From lush green to rich soils to spices, this country has so much to offer on one colour palette.

You could also look at natural vegetable pigment colours often used in hand - printed fabrics as a source of inspiration to strike the right chord with this concept.

If you intend to achieve the contemporary Indian look, it is recommended that you use a light neutral tone (white, grey, beige, cream) as the primary colour and use accents of bold earthy colours to highlight certain features.

Inspiration for patterns can again be drawn from fabric designs seen all over the country. Zari designs and folk paintings (warli, madhubani, etc.) are influential in setting such pattern trends.

The paisley or mango motif and some other flora or fauna inspired motifs is a commonly recurring feature, and can be explored to achieve the ethnic Indian look.

You could also try and mix and match patterns, colours and textures. For example, mix bold modern motifs with an earthy shaded backdrop or use a subtle neutral tone with Indian motifs or patterns to achieve a contemporary Indian context.

Deity idols or statutes, paintings of historical or mythological creatures can be used as decor elements

Handicrafts, such as tapestry (wall hangings), hand-dyed curtains or upholstery could also be picked in a similar or contrasting tone to create bold accents or splashes of vibrancy.

Dark solid wood furniture in simple unadorned designs could go well with this look.

Natural finishes for rich, easy-to-carve wood types will compliment the earthy colours or accents well.

Ornamentation of basic-detail decoration in wooden furniture inspired from Indian architectural elements can also be a concept-reinforcing feature to explore.