If you’ve ever wondered what truly changes when you spend a little more, or a lot more, on home interiors, this Bengaluru home tour offers the clearest picture. In this walkthrough, our HomeLane designer takes us inside two 3BHK apartments belonging to two different families. One home was completed within a budget-friendly 5.7 lakh, while the other showcases a more premium interior journey, amounting to 15 lakh.
The beauty of this testimonial lies in its honesty. There’s no fancy staging, no abstract concepts; just real Indian homes, real budgets, and real design choices that show how thoughtfully-planned interiors can transform a space, no matter what amount you start with.
A Tale of Two Homes, One City, Two Different Goals:
Both homes sit in Bengaluru, compact yet full of potential, just like most modern Indian apartments. And both families reached out to HomeLane with the same dream: to create a warm, functional home where every corner feels meaningful.
What separates these two homes is not the size, but the choices. Material choices. Finish choices. Lighting choices. Storage choices. Each decision influences how the space looks, how it feels, and of course, how much it ultimately costs.
From the living room to the kitchen, the bedrooms to the puja unit, the walkthrough compares each space in a simple, transparent way. And as you read through, you’ll find that smart design has very little to do with how much you spend, and everything to do with spending wisely.
The Living Room: Where the Home First Speaks
The tour begins where every home’s story begins: the living room.
In the â‚ą5.7-lakh home, the living area is designed with a clear intention: keep things elegant, but stay within budget.
The TV cabinet, crafted using a mix of Mould Acacia Brown and White W laminates, strikes a warm balance between earthy and modern. Even though the entire unit, including materials and assembly, comes up to just ₹80,000, it doesn’t feel minimal or lacking. Instead, it feels clever; built to fit the space and blend with the family’s existing movable furniture.
The false ceiling adds quiet sophistication without overpowering the room. A clean gypsum board paired with a combination of warm white and cool white lighting gives the homeowners control over their ambience. This portion alone costs â‚ą60,000, and you can instantly see how it lifts the room and adds a sense of completion.
When you move to the premium â‚ą15-lakh home, the living room tells a different story; one of indulgence. While the high-gloss laminates gleam softly under the stylish hanging lights, wooden fluted panels add textural depth. And the golden detailing brings in a touch of luxury, while the sleek strip lights that line the unit create a designer ambience.
A Shoji-style partition elegantly separates the living space from the puja area, proving that even simple boundaries can feel artful when thoughtfully designed. The combined cost of fitted furniture and wallpaper across the living, foyer, and kitchen zones in this home totals around â‚ą1.6 lakh, and the difference it makes is unmistakable.
The Master Bedroom: Comfort Built on Choices
Master bedrooms are where interior design becomes deeply personal, because this is where comfort matters as much as aesthetics.
In the budget home, the master bedroom shows how smart planning can elevate a space without escalating the price. Designers chose sliding wardrobes, which are ideal for compact rooms where every inch counts. The material used for the main wardrobe framework was durable, moisture-resistant commercial ply, while shutters were crafted from HDHMR, a material known for its high density and moisture tolerance. A high-gloss ice-white laminate finish makes the room feel brighter and more spacious; a clever visual trick for compact urban bedrooms.
The wardrobe alone comes to â‚ą70,000, and the entire fitted furniture, including wallpaper, totals â‚ą3.1 lakh. A simple but graceful periphery false ceiling with cove and spot lighting, costing â‚ą31,000, ties everything together without overwhelming the room.
In the premium home, the master bedroom takes a more indulgent route. There are end-to-end lofts for maximum storage, hinged wardrobes that feel more substantial, and wallpaper that softens the bed wall. The ceiling design mirrors the sophistication of the living area, with layered lighting that adds a designer glow.
The visual difference in the two bedrooms speaks for itself: this premium bedroom is planned not just for utility, but for an elevated, luxe lifestyle.
The Kids’ Room: Playful Charm vs Polished Elegance
Kids’ rooms often reveal what families value most: a blend of fun and functionality that helps enhance creativity and a sense of responsibility in kids.
In the ₹5.7-lakh home, the kids’ room brings playfulness to the forefront. A rocket-themed wallpaper instantly lights up the space, giving a bold personality to the space without requiring a big budget. A cloud-shaped false ceiling with spotlights and cove lighting adds a whimsical touch that children instantly fall in love with.
