Guides
Who to hire and what to buy, sorted by design type, style and budget. No rankings, and nobody pays to appear.
Every price and cost is checked and dated. How we make our guides
Who to hire
Residential architects in Delhi NCR, by how they approach a home
Twelve Delhi NCR practices sorted by how they work: climate and materials, large contemporary houses, design-and-build, villas and farmhouses, and experimental form.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Lighting for the living room, by type and price
Lamps, wall lights, pendants, chandeliers and downlights from Indian brands, sorted by budget from under ₹2,000 to over ₹50,000.
Checked 7 November 2026
Who to hire
Workplace architects in Delhi NCR, by the kind of workplace
Ten Delhi NCR practices sorted by the work you need: large corporate buildings, low-energy design, small office buildings, and office interiors.
Checked 7 November 2026
Who to hire
Residential architects in Mumbai, by the kind of home
Eleven Mumbai practices sorted by the home you have in mind: villas and retreats, city apartments, research-led homes, and design-and-build.
Checked 7 November 2026
Who to hire
Interior designers in Bengaluru (Bangalore), by how you want to work
Twelve Bangalore firms sorted by how you'd like your home done: full-home companies, boutique studios, a chosen style, or Indian craft and natural finishes.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Rugs and carpets for the living room, by type and price
Handwoven, hand-tufted and hand-knotted rugs from Indian brands, sorted by budget from under ₹5,000 to over ₹1 lakh.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Wall art for the living room and bedroom, by type and price
Wall decor sets, metalwork, panels and traditional Indian paintings, sorted by budget from under ₹2,000 to over ₹50,000.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Mirrors for the hallway, bedroom and living room, by type and price
Wall and standing mirrors in wood, metal and bamboo from Indian brands, sorted by budget from under ₹3,000 to over ₹50,000.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Vases for the living room and console, by material and price
Glass, ceramic, terracotta and metal vases from Indian brands, sorted by budget from under ₹1,000 to over ₹8,000.
Checked 7 November 2026
What to buy
Cushions for the sofa and living room, by type and price
Printed, handwoven and embroidered cushions and covers from Indian brands, sorted by budget from under ₹1,000 to over ₹5,000.
Checked 7 November 2026
How we think
Why Design IRL doesn't publish top 10 lists
Nothing in design is simply the best. Here's how we sort firms and products instead.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
How to build a house in India, step by step
A plain walk-through of building an independent house in India, from budget and plot checks to design, approvals, the construction stages and handover.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
What a house costs to build, stage by stage
How house construction costs break down by stage in India, with per-sq-ft rates, soft and hidden costs, and a worked 2,000 sq ft example for Mumbai and Jaipur.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Approvals and documents you need to build a house
The title papers, land-use conversion, plan sanction, certificates and utility NOCs you need to build a house in India, with typical times and costs.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Who to hire when, and what they charge
The order in which to bring in an architect, soil lab, structural engineer, MEP consultant, contractor and designers when building a house, and their typical fees in India.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Labour-only, item-rate or turnkey: choosing a contractor
How labour-only, item-rate and turnkey building contracts differ in India, who carries the risk, how to compare quotes, and how to structure payments.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Home construction loans: how banks pay out by stage
How a construction loan is released in stages, what the bank needs at each one, and how to line up your contractor's payments with it.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
A quality checklist, stage by stage
What to look at on site at each stage of building a house, from soil test to snag list.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Rules of thumb for estimating materials
Quick per-sq-ft rules for cement, steel, sand, bricks, tiles and paint, so you can sanity-check a contractor's estimate.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Renovating a home: stages, budget and sequence
How to scope a renovation, what each level of work roughly costs, and the order to do it in.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Planning full home interiors, from design to move-in
When to start, how an interiors budget usually splits, what designers charge, and how long it takes to move in.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
How much cement, steel and sand a house needs
Per sq ft rules for cement, steel, sand, aggregate and bricks, what changes them, which grades to buy, and a worked example for a 2,000 sq ft house.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Rooftop solar for a house: cost and subsidy
How big a system you need, what it costs before and after the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, how net metering works, and how long it takes to pay back.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
A lift in your house: cost and what it needs
The kinds of home lift, what each costs by number of stops, the shaft, pit and power they need, upkeep, and the permissions some states ask for.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Compound wall, gate and driveway cost
