A workable allocation
| Element | Share of budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Joinery & wardrobes | 45 – 55% | The dominant line in every home |
| Modular kitchen | 15 – 20% | One per home regardless of size |
| False ceiling & lighting | 8 – 12% | Keep it simple at standard ceiling heights |
| Electrical & plumbing | 6 – 10% | Higher if points are being relocated |
| Painting & finishes | 6 – 9% | Do it last, budget it first |
| Contingency | +10% | Separate line — not absorbed elsewhere |
| GST | +18% | On the service component |
Where to spend and where to save
Spend: carcass
BWP plywood in wet areas. You cannot upgrade it later without dismantling the joinery.
Spend: hardware
Hinges and channels are touched daily and fail first. Branded soft-close throughout.
Save: shutter finish
A good matte laminate at a quarter of acrylic's cost looks excellent and hides wear.
Save: false ceiling
At standard heights a peripheral cove usually looks better than a heavy design.
Save: flooring
If the existing floor is sound, keep it. Replacing good flooring is the most common budget waste.
Spend: lighting
Layered lighting transforms a room for a fraction of what joinery costs.
People run out of money in the third bedroom because they spent it in the first. Allocate the whole home before you buy anything.
Greenbox principal designer
Design and build under one accountable roof
Why phasing costs more
Doing two rooms now and two later means paying twice for mobilisation, twice for society permissions, twice for the disruption, and accepting that materials may no longer match. In our experience phasing adds 15–20% to the eventual total. If cash flow requires it, phase by room and complete each fully — never phase by trade.
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for a home interior?+
₹1,560–₹2,330 per sq ft for essential finishes, ₹1,700–₹2,400 premium and ₹2,500+ luxury, plus 10% contingency and 18% GST. For a 1,000 sq ft home that is roughly ₹15–20 lakh all-in at a premium finish.
What percentage of the budget goes to the kitchen?+
Fifteen to twenty per cent of a full-home budget. It is a fixed cost regardless of home size, which is why the kitchen consumes a larger share of a 2BHK budget than a 4BHK one.
Is it cheaper to do interiors room by room?+
No — typically 15–20% more expensive overall, because you pay repeatedly for mobilisation, permissions and disruption, and materials may not match on the second round. If you must phase, complete each room fully rather than doing one trade across all rooms.