The storage is designed thoughtfully with two hinged wardrobes flanking a tall middle cabinet, perfect for toys, books, and little treasures. Despite the playful elements, the materials remain consistent with the rest of the home; durable, easy to maintain, and subtly glossy. The furniture cost stands at around â‚ą3.1 lakh, with the false ceiling costing â‚ą37,000.
In contrast, the premium home’s kids’ room leans towards polished uniformity rather than bold themes.Â
The wardrobes use the same materials and finishes as other bedrooms, creating a cohesive visual identity. The room has warmth and charm thanks to highlighted wallpaper and a neat false ceiling, but the overall mood stays serene and refined; in line with a long-term aesthetic that grows with the child.
The Guest Bedrooms: A Peaceful Extension of the Home’s Theme
The guest bedroom follows the same clean and cohesive theme as the rest of the home. Instead of experimenting too much, the designers kept the material palette consistent, hinge wardrobes paired with two compact wall cabinets, all finished in the same laminates used throughout the house.
The wardrobe and cabinet setup comes to about â‚ą93,000, including materials and assembly. With the fitted furniture and wallpaper, this room totals around 2.2 lakh, while the false ceiling adds another â‚ą28,000.
A soft, elegant wallpaper highlights the bed wall, and the familiar periphery ceiling ties it back to the visual language used in the other bedrooms, giving the entire home a calm, unified look.
The Kitchens: The Heart of Every Home
Kitchens often account for the largest chunk of interior budgets, and this tour makes that difference immediately visible.
The L-shaped kitchen in the budget home shows how well-chosen laminates and a well-planned layout can make a compact layout work beautifully. Using a combination of Mould Acacia Brown and White W laminates, the kitchen blends warmth and brightness. Even the storage is practical: two drawers, multiple shutter cabinets, a blind corner unit, and a sleek cylinder cabinet. The subtle strip lighting (under the wall cabinet units) adds a modern touch without going overboard.
This entire setup, including accessories and countertop, comes to ₹2.5 lakh, proof that a functional, good-looking kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank.
The â‚ą15-lakh home takes the opposite direction: a full-fledged U-shaped kitchen that celebrates modern design. The moment you step inside, the handleless shutters in ice-white high gloss catch the eye. The black granite countertop pairs beautifully with the black profile handles and matching skirting. Storage is abundant, from the Tambour cabinet for appliances to the dedicated pantry thoughtfully placed beside it. Open shelves display masala jars like a curated corner, and the glass wall cabinets add a touch of elegance.
Lighting plays a huge role in shaping this kitchen’s personality. Strip lighting under the wall cabinets, spotlights that highlight corners, and a combination of island and periphery false ceiling create a warm, inviting glow. There’s even a chandelier point over the island at the centre, adding a luxurious finishing touch. The total cost of this kitchen comes to ₹6 lakh, and it shows in every detail.
The Puja Unit: Calm, Compact, and Beautiful
Both homes include a dedicated puja space, which most Indian families value deeply. In the premium home, the puja unit feels serene and thoughtfully crafted. The high-gloss Akasa Walnut laminate adds warmth, while the wallpaper on the backdrop gives it a gentle decorative charm. The floating shelves are arranged neatly for placing idols and photo frames, and the lighting (strip lights paired with port lights) creates a soft, tranquil glow.
The total spend here is â‚ą37,000 for the unit and â‚ą22,000 for the ceiling, making it a compact but meaningful design addition.
What We Learn From These Two Homes
At the end of the walkthrough, one thing becomes beautifully clear: A higher budget transforms the finishes, but good design transforms the experience.
Both families received homes that were thoughtfully planned, designed to match their needs, and executed with attention to detail. Whether it’s the sliding wardrobes in compact bedrooms, the functional layout of the L-shaped kitchen, or the dramatic elegance of the U-shaped premium one, each design choice was intentional.
And that’s what HomeLane brings to every project. Not just furniture and finishes. But clarity, expertise, and spaces that feel like home, no matter the budget.
If you’re planning interiors for your new home, or reimagining your current space, let these two Bengaluru homes be your reassurance: your dream home is achievable within your budget, especially when smart interior designs lead the way.
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