An interview with Dhiraj Narang, Co-founder of X&Y Furniture, a leading School Furniture Manufacturer in Mumbai
In an insightful interview with Dhiraj Narang, Co-founder of X&Y Furniture, we explore the innovative approaches and sustainable practices that have positioned the company as a leading school furniture manufacturer in Mumbai. Narang shares his vision for enhancing educational environments through quality design and functionality.
What inspired you to start X&Y Furniture, and how did your background influence your journey into the educational furniture industry?
Dhiraj Narang: X&Y wasnโt born out of a business plan; it came from years of working on school projects where the furniture just didnโt match the vision of the space.
As a designer, I was spending months designing thoughtful learning environments, but when it came time to furnish them, we had to settle for options that were either too generic or simply not designed with children in mind.
It always felt like a mismatch โ beautiful, well-planned spaces filled with uncomfortable, plastic furniture that didnโt support how children learn and move. Over time, that frustration turned into a strong desire to build something better furniture that was as considered as the classrooms themselves.
That gap kept bothering me. We were talking so much about learning outcomes and child development, but ignoring the space where children spend six to eight hours a day. My background gave me a design-first perspective, and I knew we could do better.
Thatโs what led to X&Y furniture thatโs ergonomically right for children, designed to support different pedagogies, and built to elevate the learning environment.
Can you explain the importance of ergonomic and child-centric design in furniture for early and primary education?
Dhiraj Narang: Children grow fast, and they move even faster. When furniture doesnโt support their body, it impacts everything from posture to focus to energy levels. Weโve seen kids slouching in oversized chairs or struggling to stay still because the setup just isnโt made for them. That discomfort adds up.
Child-centric, ergonomic furniture solves for this. It respects their scale, supports their movement, and helps them stay physically comfortable during the day.
That has a direct effect on attention span, engagement, and even mood. In our experience, when kids feel good in their space, they participate more actively and feel more confident.
What challenges did you face in creating a brand that focuses on transforming classrooms, and how did you overcome them?
Dhiraj Narang: The biggest challenge was shifting mindsets. Most schools in India still look at furniture as a tick-box item something to be bought in bulk, with cost as the main driver. Quality, design, or long-term usability are often overlooked.
We knew that to create change, we had to build trust first. So we started offering schools layout guidance, sample classrooms, and hands-on demos that let them experience the difference. We didnโt just sell products; we helped them visualize a better space.
Over time, with word of mouth and visible results, the perception began to shift. Now, more and more schools come to us because they want design-led, child-first solutions.
Can you share some specific features of your furniture that set X&Y apart from traditional classroom furniture?
Dhiraj Narang: A few things really set us apart. First, weโre the only school furniture company in India that manufactures an entire line using birch plywood โ no plastic, no metal, and no imported kits. Everything is made in-house at our factory, so we have complete control over quality.
We also use non-toxic finishes, which is incredibly important when youโre building for children. Our furniture is modular, lightweight, and designed with rounded edges to minimize injury.
Many of our pieces are height-adjustable and flexible, so teachers can reconfigure them easily based on the activity or age group.
And what truly makes X&Y unique is that weโre architect- and designer-led. That means we think deeply about how the furniture fits into the pedagogy โ whether itโs Montessori, Waldorf, or any other approach.
We also support schools with layout planning to make sure theyโre getting the most out of their space. Very few companies in this space go that far.
What role do you believe furniture plays in enhancing the learning experience for children?
Dhiraj Narang: Furniture in a classroom is often overlooked, but it has a quiet power. It influences how a child feels in that space โ whether theyโre able to focus, whether they feel safe, whether theyโre encouraged to move and engage or told to sit still and stay quiet.
Iโve seen classrooms where kids were constantly adjusting themselves, leaning uncomfortably, distracted โ not because they werenโt interested, but because the setup just didnโt suit them.
When you give a child a chair that supports their back or a table at the right height, it does more than offer comfort. It shows them that the space was made for them. That small shift builds confidence and presence.
They feel seen. And when children feel that way, they engage more openly, participate more actively, and the entire dynamic of the classroom changes for the better.
Furniture, in that sense, becomes a quiet enabler of learning not the hero of the room, but the foundation that allows everything else to work better.
What are your future plans for X&Y Furniture, and how do you envision the brand evolving in the coming years?
Dhiraj Narang: Weโre currently focused on expanding across India and into South Asia, especially in cities and regions where schools are embracing new models of learning.
International expansion is on the horizon too โ thereโs growing demand in markets where eco-conscious, child-centric products are gaining momentum.
At the same time, weโre looking at product extensions beyond furniture โ solutions for libraries, early learning spaces, teacher zones.
The goal is to make X&Y a trusted partner for schools, not just a vendor. We want to help build holistic learning environments that are designed as thoughtfully as the curriculum inside them.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to make a positive impact in the education sector through innovative products?
Dhiraj Narang: Start by observing. Spend real time in the environments youโre trying to improve. For us, it meant sitting in classrooms, watching how kids move, listening to what teachers needed but didnโt have. Innovation in education isnโt about flashy tech โ itโs about relevance and empathy.
Also, be prepared for the long game. This is a sector where change is slow, and rightly so โ it deals with childrenโs lives. You must build with integrity, back your work with quality, and keep showing up with patience and purpose.
If you do that, the impact will come. It may not be overnight, but it will be meaningful and thatโs worth the wait.
Dhiraj Narangโs commitment to excellence and sustainability in school furniture manufacturing not only reflects his entrepreneurial spirit but also underscores the importance of creating conducive learning spaces.
X&Y Furniture continues to set benchmarks in the industry, shaping the future of education in Mumbai and beyond.
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