could be one of those countries which will stand to gain the most. There will be anger against China and Chinese products. A lot of international companies are already looking at moving their chinese manufacturing bases to elsewhere in the world. India stands a great chance provided our government cuts red taoism and welcome such investors. International fund flow can be a serious possibility post covid if India comes out without much of a damage as investors look at countries that are less battered for investment growth. These aspects in turn can boos the Indian economy and will turn a boon for the real estate and interior design industries.

For Interior Design Industry, I see a tremendous impact to follow. With real estate trailing for sometime now in India, Interior Design industry too has been going through a rough patch. And with Covid 19 hitting hard across sectors and across the world, the pain is only expected to go north. Real estate is expected to tank with ever more unsold inventories. Builders will be hesitant to launch new projects and new buyers will be hard to come by. For individuals who are not sure of their income in the future, it will be time to put a hold on any high value purchases. However, as with every dark cloud, there is always a silver lining, I would personally like to look more to find the silver linings.

Residential Interiors is one such area that I believe will find silver lining. As everyone got tied down to their homes, people have certainly experienced the need of their homes to be more comfortable to stay in. Many would have mostly seen their homes 100% for the first time and realised a few modifications could have made their stay at home more comfortable. However most people will not go for immediate remodelling or enhancements due to uncertainty. The demand will start picking up once the major scare is over and economy is stabilised.

Secondly, Home Office spaces will see an increasing demand as everyone who is working from home will definitely look for a comfortable space to do so. A space that can both give them the privacy and the comfort to focus on their work and enhance their productivity. Demand for home office spaces will increase drastically. Even with tightened purses, people will make investment in these areas which are the sliver linings for an otherwise cloudy outlook for Interior Design industry in India. At Blucap Interiors, we prefer to look forward to the silver linings!

There are so many doomsday predictions going around for about a number of businesses going into extinction due to Corona times. I believe most of these are overhyped and unwarranted. Among the businesses that are being written off by these prophets of doom are Retail, Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, Automobiles, Restaurants, Local Transport, Real Estate etc. They say the world will never be the same after the Corona and they talk like the above businesses will be extinct. 

I consider the argument absolutely amusing. All that the argument is feeding on is the fear of the businessmen about their businesses going bust for ever and the sadism of those who would love to see others fail. I do not see any more credit to these theories. 

Yes. There will be changes in the way we live and behave. However, no Corona will ever alter basic human needs for ever. We as human beings are deep down Social beings. We are not and cannot be individual islands living connected only via technology. We do not go to a restaurant because we do not have excellent food at home. We go there for an experience that we will never get at home. It is a Social experience. Netflix has been around for sometime now and most of us have been using it as well at home. However we still go to the movies when there is a good movie. We go there for the experience. There is a huge difference in watching a Rajanikant movie at home alone or with family and watching it in the theatre. I believe you know the difference. It is a Social Experience. We Travel not because we are not happy where we are. We travel because, we yearn to see new sights, taste new food, experience new culture. We go for the experience. Even if technology could enable people work from home, the efficiency or the effectiveness of team works can never happen if everyone is physically apart. Because we connect with others better with physical proximity. It is an experience. It is a social experience. We do not go to malls just to buy something which can probably be bought via online as well. We go there to touch, feel and buy. We also go there just to eat out, hang out with friends and family or just to do window shopping. We go there for the experience. It is a social experience. We do not buy a vehicle just for commuting. As a social being it is also a symbol of your success in life. It is an experience of who you are. A social experience. We do not go to a pub just to drink. We can comfortably do it at home as well. We go there for the ambience. We go there to connect with friends and family. We go there to unwind. We go there for an experience. It is a social experience. 

I can go on and on with such examples. Therefore when I hear people talk about these businesses going dead, I rather sigh. Yes. for the next six months to one year there will be a dip in these businesses. These businesses also will go through transformations to a certain extent. However none of them will go extinct. Once Corona is under control and once the economy is back on track, people will long for these experiences again. And then these businesses will boom into new heights. 

