Energy in your living space

Someone recently asked me if Feng Shui or Vaastu can be taken seriously by any ‘rational’ person. I presume that all subscribers to ‘rational’ thought would accept Darwin’s theory of evolution. And wasn’t it he who first brought to us the theory of the survival of the fittest?. Whether that applies to a species that survives and adapts to its surroundings or a theory that has withstood the vicissitudes of time and has remained virtually unchanged in principle, the reasoning behind them is essentially the same. And both theories can be explained scientifically and metaphysically. And they would not have survived if humans had no practical use for them. They are not the by-products of either religion or philosophy. Their sole aim is to achieve a harmony between man and his environment; an alignment with cosmic principles and a respect for nature and its laws.

Both these ancient theories are based primarily on the theory of elements and their effects on life with respect to the magnetic axis of Earth. Everything is related to space and time and does not exist in a vacuum. Coordinates on this x-y axis are essential for any activity and it is not surprising that they form the core of these two approaches. Just like the body needs nutrition and the proper environment; a premises, commercial or residential, requires the necessary factors essential for its health. Its health, or the lack of it, has a direct impact on those who inhabit its space. And since living space is always treated as one entity just like the human body, it is essential that one ensures that all its parts are functioning at optimal levels. Vaastu and Feng Shui help us create spaces that are more conducive to our well being and in tune with cosmic order. And just as doctors cannot prevent the existence of disease or change a man’s destiny, one cannot expect these disciplines to miraculously cure all the malaises that affect a particular space. It seeks to improve with the limited tools and knowledge at its disposal.

The keywords here are tools and knowledge. Smart packaging and successful PR has led people to DIY Feng Shui and Quack Vaastu which are not only ineffective but can considerably worsen an already difficult situation. And if doing-it-yourself-home-remedies were so effective or simple one would imagine that a theory that has been around for thousands of years would have made us all ‘experts’ by now!. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. There are a lot of so called Feng Shui practitioners and Vaastu professionals who offer their ‘expert’ advice applied en masse!!!!.

The principles of Vaastu are predominantly based on the rays of the sun and the energies of five elements. And when one follows its application as a whole rather than ‘hijack’ parts to suit a specific requirement, only then will its effects be realized. And just like a peace accord signed under tenuous (and questionable) circumstances falls through at even the hint of discord, if your application of Vaastu lacks conviction and respect for its laws, your ‘remedies’ will not withstand the slightest tremor of reality.

Astrology, Vedic and Chinese, is inextricably linked to both these theories, because space and time are not mutually exclusive. In Vaastu, the significations are based on compass directions. Horoscopes are made for houses based on their ‘year of birth’ so to speak. Feng Shui asserts that significations vary with time and astrological calculations for the house are essential in determining the ‘qi’ of the house and analyzing the shortcomings. Although there are a great deal of similarities between the two theories and both are based on the elements and the flow of energy it is not advisable to follow the instructions of a practitioner who combines both disciplines to provide solutions. You can always have a second opinion before you decide on surgery but you should only have one doctor and one prescribed treatment.

Vaastu consultants are still a far more affordable option for the reasonably well-off Indian. I doubt it will be long before American consumerist ideology shall top it with pepperoni and oregano and home deliver it riding on smart packaging and global advertising budgets. So make the most of it while you can! DIY Feng Shui is already here at ‘discounted’ rates!!!. But beware, advice that is light on your pockets may not necessarily be effective for solving your problems just as consultants that charge your weight in gold need not be experienced.

And for those that balk at its authenticity in the name of defending science it would be interesting to note that the scientific principles of these theories were established and practiced long before science staked its claim upon those very principles. There is nothing mystical about them and if a practitioner has some scientific grounding he/she will be able to explain it in those terms. Yes, there have been distortions and unnecessary commercialization, but that does not detract from its primary objective. And if over the years fact cannot be separated from mythology, that is an unavoidable fallout of attempting to capture the imagination of the layman (as any student of advertising will tell you). Give computers a couple of thousand years of exposure to the masses and Bill Gates may be deified! (Certain politicians have managed that within their own lifetime so why should we be surprised). If you are willing to look, fact can always be separated from fiction and mythology seen as a language not method.