What a compound wall costs per running ft by material, what drives the gate and driveway cost, and a worked example for a 30 × 40 ft plot.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Interiors cost for a 1, 2 and 3 BHK
What interiors for a 1, 2 or 3 BHK roughly cost at each finish level, what the price covers, and how the choice of who does it changes the bill.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Bedroom interiors cost: bed, wardrobe and more
What a master, kids' or guest bedroom roughly costs to do up, item by item, from the wardrobe and bed to the ceiling, lights and curtains.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Living room interiors and TV unit cost
What a living room roughly costs at each level, from the TV unit and ceiling to the sofa, rug and curtains, with a worked example.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Home automation cost: smart lights, locks and more
What smart switches, locks, cameras, curtains and AC control cost, wireless or wired, per room and for a whole flat, and what to plan before wiring.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
How much a modular kitchen costs
What a modular kitchen costs per running ft, by layout, board and finish, with a worked 10×10 L-shaped example.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Wardrobe cost: hinged or sliding, by finish
How wardrobes are priced per sq ft of front, what sliding doors, lofts and finishes add, and what a 3BHK's wardrobes come to.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Bathroom renovation cost, item by item
What redoing a 40 sq ft bathroom costs at each level, item by item, how long it takes and the order the work goes in.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Waterproofing cost: terrace, bathrooms and walls
Where a home needs waterproofing, what each method costs per sq ft and how long it lasts, and how to find the cause of damp first.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
False ceiling cost: gypsum, POP, grid and wood
What each kind of false ceiling costs per sq ft, what cove and profile lights add, and when to put it in.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Flooring cost by material: vitrified, marble, granite, wood
What each flooring costs per sq ft laid, how much extra to buy, and which rooms suit which material.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
House painting cost per sq ft
How to work out the area to paint, what each grade of paint costs with labour, and what a 2 BHK and a house exterior cost.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Rewiring a house: electrical work and its cost
How electricians price by the point, what wires, switches and safety devices to ask for, and what rewiring a 2 BHK costs.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
What a villa costs to build, and what drives the price
Villa build rates by tier and city, the features that push the rate up, and the costs that sit outside the per-sq-ft figure.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building a farmhouse near Delhi: land, rules and cost
How Delhi and Haryana farmhouse rules differ, what land and building cost, and what to check before you buy.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Weekend homes near Mumbai, Pune and Goa: Alibaug, Lonavala, Karjat
Land rules in Maharashtra and Goa, why coastal and hill sites cost more, and what to plan for when the house sits empty most of the week.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Farmland homes in the South: Devanahalli, Kanakapura, Shankarpally, ECR
Buying and converting farmland in Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, and what water, waste and power cost on a rural plot.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Planning an office fit-out: cost, timeline and who to hire
What an office fit-out costs per sq ft and per seat, how long it takes, and how to put the team together.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
What it costs to open a café or restaurant
Realistic budgets for cafés and restaurants, including the deposit, working capital and licences people underestimate.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Fitting out a shop or showroom
What a shop or showroom fit-out costs per sq ft, what pushes the price up, and how to choose who builds it.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Clinics, salons and gyms: the costs people forget
The services, equipment and licences that make clinics, salons and gyms cost more than an ordinary fit-out.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Turning a home into a homestay
What it costs per room to turn a house into a homestay, and the registration, safety and design steps involved.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Architect fees in India: percentage, per sq ft or lump sum
How architects charge for a house, what the Council of Architecture's 7.5% means, what the fee covers and when you pay it.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Interior designer fees: how they charge
Percentage, per sq ft, flat fee or bundled into a turnkey price: what each costs, what it covers and how to pay.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Home loan EMI: what you pay and how much you can borrow
How EMI is worked out, how rate and tenure change it, and the income and loan-to-value rules that cap what a bank will lend.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Stamp duty and registration charges, state by state
What eleven states charge to register a home, the lower rates for women, which value the duty is worked on, and how to pay.
