Your Ready Reckoner On Home Interior Costs: What Is Modular All About, Anyway?

Last updated on August 26th, 2022

First-time homeowners, we hear you! If you’ve started exploring interior options, we’re sure your head must be reeling with budgetary estimates, material choices, and interior décor elements and terms. Not to worry.  Over a series of articles, we’re here to demystify the complex jargon that interior designers seem to converse in, and help you wrap your head around all those terms and figures!

Should you opt for Modular cabinets or not, and why (or why not)? How much does it cost to do a Modular kitchen or wardrobe? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more!

You must have heard the term ‘Modular’ thrown around a lot with reference to kitchen and wardrobe designs. What’s a Modular kitchen or wardrobe all about? 

Explaining the term “Modular”

Simply stated, a module is a basic unit of a design. So, if we are talking about a modular kitchen, it is one that is broken down into its base elements, which keep repeating in an organized manner. Let’s say your kitchen is 9 feet long, and you have chosen cabinets that are in a straight line on either side — what we call a Galley kitchen layout. If you choose a module of 45 cm or 1.5 feet, which is a standard measurement for a module, you’ll have 6 cabinets on one side.

Not only is this easy to plan and construct, but it is also very functional and looks very neat. Modular cabinets are manufactured in the factory and are beautifully finished, with perfect edges and surface textures.  What’s more, a modular kitchen can be very easily assembled and even reassembled, unlike a traditional carpenter-built kitchen which takes forever to complete. 

And that’s not all. Readymade kitchen accessories are all designed to suit standard modular sizes, and as they are designed for maximum functionality, you’ll be able to use every inch of space and organize your kitchen much better.

However, modular kitchens do not have a unique or innovative look, and if you are particular about having one-of-a-kind custom-crafted interiors, then you should go the traditional old-fashioned way, with a carpenter on site. However, be prepared to stretch your budget and your schedules, as custom kitchens are rarely completed as per plan!

Now that you’ve understood how modular furniture works, let’s get down to answering some of the questions that our clients keep asking!

How much does it cost to do a Modular Kitchen and a Modular Wardrobe? What would be the price range – in terms of Lowest, Medium, and High?

Let’s discuss this in terms of a kitchen that is 10 feet x 10 feet and has cabinets on three sides, which is a total running length of 26 feet. The prices will vary based on the materials used.

If you opt for a combination of upper cabinets and open shelves and use drawers as well as shuttered cabinets below the counter, you can expect approximate costs for the kitchen as shown below:

Similarly, when it comes to wardrobes, costs will depend on the material used and the size of the wardrobe. Let’s assume that your wardrobe is 8 feet wide and 8 feet in height.

Sliding shutters cost more than hinged shutters for the wardrobes; while in the kitchen, lift-up hinges and soft closing, heavy-duty drawer channels will increase your costs.

We hope we’ve been able to clear up some of your doubts about modular furniture costs. As is pretty obvious, the costs mentioned in this post are highly approximate and are to be used for budgetary purposes only. If you choose expensive accessories and high-end fittings, be prepared for a higher cost outlay.

Keep watching this space for more on Home Interior Budgets! In our next article, we’ll get to talking about approximate budgets for 2 BHK and 3 BHK homes.

Here’s hoping you find and live in your dream home soon!