Do you have the perfect bachelor den?

Unless you have inherited a place, most bachelor homes, are small and compact. The first step is the open plan house. The lesser the walls, the better. For privacy, screens or glass sliding doors are a much better option. The open plan makes a place look much bigger, brings in more light AND gives a very contemporary feel.

Guess what the center of gravity of a bachelor’s home is? The Couch !!! It is probably where you will end up spending most of your time at home, and also what most of your guests will notice. Make sure it is comfortable and large. Floor cushions can complement it. Make sure the floor cushions are both bright and colourful or in an extremely luxurious fabric.

If the couch makes a statement of how comfort conscious you are, the coffee table in front of it, speaks about how trendy you are. Get a low contemporary coffee table, preferably square. While working on colour for furniture and woodwork, keep the same tone throughout the house. Use paint to accent that tone on the walls. If you are using subtle tones on walls and woodwork, get some bright accents; but if you are using bold colours on the walls, then keep the rest of the stuff muted.

The entertainment unit is usually the be-all and end-all of a bachelor den. Now this is not JUST about the gadgetry, which is usually well taken care of. The unit that houses the gadgetry makes a bigger statement. Whether it is a big screen TV, the latest hi-fi system or even the coolest games and music collection…..put them together and watch the fireworks. It is great to have a music collection that is the envy of your friends. It is even cooler to have it in a neat rack, in the entertainment unit, rather than lying all over the place.

Whether you drink or not, a bachelor den needs a good mini-bar. A man should know his martini from his melon juice, regardless of which one he prefers !! Get the basic stuff. But get good stuff.

Leather makes a huge statement. Use it on furniture or accessories..but use it somewhere. A hardwood floor is a huge investment but it is the best way to created understated luxury. If the flooring in basic than focus on rugs instead. You don’t have to invest in expensive stuff….but it should complement the rest of the stuff in your apartment.

Colour is something that can change the décor of a room substantially. Elegant black with white and beige offset with a daring shot of flaming orange somewhere is for those want the ultra modern look. If you are inclined to something subtler, go in for taupe and teals with soft accents. A striped paint finish on one of the walls will create some element of drama too.

While you are still near the walls, pay attention to what goes on them. If you cannot afford good art, put up a few advertisement posters….there’s a lot of cool stuff out there, but don’t turn into a dorm wall !! Family pictures, neatly farmed and put on the wall, lend an air of warmth and hospitality. Photos of your travels, will convey the impression of a man who has seen the world.

If you have some money to spare, a little space to accent and a little imagination to carry it through…get a fireplace. It does not have to work…you can place candles in it if you like. A fireplace is the ultimate style statement.

Lighting is the next key element. If you can afford concealed lighting, nothing like it. If not, get some simple straight-line lamps, with adjustable light settings, to create the perfect ambience to complement a mood.

The bathroom is perhaps the most neglected interior space. It should be well lit and clean, even if you cannot afford fancy fittings and fixtures. A shower curtain is an absolute must as are coordinated towels.

If you can walk down to the neighbourhood nursery and ask for low maintenance plants you would have achieved what most bachelors consider to be impossible. Keeping plants (real ones) in their homes. There are many options that won’t require too much attention, but will considerably turn up the style quotient of your home.

Multi-functional furniture and modular units allow you to store everything without it being an eyesore.

Roman blinds or sheer drapes for the windows work best. Keep it simple, but keep it elegant. Don’t put standard curtains in prints or checks.

