Interior Design Costs in India 2026: Full Home Budget, Hidden Charges and How to Plan Your Loan

Doing up a full home in India in 2026 usually costs between ₹1,200 and ₹5,000 per square foot, and your interior design cost and home renovation loan planning should start from that number. For a 1,000 sq ft flat, basic interiors run about ₹12 lakh to ₹18 lakh, a mid-range or premium fit-out is roughly ₹25 lakh to ₹35 lakh, and a luxury job with imported finishes can cross ₹40 lakh. Decide your tier first, then fund the gap with a loan.

What drives the price is the level of work. Basic means simple modular furniture, standard finishes and little customisation. Mid-range gets you better materials, branded fittings and full modular kitchens and wardrobes. Luxury means bespoke furniture, premium or imported materials and a designer fee on top. Modular kitchens and wardrobes alone often eat the biggest share, so price those carefully.

Watch the hidden charges that quotes leave out. Common ones are GST on furniture and services, false ceiling and electrical rewiring, plumbing changes, painting, demolition and debris removal, and a designer site visit or supervision fee. Many designers also charge a design fee that is separate from the build cost. Always ask for a written, line by line quote and check whether GST is included or extra.

To fund it, a home renovation loan (also called a home improvement loan) is the usual route. In 2026 most rates are floating and linked to the RBI repo rate, broadly around 7.25% to 10.50% per year depending on your lender and credit score. SBI, for example, processes these under its home loan banner with rates starting from about 7.25%. A strong CIBIL score of 750 or more gets you the lower end. Tenures can run up to 15 to 20 years.

If you already pay a home loan with a clean record, a top-up loan is often the smartest pick. It needs almost no new paperwork and usually carries a rate close to your existing home loan, often lower than a fresh renovation loan. On tax, note that interest on a loan taken for repairs or renovation of a self-occupied home is capped at only ₹30,000 a year under Section 24(b), and this sits inside the ₹2 lakh ceiling, which is far higher for a purchase or construction loan. Keep the bills, as the deduction needs proof the money went into the property.

Get three written quotes, fix your tier, add a 10% to 15% buffer for surprises, and keep your EMI within comfort before you sign. This is general information, check the official lender and the Income Tax site before you act.

Pick your tier first, demand a GST-inclusive line-by-line quote, and a top-up loan usually beats a fresh renovation loan on rate and paperwork.