Have you heard of ‘Thinnai’? The evolution of withdrawal space has drastically changed from past decades to today’s decade with drawing room interior design. To all of you who don’t know what ‘thinnai’ means, it is a raised platform structure adjacent to the entrance of South Indian homes. It resembles charpai, chabutra, or manchaha in North Indian homes. It features added shading using local clay roof tiles to exchange stories, nurture the neighborhood, and strengthen community bonds.
In the transition from semi-open to closed, the drawing room interior design has predominantly been influenced by the Western style of architecture, making it enclosed inside the houses and enhancing it with attractive lighting fixtures, large mirrors, distinctive furniture, high-end TV units, and music systems. While only a few populations in India can afford luxurious drawing room interior design, many marginalized LIG and MIG populations are constrained to affordable housing options.
How about we Indianize the drawing room interior design with a sense of majesticness and an optimal indoor environment to dwell in?
First impressions matter, right? Creating a drawing room that captures rich cultural elements like woodwork, traditional motifs, or vibrant colors can enhance the guest’s experience. This multifunctional drawing room by Techno Architecture offers comfortable seating with a center table surrounded by a vividly highlighted sofa and side tables. The optimal usage of artificial lighting and natural skylight bounded by four wooden Chettinad columns adds balance and harmony to the setting. This simple-looking case example effectively retains cultural value while also adapting to changing trends.
Of course, traditional furniture pieces are elegant. I hope you all agree with me. This visually permeable drawing room interior design is conceived in a mixed-method approach, featuring elegant furniture like wooden sofas and jhoola and complemented by a carved wooden column and low-height wall as a boundary, yet being visually connected with other living spaces. The mixed-ventilated space also allows operable side windows with curtains to control light entry, while the air-conditioning option adapts to climate change.
Red, orange, royal blue, and green? Yes. Sometimes color psychology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the user’s behavior and perception of space. This guest drawing room aims to entertain and be eye-catching. The royal look has been attained using dark green leather Chesterfield sofas and blue customized wallpaper with patterned fabric panels. This rectangular drawing room invites guests into it with blue and green tones and a large window offering natural daylight.
Isn’t it divine to light up the space with warmth and light shades like deepam in a temple? To achieve such a sense of feeling, lighting up the ceiling and walls with chandeliers and wall lamps would be a great choice. This spacious drawing room by Raheja Creations is a beautiful example to look at, with a painted motif on the flooring and a maximized seating area for Indian families to discuss social customs as well as interactive conversations.
How else can you make your drawing room a focal point? Any exposed material, with good execution, can add visual interest and serve as a focal point in a living space. This drawing room by Prashant Parmar Architect & Shayona Consultant used exposed burnt brick with herringbone as a background for the leather sofa. This 25’ long room is adorned with round tables in different sizes and drastically cladded with orange shade stone on the other side. Furthermore, this room receives ample natural light and is equipped with a mechanical energy source for thermal adaptability.
Every stage is complete only when complemented by an interesting backdrop, don’t you agree? This multigenerational home is an apt example of drawing room interior design with an indie backdrop. The designers used Jaisalmer and white mint stone between pattern-based polished wooden members. This truly Indian-feeling space has a modern, distinctive sofa that satisfies the generational interests of the family, ranging from younger to older ones. The Jaisalmer sandstone in the flooring sets a great platform for family gatherings and pre-marriage ceremonies.
Didn’t most of us in India grow amidst the coconut grooves or trees before the 2000s? The gap between human beings and nature is the concern of the hour. To step closer to it, optimized interior design can be an attempt to bridge the gap with effort. This drawing room to the left is connected to a garden. This neutral-themed room with a white wall, curtains, sofa, carpet, and flooring enhances clarity among the occupants. This neutral color theme, along with greenery, is a perfect blend between indoors and outdoors.
The nostalgic spaces can uplift your current mood and bring back old memories, right? In context-based architectural projects, the cultural spatial patterns can be valuable additions to reflecting the family dwelling. The old thinnai or charpai concept can be modified and incorporated as a drawing room indoors. This threshold between the entrance and living space acts as a withdrawal space for the guests. Considering traditional ideas like low chairs, carpet, and raised platforms in a rural mix of exposed walls, flooring, and sloped roofing will take us back to childhood.
How many of you have heard about ‘Athangudi Tiles’? It is a popular style of tile that originated in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, with geometric and floral forms in shades of green, blue, red, and grey. The cooling property and less absorption of heat make it cool to the touch in a warm-humid climate. The addition of these tiles not only glorifies it but also improves the thermal comfort of the users. Moreover, with the drawing room being one of the first few spaces in the house, it can significantly enhance the guest experience during the summer.
Why don’t we enhance our modern living spaces with art decor? The Madhubani paintings, sculptures, Tanjore art, wooden carved pieces, and many more can make the setting more interesting. This drawing room with two sides facing the landscape is a good example of contemporary elegance. An artistic floor sculpture carved from the stone adds a touch of sophistication; white floor sculptures inject character into the space. The low sofas and chairs make the room more grounded and embrace the personalities of the users. Additionally, gray slate flooring and gray textured walls maintain continuity in the space.
