In Pakistan, design trends change quickly so to get a grasp of the ever evolving fashion movements, we sent out a few men on the ground to find out what is hot in home decor in Pakistan.

Basements are back

If you are privileged enough to have a basement in your home, you may have the potential to convert this space into a living room. But before you start drilling it’s important to ask yourself a few key questions: Is it safe? Is it dry? How will the space be used? And how will you decorate it? Once you have a clear and definitive answer to the above four questions, you are in a good position to start talking to a professional. In many cases this is where the bright idea reaches an impasse; for instance, because the seasonal moisture will prohibit any type of conversion or current building codes will shut down any plans for renovations.

Open plan interiors

Homes are getting smaller, and the housing crisis is reaching boiling point. Could a smart solution be to make the most of what we have? To do that, homeowners are reorganizing their interiors to get rid of unnecessary furniture and decorations. “You need to ask yourself does this item of furniture add any value,?” said Saad Arshed, managing director of Lamudi Pakistan—the online property platform. “In many cases, the answer will be no and by removing the large object you create a sense of space, and that is becoming increasingly important, Arshed went on to say.

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Energy efficient homes

The latest research from McGraw-Hill predicts that more than 37 percent of firms—by 2018— will have 60 percent of their projects certified green. They also estimate that nearly one-quarter of the total share of construction is in green building. Indeed, homes are going green in greater numbers than ever before, and it is no different in Pakistan. With spiralling energy prices, consumers are keen to minimize their utility costs and a smart way to do this is to convert your home into a carbon neutral building. Architects are busy installing double glazed windows, insulations, and perforated walls, and this goes a long way to making a house more energy efficient.

Sunken living rooms

Lately, sunken living rooms have resurfaced. You can see them everywhere: American tv shows like Mad Men and in contemporary design magazines. Naturally, this has shifted to the homes of Pakistanis and it is surely a symptom of the dire need for more room. On offer is the space of a living room but on a lower level so it feels warm and inviting. The open sunken area is conducive to a cozy atmosphere, and homeowners can easily achieve this.

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ABOUT LAMUDI
Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 13 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, with close to a million real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.