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Mallika Dua’s forest-themed home in this concrete jungle

Ideas & Inspiration

By Gauri Kelkar

Oct 11, 2024

Floral wallpaper in living room – Beautiful Homes

The comedian and actor collaborated with Asian Paints’ Beautiful Homes Service for a top-to-toe design transformation of her new Mumbai apartment. Nilaya’s natured-themed and patterned wallpapers are the highlight

“When I decided to do up my apartment, I asked myself to think about what I’ve loved about the places I call home,” says Mallika Dua. The actress and comedian recently moved into a new apartment in Mumbai, her fourth in the city. And this one, she thought, had to be a space to escape to, not run away from. Her biggest in the city yet, Dua had big plans for its design—as she’s had for all her previous spaces. For this one, though, “I decided to go all out; post the pandemic, I’d decided I wanted to spend more time in Mumbai. So, this house had to be more ‘me’, in every way possible.”

This apartment, therefore, was going to be ‘the one’—for the foreseeable future at least. The sight of a largely bare shell drove her to first find the right sort of expert to help plan this space. That turned out to be the professionals at Beautiful Homes Service who articulated her very specific vision.

The actor and comedian, Mallika Dua, recently moved to a new home in Mumbai, her fourth in the city - this one, she thought has to be a space to escape to and feel very ‘me’ for her.

Green is Everything

Intrinsic to this plan to make it as ‘her’ as possible was knowing what the idea of home meant to her. The most important lure to achieve that, it seemed, was greenery—or the suggestion of it. “I grew up in Delhi, which has so much of that [greenery]. Our house too had a garden. And I needed that energy here,” explains Dua. It all started when she saw the nature-themed wallpaper from Nilaya; one look and she was sold. It dominates an entire living room wall and sets the nature-inspired tone that Dua was after.

Things took off from there with choices of fabrics, artworks and other assorted décor accents in the same family as the wallpaper. “Slowly the entire living room had this forest theme. There was nature or wildlife in every element—the ottoman, upholstery to the Gond artworks. It doesn’t feel like I live in a concrete jungle when I sit here.”

Mallika Dua in Mumbai apartment – Beautiful Homes — Actor and comedian Mallika Dua at home in her Mumbai apartment.

Décor accents – Beautiful Homes — Dua worked with the Beautiful Homes Service team to pick and choose everything, from décor accents and lights to the wallpapers and fabrics.

It does, however, look like a wonderland of patterns, with Dua playing off the green-themed elements with a gamut of well-chosen patterns, prints and stripes. The checked upholstery for the couch— “I wanted something English”—sits comfortably in front of the wild wallpaper that offsets the jungle-themed ottoman in front. “I consciously picked fabrics and got these lovely checks in a neutral shade.” The striped wallpaper on the wall opposite further pares back the look while satisfying her love of mixing and matching patterns. “I love patterns, geometries, floral motifs, and I like how they all come together in one place.”

Accents of All Kind

While nature and all things earthy were the living room's locus, Dua’s personality was also as much at play. The desire to ensure every dressed-up corner had a story to tell stitched together a design that is completely her. “I wanted to move away from the all-beige and all-grey aesthetic and bring as much colour and pattern as possible.”

The little accents and accessories are yet another Dua hallmark. “As my followers on social media know, I’m kind of obsessed with décor accents. I love buying showpieces that add to my space.” She simply couldn’t help herself and the catalogue of offerings from Beautiful Homes Service augmented this objective. The knick-knacks are a constant feature throughout the space. A striking centrepiece snags attention in the warmly coloured dining nook. Her vanity room’s ikat wallpaper sets up a pretty patterned space. And thoughtfully bought accents complement her night-sky-like bedroom too.

Dinning corner – Beautiful Homes — The dining nook is a cosy space with its dark but inviting wall colour which is perfectly offset by a pre-existing dining table that was repurposed. The centrepiece is from the catalogue of offerings by Beautiful Homes Service.

Bedroom corner – Beautiful Homes — Dua worked with the Beautiful Homes Service team to ensure that every corner of her home was well-designed and full of character; this corner in her bedroom is a favourite spot.

But in the bedroom, it is the silence and solitude that take over. “This is a space to relax in. I never work here. I don’t even post from my bedroom. It’s where I am my most unfiltered self.” The timeless indigo wallpaper from Nilaya layers the room in a soothing vibe. But for Dua, apart from its general blue appeal, she loves how it reacts differently to daylight and night light. A cocoon of comfort, this room is a space to let go and just be, made up just the way she likes it—with a four-poster bed, floating shelves and peace.

Vanity Design

In a home overflowing with her personality, Dua’s profession gets a well-considered look-in too. Her vanity room, sufficed with prints and patterns and a statement planter is, she says, her perfect getting-ready space. “I didn’t want a plain room with a big Hollywood mirror.” But the functionality is undeniable too, especially in the custom-made hydraulic wardrobe. It is very functional, easy to use, and looks really sexy!”

Warm vanity room – Beautiful Homes — The vanity room, where she gets ready for her camera-facing assignments follows the warm, print-and-pattern-friendly aesthetic.

Gond artwork corner – Beautiful Homes — This corner in Mallika Dua’s living room expresses her love for all things décor; the vibrant Gond artwork with the elephant ties in with the nature-inspired theme of her living room. All the lights in the house, including this one, are from White Teak.

Patterns and prints, colour and warmth, accents and embellishments form a story about a homeowner with whimsical tastes and a penchant for colour blocking. A busy mind and a creative spirit find expression through every curated corner of this home, the one she’s chosen to script this chapter of her life. And just the way Dua wants it. “I want every little corner to tell a story about me. I want it to be a space where I shoot a lot of memorable content and host a lot of friends. As someone who has lived in two to three cities over the last couple of years, I want this one to feel the most like home.”

All images by Prachi Damle

Greenery inspired décor – Beautiful Homes — When Dua planned the décor of the house, she wanted it to echo the things she loved most about her Delhi home—being surrounded by greenery.

Striped TV backdrop – Beautiful Homes — The striped wallpaper from Nilaya is a bold backdrop for the TV; Dua’s love for prints and patterns is evident in the upholstery choices.

Living room wall pattern – Beautiful Homes — A detail of the living room which highlights the diverse patterns and themes at play, all of which work together seamlessly.

Nature inspired wallpaper – Beautiful Homes — One of the first elements locked down for the house was the nature-inspired Nilaya wallpaper that forms the centrepiece of Dua's living room. The theme is echoed in some of the reupholstered furniture too, including the ottoman. The checked upholstery of the sofa and other prints and patterns offset the nature-focused aesthetic.

Custom hydraulic wardrobe – Beautiful Homes — Custom-made by the Beautiful Homes Service team, the hydraulic wardrobe is tailored specifically for Dua's needs; the neutral tone complements the otherwise pattern-friendly vanity room.

Patterned corner accents – Beautiful Homes — One corner is given over to a variety of patterns and includes thoughtfully bought accents, like the ceramic planter with a patina.

Indigo patterned wallpaper – Beautiful Homes — The bedroom is meant to be a soothing counter to the rest of the house, with a patterned indigo wallpaper from Nilaya chosen specifically to create a calming effect.

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