Now that you possibly have the coolest bachelor pad in town, you could work on the accents. A Queen size bed instead of a single or double. Good quality sheets. A clean kitchen. Stenciling on walls. Detailing on cornices. Exterior finish on interior walls. Area rugs that define various sections of the apartment.. A day bed. A wine-rack. A bookshelf. An antique or a retro piece that will become a subject of conversation. A plasma TV

Kitchen design ideas : part 2

Regardless of how much time you spend in your kitchen, you would probably agree that while the decor of a kitchen has no bearing on the kind of food that comes out of there; you would like it to look good. You consider it to be as much a part of the home, in terms of its requirement for basic visual appeal, as a bathroom or a study. If you were the one cooking, it would be even more wonderful to have a kitchen that keeps you cheerful while you cook.

However, redecorating a kitchen poses not only a practical problem but also a financial one. The mere thought of giving it a new look sends the bank balance on a spin. But there are ways and means of achieving a spanking new, designer kitchen without actually tearing it down and starting afresh. The best part is, you do not really have to do it all in one go. The kitchen makeover in EMI is a real option. The choices are yours.

I am outlining below some basic tips which can be achieved at a fairly low cost. If your budget permits you could even splurge on some aspects and budget on the rest. Whichever way works for you. The point to remember is to conceive a look which would be significantly different from the existing one. Where everything fits into a storyboard and you forget the jigsaw puzzle that was.

Cabinets
Paint your cabinets in a different colour or finish, to give the kitchen a completely different look. You can use a combination of two colours to liven up that space, or even get some borders and colourful motifs on the panels.

Adding an interesting moulding on the cabinetry would transform the entire kitchen as would changing the handles and knobs. It is fairly simple to do and achieves the change at a low cost. You could choose from a wide variety of options available at the sanitaryware store, which range from colourful accents to ornate handles. Turn one cabinet into a display by replacing the door with a glass one, installing a light fixture inside and displaying some nice crockery or a decorative jar. Do not forget to paint the walls in the kitchen in a completely different colour as well, to complement your new cabinets and complete the picture.

Light
Bring in the light. Get a whole new set of light fixtures from overhead lights, to task lighting and perhaps even an accent light to give your kitchen a spanking new look. It takes one trip to a lights store and a few hours job for an electrician. Remove every tubelight in sight that does not have a proper fixture. A lot of fairly nice looking yet inexpensive options are available in the market. You may also want to put a panel of lights on the ceiling rather than focusing all the fixtures on walls. If you use white light in the kitchen try out a complete new look in yellow light. It is much softer and if you want more light use more fixtures, not necessarily white light. Especially in a kitchen where there isn’t enough natural light.

Dress up your balcony–small is beautiful

You may think that a small balcony does not give you an opportunity for too many possibilities in terms of beautifying the space, but that is not the case. A few additions and you will have an inviting balcony. The first step is to decide on some kind of theme. It could be a season or it could be a certain kind of look you would like. Once you have that in mind, the rest will come more easily.

Painting the wall of you balcony in a bright colour to match your theme would liven the space. You could paint the wood trims, mouldings and railing in a contrast colour as well. The second step is to focus on the most obvious way to liven up a balcony—plants. This is the most important exercise when you plan on decorating your balcony. You could pick out the space for potted plants, as well as some additions like a trellis, climbers and hanging planters. Choose the plants according to the kind of look you want. Since floor space is limited pay a lot of attention to vertical space and use it the best way you can. It does not matter if you have a great view, as long as the space looks inviting. Plants should be used in various levels all around the balcony instead of just having a row of potted plants. Levels will also make the space look much bigger than it is, while adding colour vertically.

The next step is the lighting. You could change the outdoor light to a hanging colourful piece and add a few more lights in various lengths that hang from the ceiling. Hanging lanterns are an interesting way to bring in some drama as well. Add at least one interesting light fixture on the wall and have a few terracotta wall pieces or some brightly painted artefacts that you could put on the wall and bring in some interest.

If there is space for seating you could choose from various options. Throw out those plastic chairs and opt for interesting garden furniture. It could be a bench, or even a bistro set depending on the space available. You could also have a box bench where you could store the cushions when not in use and put a cover to shield it from the heat, dust and rain. When you want to use the balcony all you need to do, is pull out the cushions and voila!!—you have a seating arrangement. Make sure the cushions are very colourful.

