Art brings soul to anything it touches. Every style carries a purpose, a mood and a way of shaping the space around it. The experience of a home is actively moulded by the art it holds. Among the many styles finding a place in people’s hearts, Indian folk artworks are steadily making their way into contemporary Indian homes.
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You may have seen the classic Indian artwork in your grandparents’ home, eliciting doubts if they might tilt interiors towards the overly maximalist or traditional orante. But the truth is, they can be included in almost every interior aesthetic tactfully. What makes them special is the unique brushwork, distinct strokes, and layouts, all rooted in stories and narratives that naturally spark conversations. Local artwork, from Madhubani to Warli, makes your place lived-in, rather than impersonal, catalogue-like styling.
These artworks impart an expressive and nostalgic touch to your interiors. Whether your home is more minimalist, Scandinavian with a desi edge, or full-on boho chic, folk art can find its place within contemporary styles too.
The key to making any local artwork is rooted in its thoughtful placement, which aid to amplify cohesiveness through furniture, textures, and materials that complement the artwork.
In fact, folk artworks do come across as statement pieces, even when surrounded by furniture and upholstery drawn from different points across the decor continuum (consider brutalist or mid-century modern). When introduced with deliberate intent, folk art becomes more than a centrepiece on a blank wall. It acts as a visual anchor for the room.
Moreover, these works easily add traditional elements into contemporary spaces without appearing imposing or out of place. Instead, they integrate depth, warmth, and character, letting heritage and modern design coexist naturally within the same space.
To understand more about the placement of Indian artworks in your interiors, HT Lifestyle connected with Yosha Gupta, Founder and CEO, MeMeraki. She revealed that homeowners are opting for artpieces that embody memory and feel personal. Most of the Indians at some point may have come across local artwork at their ancestral homes. In order to capture that experience, many are choosing decor pieces which make them feel nostalgic and grounded.
Yosha made an important observation: “Indian folk-art traditions, with their strong visual languages and cultural depth, are finding renewed relevance in modern homes.”
Now, folk artworks are being re-evaluated, and their visual strength and incredible capacity for storytelling are noticed. The motifs and forms stand out even in contemporary settings. Yosha remarked, local artwork brings a human-touch to the space, reminding how homes are made to feel personal instead of being just Pinterest-like curated.
Yosha shared the 5 different Indian artworks gaining popularity in Indian homes, and which are the best places for them:
