One of the first questions homeowners ask when planning an interior design project is, “How long will this take?” Most full-home interiors take 3–6 months, while larger homes can take up to 6–12 months. Whether you’re preparing a new home or upgrading an existing one, having a clear sense of the timeline helps you plan your life around it and removes much of the uncertainty that comes with interiors.
With a full-home, end-to-end interior partner like Bonito Designs, interior design is not a single step but a structured, multi-stage process. Each phase has its own role in keeping the project on track, and timelines are shaped by factors such as the size of your home, the scope of work involved, decision speed, and how smoothly approvals move.
Timeline – 1 to 2 weeks
The timeline begins well before any finishes are chosen or work starts on site. Once you reach out to a full-home, end-to-end interior partner like Bonito Designs, the first phase focuses on consultation and briefing. This is where we discuss how you live, your style preferences, budget, and the scope of work. This is especially important in Bangalore homes where layouts, ducts, and structural constraints vary widely.
For most homes, this phase takes around one to two weeks. Time spent here is not about delay, but about alignment. Clear discussions and accurate site information early on help avoid changes later, allowing the design and execution stages to move forward with certainty.
What causes delays? – Miscommunication and misalignment between the designer and customer are the main causes of delay during this stage.
Timeline – 3 to 10 weeks
Once the initial consultation is complete, the project moves into the design development phase. This is where ideas are translated into layouts and plans that can actually be executed on site.
• Concept creation and space planning: At this stage, designers develop initial layouts, mood boards, colour palettes, furniture plans, and 3D views. With a structured interior partner, this usually takes two to six weeks, depending on the size of the home. In Mumbai homes, this phase often involves careful planning around storage, circulation, and existing building constraints.
• Detailed designs and approvals: Once the broad direction is agreed upon, the focus shifts to refining details. Materials, finishes, and fittings are finalised, and detailed drawings such as floor plans, elevations, and electrical layouts are prepared. This phase typically takes another two to four weeks.
Taken together, the timeline for this stage usually spans three to ten weeks in professionally managed interior projects.
What can cause delays? – Homes with extensive custom carpentry or more complex layouts may take longer.
Timeline – 6 to 12 weeks
Once the design is fully approved, the project moves into procurement, which is often one of the more time-intensive phases. This involves ordering materials, finishes, fixtures, and furniture based on the final drawings and specifications.
For ready-to-install or in-stock items, timelines are usually shorter. However, the home interior execution time will naturally be longer for projects that include modular kitchens, wardrobes, or custom carpentry.
In most professionally managed projects, procurement lead times range between six and twelve weeks. The length of this stage depends on the scope of work, the level of customisation, and whether any specialised or imported materials are involved.
What can cause delays? – Poor coordination can increase idle time on site, delaying the execution.
Timeline – 8 to 16 weeks (may be longer for major renovations)
This is the stage where the plans move off the page and into your home. Execution is when carpentry begins, services are coordinated, and the design is translated into built form on site.
If the scope is limited to surface-level upgrades such as painting, lighting changes, or minor fittings, this phase can move relatively quickly. In professionally managed interior projects, wardrobes, carpentry, flooring, false ceilings, plumbing, electrical work, and modular kitchen timelines typically take around eight to sixteen weeks.
The time spent on this stage depends on the size of the home and the number of trades involved, with timelines extending beyond sixteen weeks for large scale projects. With a partner like Bonito Designs, your home interior execution time will be significantly mitigated.
What can cause delays? – Poor planning and lack of coordination with workers/craftsmen will cause significant delays in this phase.
Timeline – 1 to 3 weeks
Once construction work and deliveries are complete, the project moves into the installation and styling phase. This is when furniture is placed, lights are installed, artwork is mounted, soft furnishings are added, and final adjustments are made to ensure everything sits exactly as planned.
In most professionally managed interior projects, this stage takes one to three weeks. The timeline depends on the size of the home, the number of custom elements involved, and how much on-site coordination is required. Larger homes or projects with bespoke furniture and layered lighting plans may need additional time to get the details right.
Additionally, urban centres like Mumbai tend to have various regulations regarding home installations. Not adhering to these regulations can lead to further delays or even fines. Experienced interior designers in Mumbai will be able to navigate these rules without compromising on your home completion timeline, ensuring that your installation is quick yet compliant with regulations.
This phase is where the home starts to feel complete. Designers focus on alignment, proportions, and everyday usability, making sure storage opens smoothly, lighting works as intended at different times of day, and finishes come together cohesively.
What can cause delays? – Highly customised furniture or lighting elements can require extra on-site coordination and fine adjustments before final placement.
Timeline – Few weeks to several months
With installation done, your interior project is practically complete. Some interior firms provide an additional defects liability or aftercare period, during which minor fixes (like paint touch-ups or hardware adjustments) are handled. This stage can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the contract. Starting the interior design process well in advance of your actual move date ensures smoother execution, especially if your flat handover checklist is fixed.
What can cause delays? – Rectifying any defects found during quality check can extend timelines depending on the number of fixes required.
| Stage of Interior Design Process | What Happens in This Stage | Approximate Interior Design Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Booking & Briefing | Consultation, budgeting, site visit, and alignment on scope | 1-2 weeks |
| Design Development | Layout planning, mood boards, colour palettes, furniture plans, and 3D views | 2-6 weeks |
| Detailed Designs & Approvals | Finalising materials, finishes, fittings, and preparing detailed drawings | 2-4 weeks |
| Total Design Development Phase | End-to-end design from concept to final approvals | 3-10 weeks |
| Procurement & Lead Times | Ordering modular kitchens, wardrobes, finishes, fixtures, furniture, and coordinating deliveries | 6-12 weeks |
| Execution & Construction | On-site work including carpentry, flooring, ceilings, plumbing, electricals, and installations | 8-16 weeks (can go over 6+ months for major renovations) |
| Installation & Styling | Furniture placement, lighting installation, artwork, soft furnishings, final adjustments | 1-3 weeks |
| Move-In & Post-Completion Support | Handover, defect liability period, minor touch-ups and adjustments | Few weeks to several months |
With a full-home, end-to-end interior partner like Bonito Designs, interior design timelines are not just estimated; they are carefully planned and managed. Our LifeDesign approach brings together thoughtful design, early design lock-ins, and an in-house execution team that works across carpentry, modular solutions, services, and finishes.
Backed by ISO-certified processes and structured quality checks, this reduces delays, rework, and handover checklist gaps that often extend projects unnecessarily. Because design, execution, and quality control sit under one roof, homeowners benefit from clearer milestones and smoother coordination at every stage.
Working with a professionally managed interior firm like Bonito Designs helps turn a complex process into a predictable, well-paced journey that respects both your time and your everyday life. Book a consultation call today.