Another way to create a soothing atmosphere is to have some kind of running water in a small fountain in one corner. This works wonders in creating a calming ambience and if you have some terracotta urns and plants around it you could also place candles—floating or even in votives with holders.

For that added interest, you could consider an awning if you can afford it to shelter the space from direct sunlight. If that is too expensive an option then use bamboo blinds at least on the two sides to screen the balcony and use hanging vines for the facing. Flooring is usually very basic in balconies and you could bring in some warmth here by putting interesting tiles that do not hinder cleaning but provide a lot of visual depth.

Since mosquitoes are a big problem, you could buy big mosquito nets, dye them an interesting colour and hang them on a frame on all sides of the balcony. Keeping an overlap in the middle will allow you to open them and tie at the corners in case you want to enjoy the rare evening breeze that one gets. It will not stop the dust and rain of course, but you will get spared the odomos!!

You could bring your balcony into your living space by having French doors or larger windows that will give a nice view of the balcony. It will also bring in colour and light through the balcony and act as a lovely backdrop for your living room. It is important to use a lot of colourful flowers in the balcony as just greenery would become too monotonous.

If the view is great, half your work is already done. If not, which is more often the case, make something in your balcony a focal point of interest. It could be the fountain, the seating, the use of colour or lighting. Anything that engages a person’s attention.

Some of the balcony basics, which surprisingly most people ignore or do not consider, are the following

If you want the balcony to be a living space, then do not use it as storage. Clutter and cartons will take away from such a space and render is unusable and bland.
Lighting should be considered if you want to use this space in the evenings.
Plan the space according to what you will use it for. If you have barbeques then cater for that.
Interesting seating and plants compensate for even the most basic space.
You do not have to keep it bare because it is outdoors. Get as much interest on the walls as you possibly can.
The more interesting your balcony is, the more likely you will spend some time getting fresh (!!!) air every once in a while.

Kitchen design ideas part 1

Regardless of how much time you spend in your kitchen, you would probably agree that while the decor of a kitchen has no bearing on the kind of food that comes out of there; you would like it to look good. You consider it to be as much a part of the home, in terms of its requirement for basic visual appeal, as a bathroom or a study. If you were the one cooking, it would be even more wonderful to have a kitchen that keeps you cheerful while you cook.

However, redecorating a kitchen poses not only a practical problem but also a financial one. The mere thought of giving it a new look sends the bank balance on a spin. But there are ways and means of achieving a spanking new, designer kitchen without actually tearing it down and starting afresh. The best part is, you do not really have to do it all in one go. The kitchen makeover in EMI is a real option. The choices are yours.

I am outlining below some basic tips which can be achieved at a fairly low cost. If your budget permits you could even splurge on some aspects and budget on the rest. Whichever way works for you. The point to remember is to conceive a look which would be significantly different from the existing one. Where everything fits into a storyboard and you forget the jigsaw puzzle that was.

Cabinets
Paint your cabinets in a different colour or finish, to give the kitchen a completely different look. You can use a combination of two colours to liven up that space, or even get some borders and colourful motifs on the panels.

Adding an interesting moulding on the cabinetry would transform the entire kitchen as would changing the handles and knobs. It is fairly simple to do and achieves the change at a low cost. You could choose from a wide variety of options available at the sanitaryware store, which range from colourful accents to ornate handles. Turn one cabinet into a display by replacing the door with a glass one, installing a light fixture inside and displaying some nice crockery or a decorative jar. Do not forget to paint the walls in the kitchen in a completely different colour as well, to complement your new cabinets and complete the picture.

Light
Bring in the light. Get a whole new set of light fixtures from overhead lights, to task lighting and perhaps even an accent light to give your kitchen a spanking new look. It takes one trip to a lights store and a few hours job for an electrician. Remove every tubelight in sight that does not have a proper fixture. A lot of fairly nice looking yet inexpensive options are available in the market. You may also want to put a panel of lights on the ceiling rather than focusing all the fixtures on walls. If you use white light in the kitchen try out a complete new look in yellow light. It is much softer and if you want more light use more fixtures, not necessarily white light. Especially in a kitchen where there isn’t enough natural light.