If you are in any of these businesses, take a deep breath and think innovatively about surviving the next six months to one year. Take all measures needed to tighten the purse and work out of squeezed budgets. Those who survive will see glory in the future. Essential social needs of human beings will not change. It hasn’t changed in millions of years through famines and pandemics that swept through this world and eliminated millions. We will become more aware of the need to build and nurture our family relationships and friendships. We may also become more spiritual seeing the mortal nature of human life. Corona will certainly change a few behavioural patterns. But our social nature will prevail. And we will come together again in large numbers for building a better world for us and the generations to come. It certainly will be a better world. A more refined one. 

As late renowned American interior designer Albert Hadley once said, “Design is defined by light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important.”

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of your interior, as well as illuminating a room, it can completely transform the look of a space for better or for worse. On one hand, it can turn a drab room into a glossy-magazine-worthy space with the simple flick of a switch or, on the other, it can under- or over-illuminate resulting in headaches, tired eyes, and lighting fatigue.
Lighting should be layered the same way colors and textures are layered in a room.There are many options when it comes to home décor lighting Let’s take a tour of a variety of different lighting types and get ideas on how to style the lighting in your home interior.

TYPES OF LIGHT: There are two main types of lighting – Natural light and Artificial light.

NATURAL LIGHT: Sunlight is the most natural source of light. It is mentally stimulating and absolutely free. But it is also difficult to control. Window coverings are helpful in controlling natural light. For rooms with little natural light, interior designer Sara Cosgrove suggests that “sheers and window treatments are the most effective ways for controlling natural light, along with the use of mirrors.”

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT: Artificial lighting should be used to add layers to your space. A warm light (opposed to a clear light) is the most welcoming option for residential spaces. As well as adding to the overall interior design style of a space, artificial lighting can be used to highlight features and alter the perceived proportions of a room.

We should always bear in mind the five categories of lights explained below when planning your lighting scheme. Plan to use your space with the range of lighting effects to create the desired looks.

TYPES OF INTERIOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT: 

The five main types of interior lighting are: General, Ambient, Mood, Task, and Accent. Some lights can fit into a few types (depending on their placement, brightness, and use) but a general understanding of each individual type of lighting can be very helpful in planning an effective scheme.

GENERAL LIGHTING: General lighting is the basic foundation of a lighting scheme, providing a uniform light over an entire room and illuminating a space functionally rather than for aesthetic reasons. The defining characteristic of general lighting is that it’s usually direct and should be controlled by a dimmer switch to account for changes in daylight. A central pendant light or Tube light is perhaps the most commonly used source of general lighting and can be an important part of the design of the room. A luxury chandelier make great visual statements in a room and direct the eye. Having said that, these must be accompanied by other lighting layers as a central light source on its own casts unflattering shadows (especially for people) and gives no real life to a room. A lighting scheme this simplified is generally considered vastly inadequate for creating a welcoming space

AMBIENT LIGHTING: The next layer of lighting is ambient lighting which is a great partner to general lighting. Both types share important characteristics – they’re primarily functional and used to light a complete area. The main difference between the two is in the direction of their light. Ambiance lighting is generally used for entertaining – it creates drama to the space. Ambient lighting is indirect and therefore softer than general lighting – because it doesn’t usually use downlighting, it doesn’t create unflattering shadows.

TASK LIGHTING: As its name would suggest task lighting is any light source used for a particular task like reading or cooking. By nature, these lights need to have a stronger wattage than most other lighting. Always combine with adequate ambient light, however, to avoid eye strain caused by the sharp contrast from light to dark areas. Reading and working areas are some of the most obvious areas in need of task lighting. Balanced-arm lamps make great desk designs whilst flexible reading lights fixed near a headboard are great for bedtime reading. Mirror lighting works well in personal grooming areas and bathrooms. The kitchen is another area into which task lighting must be incorporated to make food preparation easier and safer. Under-cabinet spotlights, recessed downlights over worktops, or a long and low pendant light over a preparation island are just a few of the options for kitchen task lighting. Task lighting can also be used to create foot flow paths in a room or hallway or in the form of floor-level directional lights or riser lights on stairs. 