A sense of attachment is especially great when your favorite items are handpicked. The drawing room, being a particular zone of the home, shares the boundary with a few other spaces. The transition wall can be handcrafted in the cultural roots, adding rustic charm and maintaining visual connection. The curated art and handcrafted pieces can be a great value addition. This sustainable practice, adopted by Envisage, includes 125-year-old recycled Chettinad pillars refinished in Karaikudi.
Sometimes inspiration teaches you a lot. Art Deco in Indian architecture has always ornamented and taken the form of minimal and geometrically driven designs. This interior design by NSN Studio Divine speaks fluent art decor with bold curves and vibrant colors. Lustrous finishes on every surface add elegance and a sense of luxury. The flooring boasts patterns in grey, white, and black juxtaposed with marble and accents of gold throughout the entire space.
Aren’t the cousins and siblings growing up watching movies? The digital landscape has been an instrumental factor in most of our lives. Incorporating recreational elements like TV units or music systems strengthens family bonds. Transformation trends from the dining area to living room for enjoying a movie over a meal is the new normal. To adapt to changing times, it is key for the designers to include electrical provisions for future needs.
Most people are interested out of a sense of curiosity. As a guest, when entering the foyer of a house and identifying a majestic corner, I naturally seek attention and navigate through with excitement. This new-age drawing room interior design features fluted glass and a wooden frame finished in a matte gold tone. Not just the doors, but even some of the corners are adorned with chandeliers in the hues of blue and complementing beautiful abstract canvas that match the floor and furnishings.
As multi-family housing trends grow rapidly with high-rise apartments, each sq. ft. means something to the different players involved. A holistic approach to efficient space distribution is compelling for creating a dynamic space for today and tomorrow. This drawing room by Prashant Parmar Architect & Shayona Consultant is harmonious with natural light and elegant accents. The direct link between the drawing room, dining, kitchen, and balcony fosters connection and communication. The combination of beige-colored stone cladding, an Italian sofa, and wood veneer in the ceiling truly creates harmony, whether you’re watching TV or enjoying a meal.
Human perception is greatly associated with 3D volume rather than 2D view. Tapping those perceptions can be easy if the interior design plays with the volume of the space. Having two sides open to daylight, this drawing room boasts 15’ double height with a glass partition and operable curtains, evoking a sense of grandeur from both indoors and outdoors. The two-color sofa sets on the Italian marble flooring provide the right platform for formal family gatherings with quality views outside.
Most Indians prioritize warm and inviting interior spaces. Some of them prefer drawing rooms to be disconnected from the other living spaces. However, the user experience can be elevated by using earthy tones and textures in the interior design. For instance, creating a state of satisfaction through an earthy-tone leather backdrop and a gold metallic textured ceiling. Furthermore, yin-yang marble flooring and perforated hanging lights contribute to the overall value of the setting.
When the client opts for a minimalistic design with one striking element, how about a 3D decorative panel or an acoustic panel? This drawing room-facing garden with an infinity pool is already a winner with its quality of views. Identifying simple and elegant features is the next go-to option for the interior. Installing 3D decorative panels in the neural color palette is visually appealing, and rooms with TV or music units can replace them with acoustic panels to enhance the sound comfort of the other regularly occupied spaces. Additionally, the rectangular coffee table and sofa couch, featuring premium velvet fabric with leatherette armrest and under seat add ease.
Pillars serve as functional support and also reflect cultural and regional themes. In particular, wooden carved pillars adorned with motifs, mythological figures, florals, and patterns enhance the symbolic significance of the house. Canwill Design Associates’ drawing room sets an archetype of indie space, including Burma teak wood swing, brass interlocking kadis, intricate wood carvings, handpicked Indian artworks, rattan baskets, and vintage wooden pillars sourced from a local store in Mumbai. This vintage wooden pillar resembles the traditional columns of Tamil households and stands as a nostalgic feature.
How many people know the tribal architecture of India? When always looking for unique indie theme-based interior design, why not incorporate tribal themes into modern Indian homes? Yellow Architects recently renovated a triplex house with Indian traditional elements. This compact drawing room right after the main door offers lounge chairs, a coffee table, and a vintage wooden partition. A tribal painting canvas makes a powerful statement on a large white wall. Furthermore, the Ganesha idol and a ceramic decorative vase adorn the split console table.
To wrap up, the progression of the drawing room interior design demonstrates how to merge cultural charm with contemporary functionality. The Indian case examples include the use of handcrafted furniture, attractive lighting fixtures, opening up to greenery, and decorative acoustic panels. As we innovate and Indianize drawing room interior design, we aim to create spaces that enhance indoor environmental quality with both cultural and future goals. Let these trendsetting drawing room interior design ideas for Indian homes inspire the global community.
Content Writing And Research By: Ar. Baarat Krishna
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