Riad Mena & Beyond, Marrakesh

Make good use of the wall behind the sofa by converting it into an open shelf where you can display all your treasures. Prop several throw cushions on your sofa to up the comfort factor.

Built-in wall shelves eliminate the need for external bookshelves, thereby saving space. Place a small chair and foot rest near them to turn an empty corner into a reading area.

Mix and match traditional sofas with modern pieces like Egg Chair by Eero Aarnio. The addition of a wooden ceiling adds an ethnic touch to the room. A small ledge near the window makes for an excellent shelf.

Apart from using it as a flooring, rugs can also be used as artworks on the walls. Here too, an ethnic print has been offset by a classical black and white chequered floor.

Instead of a large centre table, invest in nesting tables or group together smaller tables. This makes it easy to rearrange furniture and gives your living room a unique touch.

A small round dining table, as opposed to the usual square dining table, helps save space. If you are short on space opt for chairs with no arms and smaller frames.

Another way to inject colour in the room is by using colourful, patterned doors in bold colours. Use them for a space such as the bathroom or to create a distinct partition between two spaces.

A bright rug placed at the foot of a bed can inject subtle colour in a monotone room. Place a small chair and foot stool at the edge of the bed for a comfortable seating space.

A simple sleeping area can be made much more dramatic with the addition of a large light fixture. If you are short on space, add a small ledge behind the bed to hold your bed side essentials.