How To Design A Mumbai Home As Guided By This Expert Interior Designer

"Designing smaller spaces in Mumbai is a challenge because the house must be well equipped to meet the resident's daily needs. A lot of furniture needs to be sleek and multi-purpose in nature, and a lot of times we use wall-mounted options so as to save space and create open areas. In order to create an effective space layout, we must first consider functionality and space flow.

Majority of our clients in Mumbai always face a space crunch and storage issues. To combat this, we convert dining areas into compact bench and dining units, with storage under the bench. The living room furniture is often multi-purpose, with sofas, sofa-cum-beds, and extendable centre tables. These are some very commonly used techniques to create space and storage."

Here is a list of multi-purpose tables to make the most of your space.

Organisation: "Every home needs to be decluttered, and the easiest way to achieve the same is to have an organised home. General storage to kitchen organisers not only helps declutter but also facilitates easy access and increases storage space."

Looking for a neat and tidy way to store your footwear? Here is a list of the best shoe organisers.

Compact & Multipurpose Furniture: "To create a good space flow, furniture throughout the house should be compact, light-weight, and multipurpose. For example, stackable side tables that can be used as center tables or laptop tables, a sofa that can double as a bed for daily use or when guests arrive, and TV units with a sliding tray table that can double as a bar unit ledge."

Click here to read a detailed guide on setting up a small space.

Mirrors: "Any and every space can be expanded with proper usage of mirrors, regardless of the mirror's size, and it will enhance the entire space . Aside from mirrors, reflective surfaces can effectively add depth and character to the home."

Don't compromise on design, find decorative mirrors for a compact home, here.

Open Layout: "Exploring open layouts is always a great option for smaller spaces. For example, collapsible sliding partitions instead of walls are very helpful in expanding an area for entertaining."

"Colours play an important role in tying the entire space together and influencing the overall aesthetic. For compact homes, I usually opt for the Scandinavian route, with the majority of the space in warm bone white and crisp white, with warm grey hues. I usually introduce colours in styling accents rather than as a whole, as with a neutral canvas, it's easier for the clients to experiment in the future in a pocket-friendly way."

Need to prepare your colour palette? Here is a list of wall colours to make your room look larger.

"When it comes to deciding materials for a home, I usually like to factor in the climatic conditions of the city. Mumbai's humid climate and the high salt content in the air, plays an important role in choosing materials and design elements.

Walls: Acrylic paint and the washable paint series by Asian Paints work very well, prevents blisters and cracks, and is the easiest to clean. Ventilation is a very important factor as the summer months get very humid.

Windows: Cross ventilation can be achieved by introducing netted windows and ample circulation within the house.

Flooring: Despite the trends in new materials, tiles are the most effective material to use for flooring and bathrooms. We can easily achieve a wooden, concrete, marble, or hand-painted effect using tiles that have become more elaborate over the years and very closely mimic natural materials. Marble flooring can also be incorporated to keep it cool all year round.

Finishes: Laminate for finishing instead of veneers and PU act as very durable surfaces that last for a long time and are extremely easy to maintain."

What's In Demand?: "In all Mumbai homes, multi-functional furniture works best and most efficiently. Sofa-cushion beds and Murphy beds are the most commonly used and requested furniture items because they double as living spaces, like stackable and extendable tables for dining and centre tables. There are partition walls that can be removed and replaced with sleek storage units or converted into sliding doors and help to expand a room."

Local Markets: "Mumbai has a lot of furniture markets where you can find new and repurposed furniture as well. Bhiwandi Market has some great stores where you can find great furniture options. Similarly, Jogeshwari-Oshiwara Lane has some great finds for vintage and repurposed furniture. Chor Bazar has the rarest finds, with antiques and quality vintage furniture."

Furniture Brands: West Elm, Freedom Tree, Savana Living, Fabindia, Gulmohar Lane, and The House of Things.

Maintenance: "Wooden furniture should always be cared for with a soft microfiber cloth in order to preserve its polish, as anything that is rough will cause scratches in the polish. Similarly, for marble, a non-abrasive cloth or a soft sponge with a mild soap is the best way to clean a marble surface. Vinegar and bleach must not be used over marbles, as they cause spotting and dull the marble. Periodically, buffing both marble and wood is beneficial and keeps the furniture looking fresh."

"Decor is very personal; it defines a home and has to reflect a client's personality. Each space has its own uniqueness and charm in the way it is styled. So if I’m doing up a modern home, I would opt for minimal silhouettes, and if I’m doing a traditional home, I would opt for something that is more meaningful to the client."

Decor Brands: The Artment, The Decor Kart, The Decor Circle, West Elm, Westside, The Orange Lane, and Pure Home + Living.

Elements To Make The Space Seem Large: "Mirrors and mirrored furniture, organised storage spaces, and full-height storage make an impact on the overall space plan and appearance."

Got a small bathroom? Read this list for cute decor ideas!

"For budgeted homes, get upholstery from D'Decor and wallpapers and textures from Asian Paints. For a luxury finish, go for brands like Sarita Handa, House of Ekam and Pure Concept."

"Open planning has worked extremely well in my experience with Mumbai homes. Open kitchens and island kitchens create a great conversation flow and sense of space. Given the weather conditions, optimising natural light and ventilation is critical. Minimalist design and aesthetic work perfectly well for the modern, compact Mumbai home."