The idea of a well-designed home today is evolving faster than the times. And, even more so in a contemporary Indian home, where it’s homeowners find themselves juxtaposing their need for functionality and adaptability to the country’s environment with the styles and aesthetics they’re exposed to globally. While quality serves as the zeitgeist in design, another mark of luxury and aesthetic is the art that is found in a home. With the audience for art growing at a considerable pace every day, artworks and installations have become a mainstay in most spaces across the country.

But does one only require a piece of art to serve as the pièce de résistance of a room or can an iconic design command its place in a room better? In a country that’s ripe with local craftsmanship and indigenous design, it is refreshing to see homes that celebrate this in their spaces.

HEIRLOOMS

It is quite common for most families in the country to own a home that has been lived in and passed down for generations, bringing with it several pieces of antiques, heirlooms and heritage furniture. These objects—while extremely valuable both in sentimentality and monetarily—are often found to be rare and one-of-a-kind; much like art. For anyone looking to echo their family’s history in the home, restoring their ancestor’s heirlooms and blending it with their contemporary décor will create a unique space that visually tells its own story.

ICONIC PIECES OF FURNITURE

Much like its art, the landscape of Indian design, too, is thriving on a global scale, finding its place in notable museums, biennales, and prominent homes across the world. While art creates a mood in a room and is something you can visually immerse yourself in everyday, if you’d like to live around a well-designed life, consider an iconic or statement piece of furniture from the country’s leading architects and interior designers. Not only will this make your home stand out from the norm, it will also create conversation points the next time you’re hosting guests.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Probably more valuable than art is the skilled craftsmanship and local handiwork found in our country, across various states and micro communities. With several crafts slowly dying out or becoming extinct, organisations such as UNESCO along with design houses and brands have been finding ways to preserve and revive them, working closely with artisans to incorporate these crafts into their designs to create contemporary pieces that can serve as objets d’art in a home.