Design for small spaces Part 2

Give a more spacious feel to your apartment with these innovative ideas…

Effectively Use The Height. Most apartments do not put the benefits of wall heights to optimal use. Make the storage ceiling-height. Do not make cabinets with open shelves. Keep the paint finish on the cabinets close to the wall colour.

Avoid Clutter. In a small living space, the one thing you cannot afford is clutter. Keep things stacked away in storage areas. Keep the lines clean and the décor simple. Arrange books, mails and magazines in one place.

Add Colour With Accessories. Use cushions, lamps, paintings, rugs and artifacts, which will not only look creative but will focus attention on anything but the size of your room. One wall in a bright paint finish will make a place look large if everything else is in a monotone. A bright carpet of reasonable size also works best. Use multiple photo-frames on a single wall with a focus light, instead of having them lying all over the place.

Curtains and Drapes. Use sheers for drapes wherever possible, and blinds instead of curtains. Go in for cheap fabrics if you must save on cost, but stick to ivory and use a bright border to create warmth. Use plain linen in white or pastels with a plain bedcover in a bright colour, for your bedroom. For kids’ room get cardboard boxes in different colours and stack them one on top of the other, at angles. Looks funky and keeps their stuff stored.

TV Room Essentials. Get a cabinet that fits all the gadgets in. Use a long straight-line sofa in a bright colour and remove every other colour from the room. Keep a folding table, or a center table, but no other furniture.

Walls And Windows. The ceiling can offer lots of possibilities. Mould detailing on POP and corners will pull up the line of vision, and make a room look a lot larger than it actually is. Varying ceiling heights in different areas is an effective way of breaking space visually. Full-length windows with lots of light streaming in will flood a small apartment with the illusion of space. An open kitchen makes a place look bigger and if you have a chimney fitted you won’t have to worry about the smell floating around the house.

So work up your way to design your own interiors for a more spacious look.

Published in Tips 4 Me

Window to your soul : inspired furnishings

When decorating a room, the windows occupy an important place in the scheme of things for two reasons. One, they occupy a large area, and will direct visual focus in a room. Most homes in India have reasonably large window areas, so windows become a dominant feature in the room. Two, the fabrics and colours need to be well co-ordinated with other things in the room such as furniture, paintings, artifacts, wall paint, carpets/flooring etc.

When deciding what kind of window treatment would be suitable for a room/area the following things need to be kept in mind.

• What is the overall theme of the room? Western, Indian or Oriental— Classic, Contemporary or an eclectic mix. This would help determine the ultimate look of your windows.
• What kind of furniture is in the room, and what would be the best way to complement that furniture and accentuate it further?
• What is the wall colour and wood finish …this goes a long way in determining the usability of colour in the room? Most Indian homes have white/off-white walls, so they are fairly neutral. However, in modern day interiors a lot more colour is being used and window treatments should complement the colours of the room. Complement does not mean blending into the same family. Sometimes, a contrast is the best way to bring life and drama into a room–even if it is a subtle contrast.
• What kind of flooring is in the room …marble, wooden, stone or mosaic? Pay attention to the rugs/carpets in the room? Sometimes, rugs/carpets can be a constraining factor in being able to play around with different concepts.
• How much natural light is coming into the room? This is a very important factor, as the filtration of light into an interior space greatly determines flexibility with colour.
• Do you want the room to have a formal or informal look? Again, this would have a bearing on the kind of designs one would opt for.
• Is the window close to any large piece of furniture, such as a sofa or a bed?

Design tips for small spaces : Part 1

With growing population, limited space and property prices soaring high, lavish houses with ample space have become a luxury only a few can afford. However, you can always make the most of the space available to you and make your dwelling appear roomier.

