Cover The ‘maaliwalas’ trend applied in a family living room (Photo: Getty Images)
The ‘maaliwalas’ trend applied in a family living room (Photo: Getty Images)
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Embody the Filipino ideal of maaliwalas by embracing light and negative space
If Europeans are renowned for their old-world designs characterised by textured walls, hand-trawled windows and tumbled marble; and the Japanese for wabi-sabi—a worldview centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection translated into their interiors; then Filipinos tend to gravitate towards an aesthetic that is breathy and airy, embodied in the Tagalog word maaliwalas.
Joel Luna, founder and principal of Joel Luna Planning and Design, cited the Philippines’ tropical climate as a great influence on the design evolution of the Filipino home, which is climate-adapted and passively cooled. He specified transparency as being evident in many traditional Filipino designs, from the barong fabric and capiz windows to the solihiya weave in furniture. “There is permeability and lightness in our sense of aesthetics, evolved from our response to our tropical climate,” he said. These qualities culminated in what designers call the maaliwalas trend.
For interior designer Mark Steven Perez of Empire Designs, however, a maaliwalas type of home interior shouldn’t be considered a trend. “Rather, it should be a pervading lifestyle for residential spaces. With everyone’s time-consuming daily commute, busy schedule and stressful environment at work or in school, I think everyone deserves to have a home that’s light, relaxing and comforting—a real refuge,” he says.
This type of ethos inspires relaxation and peace. Here are some suggestions on how to infuse these principles into your home.
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Above The iconic PH Artichoke in a Pale Rose strategically placed in an airy room (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
The iconic PH Artichoke in a Pale Rose strategically placed in an airy room (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
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Let there be light
The key to a maaliwalas room is good lighting. If windows aren’t an option, selecting the appropriate light source is the best course of action. Replace harsh fluorescent lights with overhead fixtures that provide gentle illumination for a more welcoming ambience. Additionally, incorporating diverse light sources such as table lamps and floor lamps not only adds visual appeal but also brightens up dim corners in your home.
Airy furniture
Consider investing in pieces crafted from fluid and malleable materials such as carbon fibre, as seen in Kenneth Cobonpue’s designs, or rattan, as favoured by Jed Yabut. These materials are known for their strength and flexibility, without the burden of being dense and heavy. They can be moulded into slim curvatures and intricate shapes, giving the furniture a contemporary and dynamic aesthetic and your home a sense of relaxation and comfort while still maintaining a light and airy feel.
Above Bunot stool by Jed Yabut (Photo: Jed Yabut)
Bunot stool by Jed Yabut (Photo: Jed Yabut)
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Less is more
The minimalist agenda has taken over our Pinterest and Instagram feeds, with more and more people preferring spaces that scream “less is more”. Select functional and purposeful pieces that would best fit your homes. Apart from that, destress by letting go of things that you don’t really need. “My guiding principle always is to remove all the negativity—unnecessary things in your home to make room for positive energy to enter and flow,” says Perez.
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Colour theory
“Going for neutral colour palettes is the easiest way to create a light and airy home interior,” says Perez. Relying on all-white interiors can result in a dull, cold and sterile atmosphere. However, designing within a tonal palette—incorporating various shades and tones within one primary colour group—adds warmth and depth while still maintaining visual tranquillity.
Above Monochrome whites and greens (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
Monochrome whites and greens (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
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Ventilation
Proper ventilation and ergonomic layout are essential elements when designing for interior spaces. Just like any livable space, every area and every room we enter requires healthy breathable air and foot traffic circulation, as these greatly affect the way we move and live around the house. “Our physical and mental well- being is very much dependent on how we carefully lay out and position our furniture, as well as how we strategically maximise window and door openings and air-conditioning systems for good airflow and breathing circulation,” suggests Perez.
Above The VL45 Pale Rose Pendant (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
The VL45 Pale Rose Pendant (Photo: Louis Poulsen)
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Tidying up
According to Perez, “Keep your things in their proper locations whether inside your drawers, cabinets or walk-in storage rooms.” It’s always nice to know exactly where to get certain things when you need them, properly arranged together. “You don’t waste time and energy looking for them,” he adds. Moreover, it should always be a habit to regularly maintain cleanliness inside the home. “Dust particles enter our homes every day, and it’s always best to clean and tidy up our spaces as much as we can. This includes all our appliances, such as AC units, fans and other air-filtering devices. All homes, even new ones, will surely deteriorate and lose their use and value if they are not properly maintained and ventilated,” he says.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
