Today on the blog, we're discussing the topic that every designer likes to avoid: Your decorating budget and the cost to decorate a room. You may be asking yourself: "How much does furniture cost?" or "How much does a living room set cost?" Maybe you just moved into a new home, maybe you're tired of your current furniture, or maybe you just need a fresh new look. Whatever the reason, when you're all ready to start your project and start shopping for furniture, that inevitable question drifts into your head like a beleaguering raincloud: How much is this going to cost me?

Luckily, evaluating and pricing furniture and home decor is our area of expertise here at Kathy Kuo Home. But before you read further, we need to make a few disclaimers regarding this article about what it costs to furnish a room:

1. The average spend for the furniture items we've listed are purposefully at the higher end of the spectrum.

Why did we do this? Almost everyone tends to go over their budget when furnishing their space—so we created a budget breakdown that accounts for this fact by providing a little wiggle room. You'll find that we've written up two budgets for each room type (and what it the cost is to decorate it), one budget that includes high-end items and one budget that includes more affordable options. On average, our clients tend to spend somewhere in between, and the budget per line item is definitely variable.

2. As The Kuotes, we represent exclusive, high-quality designer furniture.

You won't find our product or our level of design services at big box retailers, and the specialty of our brand is something we're proud of. The prices reflected in today's article are based on our clients and our extensive experience in interior design and product manufacturing. Our budget breakdown therefore lists the price points we believe will provide you with beautiful, long-lasting designer furniture. However, any good designer will work within your budget, and later we'll even discuss which items we believe you should invest in and which items you can get away with purchasing at a budget price. Stick to these tips and the cost to decorate will feel totally manageable.

3. Keep in mind that this article does not discuss labor or renovation costs. Today, we're talking strictly furniture.

Now that that's officially out of the way, let's get this budget breakdown started! You'll be so excited when you start to save money. Budget is a tricky subject. If you have custom pieces, custom drapery, large rooms, or a more maximalist design style, there can definitely be additional expenses we didn't cover in this cost guide. But if you're just starting the design process, we hope this article helped you get a better idea of how much to expect to spend on your furniture.

banner

The Living Room: How Much Does Furniture Cost & How Much Does a Living Room Set Cost?

The living room is often the largest room in the house and frequently hosts the most furniture. How much does furnishing and decorating a living room cost? Your budget will vary based on the size of your room. Put quite simply, the larger the living room the larger the budget. We strongly suggest that you invest in your sofa and rug first. Getting these pieces right is as crucial to getting the scale of your room right as your color scheme is, so we always recommend custom sofas sized perfectly to your space and a fill that's comfortable for you.

A custom sized rug also grounds a room by making everything else look put in place. A high quality rug gives the entire room an expensive feel, as opposed to an expensive accent piece that may be beautiful but not affect the overall aesthetic of the space. So if you're looking to save, cut down on your accent pieces, decor items, and window treatments. Planning on redoing the living room? Read on below for our budget breakdown.

Shop the Look

For a High-End Project:

Living Room Item Quantity Individual Cost
Sofa 1 $5,000
Living Room Chair/Club Chair 2 $3,000
Coffee Table 1 $3,000
Side/End Tables 2 $2,000
Table Lamps 2 $1,000
Rug 1 $8,000
Floor Lamp 1 $1,500
Chandelier 1 $5,000
Pillows NA $1,500
Drapery NA $5,000
Console 1 $2,000
Mirror/Art NA $5,000
Accessories NA $1,500
Total Cost $49,500

For a Standard Project:

Living Room Item Quantity Individual Cost
Sofa 1 $2,500
Living Room Chair/Club Chair 2 $1,000
Coffee Table 1 $1,000
Side/End Tables 2 $500
Table Lamps 2 $350
Rug 1 $2,000
Chandelier 1 $1,500
Pillows NA $400
Drapery NA $800
Mirror/Art NA $1,000
Accessories NA $500
Total Cost $14,400

The Dining Room

For the dining room, the spend should go mainly toward the table and chairs. That's probably not a surprise. But in our designs, we try to also throw in a statement chandelier or statement rug that'll truly give you space wow factor.

Once again, cost will be dependent on the size of your room, table, and how many people you want your table to seat. Our budget breakdown is based on a standard six-person table. Unsure what table size you need? Find the dining table size that's right for you by reading our article on how to create a perfectly scaled dining room!

Shop the Look

 For a High-End Project:

Dining Room Item Quantity Individual Cost
Table 1 $5,000
Dining Chair 6 $1,500
Chandelier 1 $5,000
Buffet/Sideboard 1 $5,000
Sconces 2 $1,000
Rug 1 $8,000
Mirror/Art NA $5,000
Accessories NA $1,500
Total Cost $40,500

For the Standard Project:

Dining Room Item Quantity Individual Cost
Table 1 $2,000
Dining Chair 6 $600
Chandelier 1 $1,500
Buffet/Sideboard 1 $2,000
Rug 1 $1,500
Mirror/Art NA $1,000
Accessories NA $500
Total Cost $12,100

The Bedroom

For the bedroom, spend money on the bed. It's simple, but we're serious. A classic, high-quality bed is an investment that'll basically last you a lifetime, and it immediately elevates the look of a room! Another piece often forgotten in the bedroom budget is a bench (or some other form of seating) for getting ready and putting your shoes on in the morning.

If you're looking to save on the budget for your bedroom, opt for more affordable nightstands and bedside lighting, as those pieces can be changed and updated throughout the years. Need another budget cruncher? While we encourage to get the most comfortable bedding the budget will allow, you can frequently find simple quality bedding options at big box retailers.

Shop the Look

For a High-End Project:

Bedroom Item Quantity Individual Cost
Bed 1 $5,000
Bedding and Pillows NA $2,000
Bench 1 $2,500
Rug 1 $8,000
Chandelier 1 $5,000
Dresser 1 $3,000
Nightstands 2 $2,000
Table Lamps 2 $1,000
Mirror/Art NA $5,000
Accessories NA $1,500
Total Cost $38,000

For the Standard Project:

Bedroom Item Quantity Individual Cost
Bed 1 $2,000
Bedding and Pillows NA $600
Rug 1 $1,500
Chandelier 1 $1,500
Dresser 1 $1,500
Nightstands 2 $1,000
Table Lamps 2 $300
Mirror NA $500
Accessories NA $500
Total Cost $10,700

Kathy Kuo Home Design Services

Feeling inspired? In addition to being a source for beautiful high quality furnishings and decor, Kathy Kuo Home has a team of professional interior designers that are ready to assist with all of your interior design and interior decorating needs. Our services provide multiple layout and design options that fit your style and budget for any room. You will work with a team of designers and project managers to help you love where you live.

Call (888) 908-3486 or email designs@kathykuohome.com today to get started!

This post contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission for clicks and transactions.