Modular kitchens can be designed within a budget of less than Rs 1.5 lakhs. The minimum price for a kitchen with accessories such as tandem drawers, a cutlery drawer, storage for utensils/Thali, a place for oil bottle/spice rack in a pre laminated ply/laminate suede finish starts at Rs. 1.2L. This kitchen covers all the essential storage required for a kitchen.

A modular kitchen should have the following accessories: Drawers - wire baskets, cutlery organisers, tandem drawers Oil pull-outs. Corner units - carousel, magic corner, lemans corner. Tall units with basket storage to help organise essentials like cereals, pulses etc.

The best material for a modular kitchen is BWR(boiling water resistant) / BWP (boiling water proof) ply. The other recommended materials include particle board and high-density-high-moisture resistant board, commonly known as HDHMR. These are core materials for carcass/internal boxes.

PVC is not good for kitchen cabinets since it is made of plastic and plastic does not do well at high temperatures. But, it is widely used as skirting material for kitchen base units due to its water-resistant capability.

The first step to buying a modular kitchen is to have a complete understanding of the available space. Remember the kitchen triangle concept to consider movement between the stove, sink and refrigerator for a smooth flow. It is important to plan your electrical fixtures smartly, depending on the appliances you will need. Lastly, make the best use of available space with organizers for your household items.