Past perfect, present chic: Indian furniture for modern living; Interior designers suggest how to blend both

Designers Rashi Bothra and Ruchi Gehani share how Indian furniture’s heritage, versatility and craftsmanship can complement modern spaces.

Design is moving fast, but our love for heritage is growing stronger. From eco-friendly homes to natural materials, the focus is shifting to what feels real. Indian art, textiles and furniture-making traditions are finding their way back into living rooms and bedrooms. Plastic-looking furniture is fading out as people choose pieces that celebrate craftsmanship. These designs bring beauty, history and a sustainable edge to modern spaces.

A hand-carved wooden mantle with a mirror above adds heritage charm while blending effortlessly into a sleek, modern living space. (Rashi Bothra and Ruchi Gehani)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow.

Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences.

A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism.

Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims. Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces.

Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."

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The roots of Indian furniture design run deep in history and craft

Indian furniture design is more than just good looks. It’s packed with stories, regional flair and generations of skill. Picture carved teak diwans, light cane chairs, brass-inlay tables and intricate screens. Each piece hints at where it came from, from Rajasthan’s ornate details to Kerala’s clean lines. Solid wood, cane and brass have lasted for centuries for their strength and timeless charm. Today, these classics are getting fresh twists that work beautifully in modern interiors.

Modern adaptations keep tradition alive in today’s homes

Traditional Indian designs are finding a fresh voice in modern interiors. Shapes are sleeker, colours softer and materials often mixed for balance.

Rashi Bothra and Ruchi Gehani, Founders and Interior Designers at Azure Interiors, spoke to HT Lifestyle.

Rashi Bothra shared, “Pair one or two intricate Indian pieces with clean, modern furniture to avoid visual clutter. Keep the colour palette neutral and let textures shine. Use traditional materials like wood or cane alongside modern elements like glass or metal. The result is a space that feels rich, balanced, and thoughtfully curated.”

Functionality is now at the forefront. Multi-purpose designs such as carved benches that double as seating and storage, or swings that add style while saving space, are becoming popular.

Ruchi Gehani adds, “Choose versatile designs like a carved bench, rocking chair, or swings that serve multiple functions. Prioritise solid construction, clean proportions, and finishes that suit everyday use.” Sustainability is also shaping furniture trends in 2025, with more focus on handcrafted, locally sourced pieces that keep craftsmanship relevant for the future.

How to bring Indian furniture into your space

• Start small with one or two key pieces rather than filling the room.
• Choose one standout piece like a console, swing, or cabinet to serve as the main feature in your space.
• Think multi-purpose for smaller spaces, like a carved bench with storage.
• Mix textures such as cane, solid wood and soft upholstery for depth.
• Tie it together with colour using earthy tones or jewel shades.
• Use accessories wisely with Indian textiles, art or smaller décor pieces.
  
  

Gehani explains, “Start with a functional piece that adds personality, such as a console, cabinet, or swing. Make sure it fits well in scale and complements existing décor. Choose something that feels timeless but not overpowering.”

Rashi adds, “These pieces bring style and utility together, helping homeowners maximise space while still embracing craftsmanship and character rooted in traditional Indian design.”

Our key takeaway, “Let pieces reflect your personal story and taste. A space feels cohesive when it flows well, not when everything looks the same.”

Indian designers are turning furniture into a blend of beauty, heritage and everyday practicality. These pieces carry centuries of craftsmanship yet work perfectly in modern homes. Even a single well-crafted item can add warmth, character and a story to your space. With growing love for sustainability and personal style, such designs are here to make homes feel truly one of a kind.

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The author of this article holds a Master's Degree in Interior Design and has spent over a decade in research, teaching, and designing homes from scratch.

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