Checked 7 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Noida
Which authority approves your plot, what the UP Apartment Act and your society allow in a flat, the OC and registry check before interiors, GRAP and hard water, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Noida.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Gurugram
DTCP, HSVP or MCG: who approves your plot, the stilt-plus-four stay, what the Haryana Apartment Act allows in a flat, water and power in new sectors, GRAP, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Gurugram.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Delhi
MCD and NDMC plan sanction, the no-sanction rule for small plots, DDA's 2026 rules for altering flats, GRAP construction bans, groundwater, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Delhi.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Mumbai
What BMC and your society need before you renovate, which repairs need no permission, the OC check for a new flat, monsoon and old-building issues, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Mumbai.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Pune
Who approves plans in PMC, PCMC and PMRDA areas, what your society needs before you renovate, the OC check for a new flat, water and old-building issues, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Pune.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Bengaluru
Plan approval under the Greater Bengaluru Authority and Nambike Nakshe, khata and OC rules, lake and storm-drain checks, flat renovation, stamp duty and registration, and firms to hire in Bengaluru.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Hyderabad
BuildNow approvals, the new corporations, HYDRAA and lake buffers, water and tankers, flat renovation, stamp duty and the 2026 market-value revision, and firms to hire in Hyderabad.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Chennai
Tamil Nadu's single-window and instant self-certified approvals for small homes, flat renovation rules, debris fines, the northeast monsoon and water, stamp duty and registration, and firms to hire in Chennai.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Kolkata
KMC's online sanction and quick route for small plots, which repairs need no permission, the debris rule for completion certificates, flooding and filled-in ponds, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Kolkata.
Checked 9 November 2026
Plan & budget
Building, renovating or doing up a home in Ahmedabad
AMC and AUDA approvals under CGDCR, small homes without prior permission, minor works that need none, Building Use permission, heat and earthquake lessons, debris rules, stamp duty, and firms to hire in Ahmedabad.
Checked 9 November 2026
Vastu & feng shui
Vastu for your home, room by room
What the Vastu texts and today's practitioners recommend for the entrance, living room, kitchen, bedrooms, puja room, toilets, stairs and the centre of the house, and where they disagree.
Checked 8 November 2026
Vastu & feng shui
Vastu in a flat you can't rebuild
What practitioners suggest when the walls can't move: furniture, sleeping direction, room use, mirrors, light and the no-demolition 'remedies', plus what your society's rules allow.
Checked 8 November 2026
Vastu & feng shui
Feng shui at home: the main ideas, room by room
Qi, the commanding position, the bagua and the five elements, and how feng shui practitioners apply them to the entrance, living room, bedroom, desk and kitchen, with where the schools disagree.
Checked 8 November 2026
Vastu & feng shui
Hiring a Vastu consultant
What a Vastu consultant does, when to bring one in relative to your architect, what they charge in India, the questions to ask, the warning signs, and how to get their advice into your drawings.
Checked 8 November 2026
Startups
How architecture and construction startups get funded
The usual path for AEC, proptech and design-tech startups, from bootstrapping and grants to seed, Series A and venture debt, with 2025 figures and why investors call the sector hard.
Checked 8 November 2026
Startups
Grants and government schemes for startups in India
DPIIT recognition after the 2026 changes, the Seed Fund Scheme, Fund of Funds 2.0, the credit guarantee, tax benefits, state grants in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, and incubators for the built environment.
Checked 8 November 2026
Startups
Who invests in construction tech and proptech
The kinds of investor that back built-environment startups (specialist funds, corporate venture arms, proptech funds and Indian VCs), each named with a deal it has done, plus accelerators and competitions.
Checked 8 November 2026
Startups
From practice to product: turning a tool from your firm into a startup
How architects and engineers have turned in-house tools into companies, what changes when you sell a product instead of a service, who owns the IP, finding first customers, and when to raise money.
Checked 8 November 2026