Decorate a Living Room in Indian Style

Indian style decor is full of deep, rich colors and intricate, ornate designs, so it’s no wonder why you’d want to replicate it in your own home. Your living room is where your family and guests gather, so it’s an important area to focus on. You can transform your living area by picking out patterns and furniture that are authentic to Indian culture and pay homage to this beautiful nation.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Picking Colors and Patterns

1. Go for warm, vibrant colors. Rich reds, vibrant oranges, deep purples, and chocolate browns all create an inviting, authentic vibe. Stay away from pastel colors and lighter shades, and try to stick with colors that give off a regal aura.^[1]
   • Black and gray symbolize negativity and death in Indian culture, so stay away from those colors as well.^[2]
   • Red stands for purity and bravery, green means a new beginning, and yellow signifies knowledge and learning. Almost every color has its own specific meaning in Indian culture, so you can pick ones out to give off a specific aura.
2. Pick out intricate, detailed designs. Indian culture is all about intricate beadwork, embroidery, and tassels. Patterns like paisley, mandalas, and nature scenes are more authentic since they are also very detailed and intricate. As you pick out furniture and decorations, stick with patterns that are eye-catching and bold.^[3]

   Tip: The lotus is the national flower of India, so look for some patterns that incorporate it to celebrate this beautiful floral design.

   
3. Buy a variety of fabrics and textures for an authentic feel. Indian decorations often incorporate multiple rich fabrics, like silk and cotton. As you pick out furniture and throw pillows, try to aim for a variety of rich-feeling, pleasing to touch fabrics to elevate your living room.^[4]
   
   • Kantha is a type of traditional Indian embroidery that involves layering multiple fabrics together to make thin cushions.
   • Try to find hand-spun fabrics, like ikat or kahdi, for more authenticity.
4. Try to get solid-wood furniture. Most traditional Indian furniture is made of deep, solid wood. Look for chairs, armoires, and side tables that have carvings or inlays as details. Solid-wood furniture will stand out in your living room and make it feel more authentically Indian.^[5]
   
   • You can pick a few bold, intricate pieces and offset them with a few more muted or understated ones.

[Edit]Arranging Furniture

1. Add a low couch for a low-sitting living room. Indian style sofas often have super short legs or no legs at all. They rest close to the floor so that you can sit cross-legged on them as you gather with your family in the living room. Choose a long, low couch as the largest piece of furniture in your living room.^[6]

   Tip: You can also look for chaises or fainting couches to find ones that have small backings, but still give off a low, floor-seating vibe.

   
   • You can drape an Indian tapestry on a sofa or chair as well.^[7]
2. Add a small wooden coffee table as a centerpiece. If you’d like to focus your furniture around something, try putting a low, solid wood coffee table in the middle of your living room. You can use this as a table to place food and drinks when your guests come over and display knick knacks on it when it’s just you and your family.^[8]
   
   • Keeping the coffee table low fits in with the already low seating that your living room has.
3. Place a few wooden side tables around to hold decorations. To hold all of your Indian themed knick knacks, try placing 2 to 3 side tables around your living room. This is also a great way to store remotes, books, and any clutter that you might have in your living room right now.^[9]
   
4. Leave your furniture arrangement open to be more inviting. Instead of closing off your living room, try to keep at least 1 side free of furniture so that it feels like you could flow in and out of it. Indian style living rooms are often very informal and streamlined, so they shouldn’t feel closed off and stuffy.^[10]
   
   • For example, you could have your couch against 1 wall, an armoire against another, and keep the entrance to the living room bare so it feels open.

[Edit]Adding Accents and Details

1. Place an oriental rug in the middle of your room as an accent piece. Measure the size of your living room to make sure your rug will fit in with your floorplan. Look for an oriental rug that has intricate patterns and deep, rich colors. You can cover your entire floor with the rug or use it as an accent piece underneath 1 piece of furniture.^[11]
   
   • Oriental rugs can be expensive, so if you’re on a budget, try looking for a smaller one at first.
2. Add brass lamps or statues for a few ornate details. Indian culture is very centered around brass carvings and statues. Display a few of these pieces on your side tables, armoire, or coffee table for some rich-looking touches that make your living room feel more authentic.^[12]

   Tip: You can make your living room feel more authentic by adding a few small brass deities, or gods, to your decor. Ganesha, Buddha, Natraj, and Laxmi are all Indian deities that you can find statues of.

   
3. Put some candles in brass candle holders for authenticity. Lamps and natural lighting are great, but you can add some warm touches by putting tea light candles strategically around your living room. Try placing them on the side tables and coffee tables in candle holders that look like flower petals for some nice accents.^[13]
   
   • Never leave your candles unattended and make sure you blow them out before leaving the room.
4. Hang patterned curtains over your windows to block the sun. You can match your curtains to your furniture by choosing ones with small, detailed patterns on them. Try buying ones made of a deep, rich color that matches your furniture for a seamless design.^[14]
   
   • Cotton curtains are cheap and you can find them at most home decor stores.
   • Match your curtains to the color of your couch for a coherent design.
5. Hang up a tapestry to brighten up a blank wall. If there’s one wall in your living room that looks too plain, try putting up a fabric tapestry with a paisley or mandela design. Match the color of your tapestry to the rest of your decor for a seamless look.^[15]
   
   • Use push pins or nails to hang up your tapestry and keep it secure.
6. Draw attention to your walls with Indian folk art. Paintings with bright, solid colors and gold-leaf accents are huge in Indian culture. Pick up a few of these paintings and hang them on 1 of your walls to add some authenticity and color to your living room.^[16]
   
   • You can make an entire gallery wall out of Indian art, or keep it more subtle with a few pieces here and there.
   • Try framing your art with ornate brass frames to stick with the Indian design of the room.

[Edit]Tips

• Buying furniture and decor can be expensive. Try adding in a few pieces at a time so you don’t blow your budget all at once.

[Edit]References