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The big shift in small Indian homes: How people want cosy coffee corners and calming balconies over large living rooms

Indian homes are shifting focus from grand entertaining spaces to personal corners designed for comfort, calm, wellness and everyday living.

Published on: May 27, 2026, 10:30:44 IST

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Modern balconies and cosy corners are becoming the heart of Indian homes, built for slow mornings, quiet evenings and comfort. (Canva.com)

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."

Why Indian homes are prioritising personal spaces over formal living rooms

Urban homes are no longer centred around large drawing rooms designed for guests and social gatherings. People now want spaces that feel personal, calming and practical for their everyday routines. Reading corners, coffee spots, and quiet seating areas are becoming far more meaningful in homes designed around comfort and emotional well-being.

Pranndeep says, “Homeowners today are placing greater value on spaces that support emotional comfort and flexibility instead of focusing only on size.” The Covid-19 pandemic also changed how people interacted with their homes. Spaces suddenly had to support work, rest, fitness and downtime all at once, leading to interiors that feel more functional and comforting.

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How are developers designing homes differently?

Developers are now planning homes around lifestyle needs instead of only maximising square footage. Modern layouts include flexible corners for work, relaxation and wellness, along with better natural light, ventilation and multipurpose spaces. Balconies, cosy seating areas and functional layouts are becoming key features as homeowners increasingly want homes that feel calming, practical and easy to live in every single day.

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How balconies became the most important corner in modern urban homes

Balconies now function as peaceful escape zones inside fast-paced urban homes where open space is often limited.
Many homeowners are styling balconies with compact seating, warm lighting and plants to create cosy café-inspired corners.
Young professionals are increasingly using balconies as refreshing workspaces with natural light and better airflow during long working hours.
Wellness-focused living has made balconies more important as they offer quiet spaces for yoga, meditation and relaxation.
Designers are now treating balconies as essential lifestyle spaces instead of secondary outdoor areas attached to an apartment.

A thoughtfully designed balcony can completely change how a space feels, even in compact homes. Comfortable seating, soft lighting, greenery and functional décor can turn it into a spot for morning coffee, evening reading, or simply unwinding after a long day. As homes continue becoming more personal and intentional, balconies deserve the same attention as living rooms or bedrooms. Small design choices here can make everyday living feel calmer, lighter and far more enjoyable.