Royaloak Furniture Chairman Vijai Subramaniam Reflects on Growth, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

India’s furniture story in 2025 reflects both scale and maturity. As a sector, we are no longer just catching up with the world; we are helping shape it. With the Indian furniture market valued at nearly USD 30 billion today and projected to cross USD 43 billion by 2030 at a healthy 7.6% CAGR, furniture has firmly moved from being a one-time purchase to an expression of lifestyle, identity, and comfort in Indian homes. South India continues to anchor this growth with the largest market share, while East India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing regions for the industry.

What stands out this year is how clearly the Indian consumer knows what they want. There is a visible shift away from “fast furniture” toward pieces that last, adapt, and feel personal. We are seeing strong demand for engineered and certified woods, as well as hybrid materials and designs that blend warm minimalism with modern Indian and global influences. At the same time, homes are becoming smarter and smaller, particularly in urban India, prompting the industry to think more deeply about hyper-functionality.

Looking ahead to 2026, three shifts stand out. First is the mainstreaming of smart living, where technology moves from being a premium add-on to a quiet enabler built into everyday furniture. Second, sustainability will become non-negotiable. Customers will increasingly ask not just “how does this look in my home?” but “where did this material come from, and how long will it last?” This will drive investments in traceable supply chains, circular practices, and designs that are easy to repair, refresh, and reuse. Third is the rise of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as the real engines of growth. This widespread, demand-led expansion across India has also strengthened the industry’s confidence and capability to scale globally, contributing to increased international interest and expansion from Indian furniture brands. These markets value branded quality and thoughtful design as much as metro consumers, but expect it at the right price point and delivered through a truly omni-channel experience.

For a company like Royaloak, this moment presents both responsibility and opportunity. The responsibility is to make well-designed, durable furniture accessible to more Indian homes, without compromising on comfort, safety, or value. The opportunity lies in helping transition the industry from an unorganised, fragmented market to a trusted, design-forward ecosystem. If 2025 was the year Indian consumers raised the bar on what they expect from their homes, 2026 can be the year the industry responds decisively with smarter products, stronger service, and deeper roots in emerging cities.