MOOD LIGHTING:  Mood lighting is as important to the overall look of a room than general and ambient lighting and a space would be bare without it. It makes a room pleasantly inviting by creating pools of light that counteract the shadows caused by general lighting. It’s also an important element of a room’s style as it tends to be equally concerned with style as it is with function – popular options being table lamps and floor lamps. Because mood lighting is often the layer of lighting closest to eye level, it’s important to shade any glare from unsightly bare bulbs with a filter. The same goes for your general or ambient lighting if the bare bulb can be seen from below. If the light in your room relies heavily on mood lighting, paler tones are best to allow as much light to shine through; a darker shade is great if you’re going for a moody, atmospheric look. Silver or gold linings are the best for replicating a luxurious glow.

ACCENT LIGHTING:  Similar to task lighting, accent lighting has a particular function and is any lighting that has specifically been included to highlight a particular feature in a room. Spotlights that highlight artwork, sculptures, and objects in cabinets or on pedestals are examples of accent lighting which enhance the pieces and prevent them from being lost in an under-illuminated space. Similar to task lighting, because of its nature, accent lighting needs more lumens (the light output) – at least three times as much – and therefore requires a higher wattage.

LIGHTING EFFECTS :

DOWNLIGHTING: Downlighting is a very useful and most popular form of lighting in interiors – most central light sources or spotlights will be downlights. It does cast unflattering shadows (especially for people) so it needs to be counterbalanced with adequate 

UPLIGHTING: Uplighting is a much softer alternative to downlighting as it indirectly introduces light into a room by having it bounce off the ceiling and reflect back into the room.

WALL WASHING:  Wall washing evenly illuminates a vertical surface in a soft way. Place the light at an adequate distance so that the beam reaches the entire surface. As a result, light is washed on the wall and hides blemishes and eliminates shadows.

WALL GRAZING: Wall grazing places a light intentionally close to the surface it’s to illuminate, effectively highlighting its texture. Wall grazing is perfect for accenting stone, brick, and stucco walls. It is also effective on statues and carvings.

WALL SCONES: Mounted to the wall surface, scones have the ability to direct light either upwards or downwards or in both the directions, adding style to the space.

SPOTLIGHTING: Spotlighting is used a lot in task and accent lighting to highlight a particular feature of a room.

VALANCE LIGHTING: In this lighting, the fixtures can either be mounted way high on a wall, in a horizontal shield, metal, wood, on the window, etc. so that light bounces in the downward and upward direction.

TRACK LIGHTING: Here a linear cable with several adjustable heads is fixed along a track.

CHANDELIERS:  These decorative lightings are hung at the ceiling and suspend light towards the entryway or on a table. It brightens up the space beautifully.

CEILING: The fixtures for ceiling lights contain a plastic or glass shade that hides the bulb. This lighting has been used for several decades in homes.
RECESSED: The fixtures for recessed lighting are installed above the ceiling and attached to the opening created in the ceiling. It sends a band of light focused on one direction.

UNDERCABINET:  As the name suggests, these are mounted under the cabinets such as those in a kitchen. It mostly has a puck-shaped fixture.

FLOOR LAMPS: These are placed on the floor and available in different sizes and shapes such as short, tall, bulky, and petite. It is an excellent decorative piece for every home. 

PENDANTS: This kind of fixture is suspended from the ceiling and direct light downwards, for example, a kitchen island or a table. It adds to the decorative elements of a given space.

PERIMETER LIGHTING:  Perimeter lighting accentuates the dimensions of a room and expands its apparent size. Coving or cornice lighting is an effective way to do this and is used often by interior designers and architects.

Reference: Luxdeco/blogs.