Punjab is well known for its vibrant and colourful culture. Traditionally, a simple house design in Punjab has always reflected an earthy and lively vibe. Today, even though families may prefer contemporary or modern décor, they tend to infuse it with a few traditional elements.
The evolution of architecture and house design in Punjab is interesting to note. It carries influences from the Indo-Aryan and Vedic eras, the period of Maurya, Gupta, Pala and other empires, as well as the Shahi kingdoms, the Muslim invasion, the Sikh rule, and the British colonial era.
Let’s look deeper at the different house designs in Punjab, from the old house designs in Punjab villages to the new and the rural to urban homes as well. We’ll also look at how to incorporate traditional Punjabi interior elements into your home today.
Traditional Punjabi Architecture
A traditional Punjabi Kothi or haveli is a house built with a blend of Punjabi vernacular and colonial design elements. The typical construction materials for a small house design in Punjab villages were bricks, lime, mud, surkhi (powdered broken brick) and timber.
There was a central courtyard around which all the other rooms were built. This courtyard acted as the common living area or the baithak and would be the centre of family gatherings. It also traps air during summers, making sure the indoors stay cool.
Rooms typically had curved arches, carved wooden doors and fireplaces. They also opened out to balconies and the garden outside. The most basic house designs in Punjab had windows with shutters and latticework. Balconies had intricately carved wood railings and ceilings. The outer façade of a simple house design in a Punjab village would have beautifully carved jharokhas – overhanging enclosed balconies that jut out from the wall. Some houses used big stoves on the rooftop for cooking on pleasant evenings.
Furniture in Punjabi Home Interiors
Old house designs in Punjab villages had simple furniture, such as beds woven from jute husk. Low seating on the ground used to be quite popular in the living rooms.
How do you adapt these to your contemporary home today? Get a solid wood wardrobe design made of timber. Get a few elegantly carved accent pieces. You could get a stylish woven charpoy as a day bed for your living room or balcony. Alternatively, you could design a low seating area in the living room, a low dining area, or a low seating area in the verandah. This will give your home the same ambience as a house design in a Punjab village.
Traditional Punjabi Textiles
Punjabi villagers used to make the famous Phulkari – colourful embroidery using thick cotton thread. Another traditional product is the ‘durrie’ – a simple mat made of coarse cotton. It is a rustic, long-lasting, versatile material. These two design elements can be commonly seen gracing a typical house design in Punjab.
To mimic the farmhouse design in Punjab, get Phulkari bedspreads or duvet covers that incorporate these traditional textiles in your bedroom. Use decorative Phulkari cushion covers in your living room, or get Phulkari tea cosies, table covers and mats for your dining room.
Get a dhurrie as a floor rug. As a small house design in a Punjab village, you can even mount one on the wall to make attractive wall art. Use it as bedding or under mattresses to avoid the slipping of the bed cover.
Dining Room Décor
Now, let’s come to another typical element of a new house design in Punjab. As far as utensils are concerned, steel has been the most popular in Punjab. You must have come across the large steel glasses that hold nearly a litre of ‘lassi’ or buttermilk. In your home, get these tall steel or copper glasses to add quirk to your dining table décor. On a lighter note, you could even offer water and milk to your guests in these vast glasses and challenge them to finish the entire glass!
Home Entrance Décor in House Designs in Punjab
Traditional house designs in Punjab would decorate the entrance or the central arch of their homes with colourful ceramic tiles. You could emulate the look with a large ceramic-tiled mirror in the foyer area or a ceramic-tile frame for your main door.
Water Features
Typically, all house designs in Punjab would have shaped water tanks. Your take on this could be to have a small fish pond on your balcony or living area if the space allows. It will give your home the same look as a modern house design in a Punjab village. Decorate around it with pebbles, rock features, and plants to complete the design.
Using Natural Materials
Try to recreate the vibe of mud-floored, brick-coloured Havelis as that of a house design in Punjab by using terracotta sculptures and terracotta tiles on your balcony or patio. You could even try a terracotta tiled kitchen backsplash.
Use stylish cane and wicker accent pieces of furniture in your living room, bedroom, or balconies. Or build wall cladding on your balcony using thin cane sticks tightly woven together. Use raw cement or stone tiles in your kitchen or patio.
Vibrant Colours for House Design in Punjab
Even if your home has a neutral base, you can still work up a typical Punjabi house design by bringing in a few vibrant colours. Opt for earthy tones like ochre yellow, crimson, brick red, oranges. Offset it with pinks and blues. These hues would perfectly complement a glass wardrobe design.
5 Things to Avoid When Designing A Punjab Style Home
House designs in Punjab have many quintessential elements. Now that you know how to incorporate them into your home, here are five mistakes you should avoid while doing so:
- Avoid installing a bed-size cot if your house design in Punjab is too cramped. Instead, go for a compact, ottoman-style woven jute chair. It will add the perfect Punjabi “Kothi” effect without making your home look too congested.
- To avoid overcrowding, make it a point to infuse other motifs and designs in the house with the Phulkari print. You can go for the chintz print, damask print, ditsy print, etc. This will ensure your house design in Punjab looks just the perfect indie-contemporary.
- Steel glasses are a trademark element of modern house design in Punjab. But they’re also pretty basic. To prevent this monotony, go for “Kulhars” or mud glasses. They elevate the entire kitchen decor and make it look more authentic.
- If your house lacks a typical Punjabi courtyard, do not install a fireplace in your living room. Instead, you can set up a rustic fireplace on your balcony. This will let out the same semblance, especially during the chilly winter season.
- While decking up a single-storey house design in Punjab, always believe in the “less is more” theory. Do not overdo any element – mix and match all the different Punjabi design elements in correct proportions to ensure it doesn’t come off as cluttered.
To Sum Up
It is fascinating to see how traditional and modern elements co-exist in interior and architectural house designs in Punjab homes, isn’t it? Looking to incorporate these traditional elements while designing a modern and functional home? Contact the expert designers at HomeLane today to start planning right away.
FAQs
1. What Type of Houses Are There in Punjab?
Traditional Punjabi houses are built to resemble the essence of a countryside “Kothi” or “Haveli”. These houses are generally double-storey, with quintessential Punjabi design and decor elements such as mud-polished floors, central courtyards with fireplaces, the famous Phulkari motif in every textile, and so on.