Tips4me Home Care scout Rekha Nambiar brings you ten amazing tips to give a more spacey look to your apartments…

Furnish Your Apartment. Buy furniture that fits into spaces neatly, or get custom made furniture. Use multi-function furniture like a chest that can be used as a coffee table, sofa beds, chest of drawers, and beds with drawers for storage. Use an extendable dining table, folding tables and nest of tables, which can be tucked away when you don’t need them.

Light up Your House. If you have access to natural light, make full use of it. Bring it into your home through windows. Full height glass panes work best. If the view is bad use hanging plants and potted flowers near windows. Use lighting fixtures to add drama into a small space. Lamps will bring in colour and focus attention. A false ceiling with overhead lighting will also flood a small space with light while remaining unobtrusive.

Colour Code. In a small space the first thing to do is to forget colour. Go in for white, ivory or beige on whatever you can. Do not use dark wood finishes. Be it the walls, ceiling, woodwork, doors, window-frames, floors or furniture. Duco paint on woodwork works wonders for small spaces.

Use Mirrors. Mirrors create the illusion of space. Make sure whatever is reflected in the mirror is pleasing to the eye. Use them on wardrobes, walls and partitions. Use glass blocks and etched panes instead of brick walls to separate rooms.

Vendor hunting in India

Looking for a manufacturer or supplier of home furnishings in India ?

Don’t know where to begin? Want to find a source but at a loss for resources? Want to do business in India, but unsure what is the best way to go about it?

This article attempts to answer some of these questions.

Firstly,unless you have a link in India, you will find it a difficult task to sift through the information available on the Internet. There are various sites that provide a directory of manufacturers and exporters in India. These sites have a database of exporters, manufacturers, suppliers and agents dealing in home furnishings. Not exhaustive and certainly not comprehensive, but it’s a good place to start.

One disadvantage is going through all the databases. Largely, in the directories of manufacturers and exporters in India, the paid listings are not the bigger companies, because the latter do not feel the need to have a paid listing. If the site with the database also offers website design and hosting services, then the listings that come on top are usually the ones they got business from. Many of the resource sites are similar and even have the same information base.

So, what would be the best way to find someone a source?

I have tried to outline below some of the methods you could use to get more information.

1. Find a consultant based in India. You would need to pay such a consultant for their services, but it would be well worth your while. They would also do market research for you at a nominal cost. They need not be your buying agents, you could still deal with manufacturers in India directly, but they would be a useful link to have.

2. Ask for specific information, giving details of products you are interested in. No matter how small your quantities, you will find a supplier in India, who is willing to deal with you. In fact, if you have a niche market, the chances of finding someone reliable to do business with in India are even better. If you are just generally looking for suppliers of home furnishings based in India, you will get absolutely nowhere.

3. Send a few pictures of the kind of products that would be of interest to you. Without a visual, it is difficult to communicate. Posting trade leads with pictures is useful, although it is doubtful how many of those companies have an employee regularly visit the sites that carry their listing. My guess is, it would probably be ones based in remote towns where there is no other way to access information.

4. Once you have found a few suppliers for what you need, assess if they are willing to come and meet you personally. If the manufacturer finds you to be a potential client (and this is important), they will not hesitate to travel across the world to meet you. The kind of manufacturer you will find is likely to be determined by the volume/quality of business you are likely to give.

5. Assuming you are uncomfortable dealing with faceless companies based in India, consider the fact that most manufacturers and suppliers in India are equally uncomfortable dealing with someone they do not know or understand. If you make the effort to communicate with them, they will usually respond with the same enthusiasm. The ones that are more likely to be useful will not send you an email that looks like a mass-marketing mailer.

6. If you need samples, and you want to deal with a good company, you would need to pay them for it. A better way would be to ask for digital pictures or a CD. At any given point of time, a fabricator based in India has at least five requests a day for samples. Every single potential client promises big business.

7. The best way to assess the credibility of a potential supplier is to start small. That way you will know what their limitations are, and they will also be able to assess if they can do business with you. Even a cursory glance at the communications that keep going back and forth will give you an idea of what kind of a company you are dealing with.

