If you love birds, you will know that there is something so charming and endearing about them that nothing else can match up. So, how about giving your home decor some avian inspiration? Well, if you are wondering how, here are some ideas. Birds tend to have a very a calming presence. They are found in a vast variety of colours and patterns. Incorporating such similar features in your home is, in a way, a tribute to your precious feathered friends.
“Going for upholstery, textiles and tableware with bird motifs is a good idea. If you’re someone who loves art, you can go for paintings which feature the beauty of birds. In the end, the underlying theme of the entire decor should feature connotations with which we symbolise birds: freedom, peace and harmony,” says Purvi Parikh, owner, Tranceforme.
Endearing & adorable
Choices are aplenty: printed cushion covers, birdcages, even a tapestry of these feathery creatures. You can also create a bird-inspired ambience in your kitchen with plates and bowls having bird-inspired designs. One of the most obvious choices is using bird feeders. “However, if you would like to incorporate something unique, you could pick products with adorable bird figurines woven into their aesthetic. Be it little bowls, flower bowls or centrepieces that are conversation starters in themselves,” says Shibani Dasgupta Jain, founder and CEO, Baaya Design.
Take inspiration from nature and add a rustic charm with a cornucopia of accessories, items in the shape of a bird’s nest, and woodland creatures and birds. Walls, especially, have great potential when it comes to incorporating any theme. “Have nature-inspired wallpaper or wall art with colourful bird motifs. If too much colour is not your cup of tea, you can also go in for mute colours with the same theme. Add a new collection of crockery with bird motifs. Choose accessories such as lampshades with bird patterns, bird ceramic floater or bird motifs on throw pillows. You can add a quirky element through fancy hanging copper or brass birdcages, which are also trending currently. If you wish to do something different, then go for a gallery wall with a group of large-framed bird sketches set against a lime-coloured wall,” says Parikh.
Nature-inspired decor is easy to incorporate and has a relaxing element to it, especially if you are a lover of birds, animals and plants. It gives a sense of calmness and freshness to any space. You can use this element as wallpapers, props, tapestries, wall hangings, canvases, curtains, and lights to complement your decor.
Tuhin Roy, co-founder, JUMPINGGOOSE®, explains, “You can have empty birdcages placed in your balcony. You can also have small-sized birdcages with scented candles placed on a centre table. And if you really like the birds and their chirping, you can have your doorbell with that tune. Bird wall decals are a huge rage now. Chimes are also an easy way to add the bird-inspired theme to your decor.”
Murals and art pieces of cranes and swans and colourful stuffed bird strings as partitions work well too. “Bird motif decals and wallpapers can be used in bedrooms. Large wooden bird murals can be used in balconies and living rooms, old Benaras or Kanjeevaram saris with bird motifs can be used for cushion covers and curtains. Cutlery in ceramic and metal with bird motifs adds elegance to the dining couture,” says Vaishnavipratima, owner, Vaishnavipratima - the Interiors studio.
“One can also place Japanese origami-designed birds over the study table. What more, you can also use origami wallpaper for your home. Applique can also be used on the curtains or cushions, which is a DIY idea and also give a 3D effect. Giving a room a total contemporary look can also be taken into consideration using decals, for example, 3D decals, wall decals, vinyl decals and the like,” says Laurent Guichox, academic director LISAA India, Bengaluru Campus.
Mural love
Murals of birds such as phoenix and peacock in wood, metal or stone can add a regal look to any space. In fact, many birds are considered auspicious in different philosophies and different parts of the world. For example, the paramhansa in Hindu mythology and the mythical phoenix is the most famous bird in feng shui, and it is often paired with the dragon as a symbol of marital happiness. “Also popular in feng shui, the crane came to symbolise longevity because of its long lifespan. In Hindu culture, the peacock is associated with Goddess Lakshmi who represents patience, kindness and luck. Besides bringing an element of nature into your home, the energy of birds will bring lightness, inspiration and good luck. One can keep almost anything ranging from sculptures, timepieces, vases, candle stands, photo frames to mirrors with a bird motif. The eagle conveys the power of the spirit; it is man’s connection to the divine because it flies higher than any other bird. It is mostly associated with wisdom and freedom and adding these can add a positive vibe to your home,” says Jalaj Anand, creative director, Frazer and Haws.
So, get set to give your home flights of your bird fantasy now.