The Indian interiors which define the modern India; also traditionally inspired like the Mughal or Rajputana wooden decor style, Corinthian columns or Grecian arches, the faux Thanjavur-meets-contemporary-mural; not even the fake ruins and street side-inspired “Indian interiors” has become the norm since past decades. The current design trend which is following the social movement “Minimalism” is about being professional, with stainless steel from commercial kitchens and industry which entirely defines the western school of thoughts where the touch of the essence of Indian traditional settings fades away. So what’s next? Perhaps something that takes to higher level…like Maximal/Post-Minimal. 

Post Minimalism is a term utilized in various artistic fields including architecture for work which is influenced by, or attempts to develop and go beyond, the aesthetic of Minimalism. The expression is used can refer to any field using minimalism as a critical reference point. The term refers less to a particular movement than an artistic tendency. Post minimalist interiors can be defined by using everyday objects, use of simple materials, and sometimes take on a “pure”, formalist aesthetic. 

It is also usually hand-made, introducing a human element into art, in contrast to the machine or custom made works of minimalism which will also promote work of local artisans and can form the key element in Indian contemporary interior design.  It is about warmth, being craft-based, personal, friendly and environmental, following the worldwide trend towards eco-friendly, neo-hippodrome interior space, the spaces could be more experienced than seen, and if current trends are anything to go by, India’s famous palette of colors can be replaced which are whites and pastels, and acres of seamless space unrelieved but for a piece of steel here, or a hint of light there and with a touch of the warmth and personal essence by blending the local simplified hand-crafted based.

It is essential to understand how ornamentation along with similar traditional design language (which has been followed in Indian interiors for centuries) is not just the basic criteria for being hand-crafted, context-based design, rather itmight be able to help us look beyond the minimal era in order to move closer towards a highly influential digital era characterizedby extensive use of Computational Design techniques in sync with the traditional design formats (for e.g., Parametric Design).