A 850 sqft upsized, urban home in suburban Mumbai

By Pragnya Rao

This cheerful apartment in Mumbai shows you how to work colours in your home

If you thought colourful interiors were for large spaces then this apartment designed by MuseLAB will make you think again. Nifty ideas, pops of colour and smart planning define this contemporary home of an investment banker. A tall set of duco-painted drawers not only serves as a room divider but also makes for an interesting display for curios.

The home décor breaks many a rules of décor. It pays homage to the owner’s penchant for colourful cartoon effigies. Batman, superman, minions, you name it; there’s space for all without it looking childish. The low windowsill has been turned into a bench for a part of the dining seating, and the space under it has been turned into storage. Colourfully painted chairs form the rest of the seating. A sliding-folding door divides the living space into two, which depending on use turns into a TV room or a guest room. We love how even in such a small space, what once was a small bathroom has been converted into a walk-in.

No corner here is wasted, and yet it doesn’t appear heavy. In fact, it’s a delightful space with interesting details at every turn, which in some places is chic storage or an exciting nook for showcasing more curios. We are definitely bookmarking this home for the next time we are renovating our home.

You can skip paintings and instead frame quirky elements such as these painted masks for bespoke art on your walls.

Like in most apartments, if you don't have the luxury to create a separate puja room, you can accommodate it as a part of your living room as seen here. Rolling blind have been used to hide it when not in use so it can fit seamlessly into the décor.

No matter how hard you try there will always be certain elements that you won’t be able to do away with, for example, the unsightly electrical distribution board. The folks at MuseLAB have hidden it effectively here using two artworks as the cover to its door.

The kitchen is in contrast with the rest of living space in muted white and gold.

Painting just a niche in a different colour will help you create a focal point as seen here in the living room.

A mix of drawers and shelves used as a room divider can be an effective way of creating privacy when you don’t have a demarcated entryway. We love how it has been used as an interesting showcase too.

Mix and match is our favourite seating plan when it comes to the dining area. Here, the windowsill has been used as a bench while colourful chairs complete the other side of the seating.

A wood and glass door creates an interactive kitchen plan. Here, the graphic shutters on the wardrobe, which is incidentally extra storage for woollens, is made of tiles stuck on plywood.

Colourful sliding-folding doors help transform the TV room into a guest room depending on its use. On most days, it functions as a large, seamless living area.