8. Try to exchange information that would be useful to your supplier in India. If you can help them with information that you have access to in your country, they will go out of their way to help you find someone even if they do not manufacture the products you want. It builds trust, helps business, does not cost anything and does no one any harm. It could however, prove to be extremely beneficial. In pure commercial terms. To both parties.

9. To understand a fragmented market, the first step is to work in fragments that will create the whole. Keywords commonly used to find manufacturers from India—that will probably get you absolutely nowhere in terms of relevance and drag you into a cyber jungle that will leave you more confused than anything else….
“furnishings India, exporters home furnishings India, manufacturers bedspreads India, decorative pillows India, table linen manufacturers India, suppliers fabrics India, wholesale distributors, handicraft, embroidered textiles,”

The list goes on and on. The reason is simple. It is an organized chaos. But chaos nevertheless.

10. If you have the time and the resources, you could perhaps find what you want in one of these databases. If not, and you are still looking to do business in India, find a link in India. A link you can build a relationship with. Business is all about relationships. Especially small business. The home furnishings industry in India is still relatively small business.

Keeping your house singing in the rain

Given that the monsoon season lasts for a few months in India, there are many aspects that need to be looked into while considering home care needs. In fact, it is a good idea to get a professional to do an inspection of your home, old or new, prior to the monsoon and ensure that you find and fix the problems that keep recurring. Once they have been fixed, after the monsoon, you can plunge into the decoration aspect.

1. Seepage in foundation walls can be due to a leaking downspout. These problems should be corrected before the monsoon. The causes can be many, so corrective action can only be taken when you have determined the cause of the problem. Stop gap measures do not really help, as the problem is likely to recur the next year.

2. Termites are a major problem wherever water leakage or high humidity levels are a feature. They would require professionals to do a really complete job, but you would need to check the whole house for any signs of termite infestation, which tend to increase during the rainy season.

3. Some easy do-it-yourself remedies for woodwork. Put Camphor in your cupboards, it takes away the moisture and protects your clothes. Neem leaves are also effective against silver fish, which are a common problem in the rainy season. Cloves are an equally effective remedy.

4. Hardwood floors need maintenance during the rainy season. Make sure they are free from moisture and wax them to protect them. Moisture content in hardwood floors tends to make them warp.

5. Carpets, especially wall-to-wall carpets need to be vacuumed regularly with cleaners that will take away not only the dirt but also the moisture that seeps into the fibers. A good carpet cleaner will also keep them from getting a musty smell. Rugs should be rolled up during the rainy season, as they just get dirty if you use them. Ideally if you can wrap them properly in polyethylene sheets they are saved from water damage and insect infestation as well.

6. Waterproofing of the roof is essential before the onset of monsoon. Check that the drains are not blocked with leaves. Ensure that water is directed away from the foundation. Check the underside of roofs for leakage or water condensation.

7. Walls need to be checked for breakages and seepage. The exterior masonry should be repaired well before the onset of the rains. Paint on the interior walls should be checked for flaking.

8. Ventilation is an important aspect of home care during monsoons. Make sure there is enough cross-ventilation and fresh air coming into your home, otherwise the humidity levels will cause a general feeling of dampness.

9. Tile joints in bathrooms should be checked and kept sealed, especially in apartment complexes.

10. Keeping areas clean can prevent mildew and by ensuring that the moisture content in the air is kept as low as possible. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are a good way to reduce the humidity levels inside a home, but the best way to protect upholstery and rugs is sunlight. A good sunning is the best way to keep moisture from creating problems.

11. An investment you can make this year is a tumble dryer. In a country with such an extended monsoon, we should use tumble dryers, not only to ensure that our clothes do not smell because of moisture trapped in the fibres, but hanging clothes inside the house to dry is one of the reasons why the moisture content in so many homes is so many homes is so high. While its wet outside, you must think of every conceivable way to keep the inside of your home DRY. That solves half the problems that are associated with a prolonged rainy season.

12. Any major work in the home should be done either before the monsoon or after. That is the first basic rule of home décor.