Compare the responsibilities
Design-only vs turnkey vs local carpenter
| What to compare | Design-only | Turnkey | Local carpenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | The designer supplies agreed planning deliverables; you appoint and pay the execution team. | The provider coordinates the execution scope it has accepted. | The carpenter builds the agreed joinery; other trades are separate unless expressly included. |
| Cost structure | Pay the design fee separately; construction, materials and installation are separate. | Review the combined offer, contract scope, exclusions and separately charged work. | Confirm whether the quote covers labour, materials, fabrication and installation. |
| Control over vendors | You choose and pay your contractor and vendors. | Confirm how subcontractors are appointed and who handles changes. | You appoint the carpenter; arrange other trades unless the agreement includes them. |
| Typical risks | Do not assume technical drawings, construction or site supervision are included. | Exclusions, subcontractor responsibilities and approval stages may differ by contract. | Do not assume whole-project coordination or other trades are included. |
Clear scope, before you start
What's included / not included
Included
- One photorealistic 3D view for each selected room, covering up to three walls.
- Budget Direction and Vendor Direction at no extra charge with every room-design order.
- Delivery within 72 eligible hours after questionnaire submission or a required designer call; Sundays and scheduled business holidays are excluded.
Budget scope
- Material budgets cover material pricing and vendor direction, not labour.
- Your contractor quotes and charges labour separately; you pay the contractor directly.
Not included
- Additional drawings are separately priced add-ons; revision allowances depend on the selected package.
- Construction, installation and on-site supervision are not included. You choose and pay your contractor.
Short answer: Public 2026 guides put a Chennai 2 BHK at roughly ₹3.5 lakh (basic) to ₹18 lakh+ (premium), and a 3 BHK at roughly ₹5.5 lakh to ₹30 lakh+, depending on materials and scope (sources below). Some Chennai figures exclude 18% GST, so check before comparing. Humidity makes plywood grade an important line in any quote. If you already have a contractor or carpenter, or want to hire your own, Houspire is a design-only alternative. It gives you a photorealistic 3D view of each room for ₹499 + GST per room, delivered in 72 hours, with no contractor commission. An itemised material budget and vendor direction in Chennai are included free in every package; you choose which of these you want. You then build with any contractor you trust.
What do 2 BHK and 3 BHK interiors cost in Chennai?
These are published figures from other companies' 2026 cost guides and package pages. They are not Houspire prices. Your final cost depends on carpet area, materials (plywood grade, laminate vs acrylic/PU), hardware brands and how much civil, electrical and false-ceiling work you include.
2 BHK
| Source (what it measures) | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeli, Chennai cost guide 2026, excluding 18% GST (link) | ₹3.5L–₹5L | Standard: ₹5L–₹8L | ₹8L–₹14L |
| SAHA Interiors, Chennai cost guide 2026 (link) | ₹4 lakhs – ₹7 lakhs | ₹7 lakhs – ₹12 lakhs | ₹12 lakhs – ₹18 lakhs+ |
| Homeli, low-budget Chennai package (link) | "Smart-spend 2 BHK (₹3.99 L)" |
3 BHK
| Source (what it measures) | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeli, Chennai cost guide 2026, excluding 18% GST (link) | ₹5.5L–₹8L | Standard: ₹8L–₹13L | ₹13L–₹22L |
| SAHA Interiors, Chennai cost guide 2026 (link) | ₹7 lakhs – ₹10 lakhs | ₹10 lakhs – ₹18 lakhs | ₹18 lakhs – ₹30 lakhs+ |
| Homeli, low-budget Chennai package (link) | "Smart-spend 3 BHK (₹5.99 L)" |
What's different about Chennai
- Humidity. A Chennai firm warns that "Cheaper quotes typically use non-marine plywood that fails under Chennai humidity within 3-5 years" (Homeli). Make sure your material spec names the plywood grade.
- GST. Homeli's guide says its figures are "excluding 18% GST". Check whether each quote you compare includes GST.
