Royal & Heritage

Bengal Rajbari Interior Design Ideas

Rajbaris were the grand mansions of Bengal's zamindar families, built mostly in the 18th and 19th centuries. They mixed Bengali courtyards and thakur-dalans with European columns, cornices and cast-iron work, and were furnished with mahogany four-posters, chandeliers and Belgian-style mirrors. Tall louvred shutters and coloured glass fanlights filtered the light. Today their charm lies in faded ochre walls and patina. At home, coloured glass panels, chequered floors and one mahogany antique carry the mood.

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Bengal Rajbari: Zamindar mansion grandeur: tall shutters, coloured glass, chandeliers and mahogany.

What defines it

Tall louvred wooden shutters
Red, green and blue coloured-glass fanlights
Chequered marble or red-oxide floors
Mahogany four-poster beds and almirahs
Ornate cornices on faded ochre or mint walls

Colours

faded ochre · mint green · mahogany · white

Works best in

living room · bedroom · dining room

For Indian homes

Louvred shutters are ideal for Indian heat because they let air move while blocking glare, and carpenters in most cities can still make them in sal or teak.

How it works

1Take one photo of your room — any phone, any light.
2Pick a style, a colour or a look. Change only what you ask for.
3See the finished room in about 30 seconds, then try another.

Questions people ask

What is a rajbari?

A rajbari is a mansion of a Bengali zamindar or landed family. Most were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, mixing Bengali courtyard planning with European columns, cornices and furniture. Many still stand around Kolkata and rural Bengal.

How can I use coloured glass in a modern home?

Add a coloured-glass fanlight above a door, a glass panel in a wardrobe shutter or a small window. Primary red, blue and green on clear glass give the rajbari glow when sunlight passes through.