Kasturi Bai
Housekeeping supervisor
AECS

Creating a pleasant and classy ambience is also one of the several jobs of the Housekeeping Department. This is not easy and requires a good eye for detail. While it may be said that this work is an art, it is not difficult to learn what goes into creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Why do we need to decorate the interiors?

• Adds beauty and colour to the room : A room that is tastefully done is certainly pleasing to the eye
• Gives the room a personal touch: When care has been taken to decorate a room, it adds warmth to the room. A pleasantly decorated room helps the patient to recover faster.
• Colours and lighting affect the mood and behaviour: Colours have a definite effect on the mood of the person in the room. Hence this aspect of interior decoration has to be very carefully looked into.

• Purpose of the building:
  The interiors differ from building to building. The interiors of a hotel will differ from that of an office building or a hospital.
• Geographic and climatic factors:
  The colours, curtains, tapestry, etc. will depend on the place and the climate. eg. we will not use a wall to wall carpet in a place that has a hot climate.
• Tradition
  This plays a vital role in planning the layout.
• Availability of materials:
  It is easier and more economical to use materials locally available. Hence plans should be made accordingly
• Socioeconomic conditions in the area
  The building should fit in with the general economic conditions of the area. A very ornate building in an area that is economically backward will look out of place.

• Furniture Selection of furniture should be based on
  • Size of the room A large room with very little furniture looks bare and unseemly. Similarly a small room with large pieces of furniture or too much furniture looks cluttered.
  • Comfort Furniture should be comfortable rather than ornate or fashionable. When buying furniture, thought should be given to the fact that people of different heights and girths, and different backgrounds will be using the room.
  • Affordability
• Draperies
  Draperies,which become a part of the background contribute to the appearance in the following ways:
  • Blend various colours used on the walls, floor and furniture
  • Soften or accentuate the lines of a room
  • Can be used to offset architectural problems
• Pictures / Photos
  • Enhance the walls
  • Can be used as fillers on shelves
    In order that the photo/picture fulfills its purpose, care should be taken when framing it. The mount and frame should be carefully chosen, not only to make the picture attractive, but to go with the walls or shelves.
• Colours Colours play a vital role in interiors, as colours have healing as well as disturbing effects.
  • Red, peach and yellow give an illusion of warmth. They also make the room seem smaller
  • Blue and green appear cool, and make the room seem larger
  • Red and gold are associated with formal occasions
  • Purple is associated with status
  • Black is looked upon as a colour of death and depression
  Hence colours have an effect on emotional health, and affect both mood and behaviour.
  
  The Colour wheel
  Colour Combinations
  • Monochromatic Colour Harmony:
    This makes use of values and intensities of a single colour eg. light blue, medium blue and dark blue. Sometimes an accent colour (contrast) is added in the form of pictures, pillows, or drapes. Eg. with blue (cool colour), the accent may be red or yellow (warm)
  • Complementary colour schemes:
    This a combination of any two complementary colours (colours opp. to each other on the colour wheel). Complementary colours are best used in unequal amounts one colour is dominant and the other is used as accent. eg. bright red and bright green cannot be used in equal amounts. They must complement each other
  • Analogous colour harmony:
    This is achieved by using colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. This is pleasing to the eye as they are related by a common colour.eg. blue, blue-green and green.
• Lighting Artificial lighting is an important factor of designing.
  • The type of lighting and the intensity of lighting in an area depends on the specific function of the area
  • The type of fixtures used should be such that they are easy to clean
• Decorative Pieces
  • These are used to enhance shelves, corners and table tops
  • They must have a theme eg. one should not mix terracotta items with marble statues, or cut glass.
  • They should not clutter a shelf or the room. They should be well spaced out, and blend in with the rest of the room.
• Flower Arrangement Flowers and indoor plants add colour and beauty to a room
  • The vase should be positioned in a prominent place
  • The table cloth should be selected to blend well with the colour of the vase and of the flowers
  • The flowers should be 1.5 above the neck of the vase
  • Adding a pinch of salt and sugar to the water keeps the flowers fresh
  • A wooden stick helps climbers (money plant) to grow in the direction we want
  • Before placing the flowers in the vase, cut the stem in a slant and immediately put it in water. This helps the plant take in water and remain fresh. Never break the stem or bend it
  • Wash the flowers and check for worms and insects before arranging them
  • Do not keep the flower vase directly under the fan or directly in the sunlight. The flowers will wither and die