All of these sources say their figures are indicative and that exact costs vary with size, materials and scope.
How to avoid being overcharged
- Know what each item should cost before you ask for quotes. Houspire's budget uses direct-market rates with no commission or material markup, so you can use it to compare and negotiate contractor quotes (houspire.ai/faq). The budget is included free in every Houspire package if you select it.
- Give every contractor the same scope sheet. If each quote prices the same rooms, materials and hardware, you can compare them line by line.
- Lock materials in writing: plywood grade, laminate or finish, and hardware brand, before you pay an advance.
What Houspire costs and includes
Houspire is design-only. We design; you hire and pay your own contractor. All prices exclude GST (18%) and come from houspire.ai/pricing (last updated August 2026).
| Plan | Price | What the pricing page lists |
|---|---|---|
| Single Room Trial | ₹499 + GST per room | Start with one room; 72-hour delivery; no hidden costs |
| Smart Home | ₹4,999 + GST | Full-home bundle; guided expert support; 72h turnaround |
| Premium Home | ₹9,999 + GST | Up to 5 rooms; material specs included; priority support |
| Luxury Home | ₹14,999 + GST | 15 clearly defined views; dedicated designer; 120h turnaround |
| Custom Package | Instant quote | Based on your home size and room selection |
Houspire says these prices are indicative: "your final quote is generated instantly based on your home size and room selection."
What you get
- One photorealistic 3D view of each selected room, covering up to 3 walls.
- An itemised, room-by-room budget of material prices at direct market rates, included free in every package if you select it.
- Vendor direction in your city (where to buy), included free in every package if you select it.
- An assigned designer reviews every questionnaire answer before anything is drawn. AI helps us design faster; a real interior designer designs your home.
- A GST invoice.
What we don't do
- We don't mark up your materials.
- We don't take vendor or contractor commissions.
- We don't supply materials.
- We don't lock you into our vendors.
- We don't build, manage or supervise on-site work.
How 72 hours works
- Choose your rooms. The price shows on the page.
- Upload a floor plan or just photos.
- Answer a short questionnaire, about 10 minutes per room. Family members can fill it in from a shared link.
- Your 3D views arrive in your inbox.
The 72 hours start when you submit the questionnaire, or after your designer call if you ask for one. Sundays and public holidays are not counted. Luxury Home takes 120 hours.
Revisions: room-by-room plans do not include revisions unless stated otherwise. Eligible full-home packages include scheduled revision cycles.
Houspire vs full-service studios (Livspace, HomeLane)
These are different kinds of service. Full-service studios design and build. Houspire only designs and plans. Facts below come from each company's own homepage as of 2026-10-02.
| Livspace | HomeLane | Houspire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What they do | Design, delivery and installation. End-to-end services incl. modular interiors, false ceilings, civil work, painting, electrical, plumbing, flooring and tiling (livspace.com/in) | "End-to-end interior solutions" (homelane.com) | Design-only: 3D views per room, plus an itemised budget and vendor direction included free in every package (you choose which). No execution. |
| Who builds | Livspace and its service partners | HomeLane | Any contractor you choose; you pay them directly |
| Timeline stated | "45-day move-in guarantee" (with conditions in their footnotes) | "Delivery in 45 days*" | Design in 72 hours (120 hours for Luxury Home); build time depends on your contractor |
| Warranty stated | "Lifetime warranty" (with conditions in their footnotes) | "Flat 10 Year Warranty" | Not applicable. Houspire does not build, so workmanship warranty comes from your contractor |
| How you pay for design | Quoted as part of the project | Quoted as part of the project | Flat fee from ₹499 + GST per room; no commission |
| Best fit | You want one company to design, build and be accountable | You want one company to design, build and be accountable | You already have a contractor or carpenter, or want to choose one and control spending |
Choose a full-service studio if you want a single company to handle and be responsible for execution. Choose a design-only plan if you want to see the design and the costs first and hire your own contractor.