Wood adds charm and warmth to the decor, says NANDHINI SUNDAR
Wood, besides adding
depth and texture to a room, exudes warmth that can be cosy and inviting. Wood
teamed with greenery also serves to be refreshing, lending the freshness of
outdoors. Incorporating plenty of wood into the interior in a classic style
brings in an old world charm. Wood can also be designed to lend a modern feel
to the interior as well as paint a lavish décor.
In short, depending on
the manner in which wood is used, the décor can lend a different theme. Wood
can be extensively used in the form of cladding for the walls, featured on the
ceiling. The most commonly used area is the floor where the wooden flooring
gives a warm feel to the space.
However, random use of
wood in an interior can prove to be extremely heavy and overpowering, lending
an overcrowded feel. It needs to be tastefully as well as skilfully featured to
enhance the ambience. For instance, if a wooden ceiling is preferred, covering
the
entire roof may prove to be heavy. Wood can thus feature either as beams on the ceiling or in specific parts of the room with the rest sporting a normal cemented roof.
entire roof may prove to be heavy. Wood can thus feature either as beams on the ceiling or in specific parts of the room with the rest sporting a normal cemented roof.
Likewise, cladding on
walls needs to be confined to particular slots in a room. For instance, if
wooden cladding is desired in a living space, one section of the wall could
sport it or it could feature as part of a dummy fire place or even a display
space featuring the television, books and artifacts. Likewise, wood can also
feature as an opening to another part of the room which is not clearly
demarcated or as an exotic room divider.
In a bedroom, wood could
be used in multiple ways. Since bedroom needs to exude warmth, the presence of
wood enhances the cosy feel in the resting space. Wood here could feature as
paneling of the wall in place of a head board. Wood could also feature
extensively on the ceiling. Incorporating wood in the windows would further add
to the warm feel. Wood is an excellent option for flooring in a bedroom.
Wood can be extensively
used in an interior in the form of furniture as well as large accessories.
Opting for wooden furniture lends a classic touch to the décor. If the
furniture opted is antique or even quaint shaped, it can lend an old world
charm to the interior. Carved wood looks lavish and in a Victorian décor, wood
with carving as well as wood in the form of extensive paneling can be featured
to bring out the theme.
Opting for a natural
wooden staircase can lend a strong character to the interior, reminiscent of
Victorian times. Wooden columns flanking a sun lit courtyard is reflective of
Kerala architecture.
In a large patio
accommodating plenty of greenery and water body but exposed to harsh weather,
featuring wood on the walls would need to be done with care as it can warp over
time. In this case, seas o n e d wood is the best option and a good choice
would be wooden sleepers used in railway
tracks. These withstand harsh conditions and also look classic when deftly
nailed on to the exterior walls.
If the patio is large to
accommodate a sumptuous seating arrangement, opting for a seasoned wooden
seating would be an excellent option as it would blend very well with the
greenery and outdoor setting. The floor too could feature a wooden deck that
weathers equally well.
A point to be noted here
is natural wood can prove to very expensive. Synthetic options that appear
exactly like wood can instead be used for cladding outdoor walls to simulate
the woody effect.
