How Much Does it Cost to Furnish a House – Living Room,Bedroom,Kitchen etc

Have you recently closed on the perfect home? Maybe you’ve already moved in, brimming with happiness. I join you in celebrating this huge achievement!

Now, you’re debating how to furnish your house without overspending.

Here you’ll find average costs to outfit your main living quarters. Specifically, you’ll see estimates to furnish and decorate your whole home space such as a standard living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, and patio.

To furnish all these spaces, figure on allotting at least $23,000 for an average house. Still, reserve a monetary cushion for each area to guard against financial strain. In turn, you’ll sleep easier!

How to Calculate Your Furnishing and Decorating Budget

Formulate your budget based on your home’s purchase price. A realistic guideline is to allot 10 percent of that amount for your project.

For instance, let’s use the current US median home sale price — $440,300. A practical spending cap would be 10 percent of this figure, equaling $44,030.

Note – The estimates below don’t apply to renovations. Also, they don’t account for labor costs, except for carpet installation.

1. Average Cost to Furnish the Living Room

While planning your ideal setup, earmark $10,000, the mid-range outlay for a standard living room.

Basic Living Room Layout

• sofa or couch and chairs
• coffee table and side tables
• entertainment center or TV stand
• lighting
• window treatments
• carpeting or area rug
• artwork

Median Prices of Living Room Furnishings

Sofa or Couch

Allot up to $6,000 for group seating. Your actual costs will vary by furniture size, materials, and construction. To save money, consider getting a sturdy futon or daybed.

Chairs

Traditionally, individual seating consists of chairs. Currently, prices for upholstered chairs range from $900 to $2,000, averaging $1,450.

Still, you have many living room seating options beyond the conventional types. Fun alternatives include bean bag chairs, poufs, and swing chairs.

For these and other comfy seating arrangements, check out this post.

Coffee Table and Side Tables

In this category, costs depend on your chosen material, craftsmanship, and whether the tables have storage space. Avoid selecting high-end materials, such as welded metal.

For a mid-priced coffee table, expect to pay $400. Well-built side tables average $150 each.

Entertainment Center or TV Stand

Is an entertainment center a must-have item? If so, figure on spending at least $650, a mid-range cost.

If you solely want a TV, budget $300 for a stand equipped with storage drawers, shelves, or cabinets.

Lighting

In large part, your lighting costs will vary by the purpose, design, and aesthetics of a given fixture.

For instance, are you most concerned with function? Or do you want lamps that serve as radiant accents or statement pieces? Lights with artistic features cost more.

Another consideration is quantity. How many lamps do you need to brighten your living room, enabling you to enjoy it? Does the ceiling have one or more light fixtures? If so, you’ll need fewer lamps than a room with no ceiling lights.

Thus, many factors influence lighting expenses. For this reason, it’s tough to give you a total ballpark figure. Still, for a high-quality lamp, you’ll pay $150. For a ceiling-mounted fixture, the mid-range price is $90.

Window Treatments

According to Home Advisor, the type of window treatment governs its cost.

Least expensive are roller shades, averaging $36 a piece. Blinds are also budget-friendly, running $50 per window for manually operated styles.

For a broader selection of blinds and shades, see this helpful article of blinds vs shades.

Carpeting or Area Rug

The median carpet installation cost is $1,700 for a standard living room of 15 x 15 feet. Still, your particular bill will vary by the carpet material and type you choose.

For the least expensive fabric, buy polyester or nylon carpet. The most economical styles are loop and frieze.

Generally, living room area rugs measure either 8 x 10 feet or 10 x 15 feet. Budget $200 and $400, respectively, for a durable, machine-woven rug.

Artwork

In every room, you can easily control expenses for art decor! That’s because what you buy is purely a matter of taste. Thus, for the rest of this post, I’ll no longer mention artwork.

2. Average Cost to Furnish the Bedroom

For a minimalist style, figure on spending $3,000. However, for a fancier bedroom with several furnishings, you’ll need to budget at least $6,000.

Basic Bedroom Layout

• bed
• nightstand
• dresser and wardrobe
• accent chair or bench
• lamps
• full-length mirror
• area rug or carpeting
• window treatments

Median Prices of Bedroom Furnishings

Bed

Typically, a bed consists of a frame, box spring, and mattress. Still, you can save money by choosing a platform bed that doesn’t need a box spring.

The mid-range cost of a full-size spring mattress is $800. Memory foam offers more body-wide support, averaging $1,000. Regardless of your mattress choice, earmark $300 for a bed frame.

Nightstand

Most likely, you’ll want a nightstand or two at your bedside. This way, you’ll have a handy place for a lamp, cellphone, TV remote, and the like.

A nightstand’s materials and craftsmanship affect its cost. A well-made product averages $250.

Dresser and Wardrobe

In part, dresser prices reflect the number of drawers. For a bureau with three drawers, figure on spending $300.

Do you need more closet space than a bedroom provides? If so, you can buy a freestanding wardrobe for $650.

Accent Chair or Bench

If your bedroom has the space, you might want to invest in an accent chair. A relaxing type is an armchair. The mid-range cost of a high-quality piece is $400.

For more budget-friendly seating, consider a bench, averaging $200.

Less expensive yet is a bean bag chair. A structured one made of corduroy costs only $45.

Do you have a nursery? If so, you may want a rocking chair. You can buy a classic wooden rocker with chair pads for $100, inclusive.

For cushier seating, get an upholstered glider rocker, averaging $250. Either way, your baby will love the soothing motion.

Lamps

The median cost of a touch-control table lamp is $40.

Are you picturing an accent chair in your bedroom? If so, you might also want a floor lamp nearby. In that case, budget $100 for a simple model.

Full-Length Mirror

This furnishing can be pricey, depending on its size, hardware, and type of glass. Least costly is a standalone mirror on legs, running $70 on average.

Area Rug or Carpeting

Let’s say your bedroom measures 12 x 12 feet. If you plan to carpet the floor, budget at least $500.

Do you prefer the cozy look of an area rug? If so, figure on spending $200 for a durable one measuring 8 x 10 feet. For a 5 x 8-foot rug made of polypropylene, you’ll pay $100 on average.

For a rundown of the most popular carpet materials and styles, see this helpful post of various types of carpets.

Window Treatments

In a bedroom, shades confer more privacy than blinds. The median price for roller shades is $36, sized to a 24 x 36-inch window.

Roman Shades are a homeowner favorite, especially room-darkening types, averaging $100 per window.

Is your bedroom somewhat drafty in winter? If so, choose cellular shades, having superb insulating properties!

With their honeycombed tunnels, they capture air. By this, cellular shades stop heat loss through windows during cold months. Then, in summer, they keep cooled air from escaping, curbing your air-conditioning bill.

Expect to pay $80 a piece for cellular shades.

Note – This bedroom estimate doesn’t include the cost of bedding and other accessories, such as photo frames and houseplants.

3. Average Cost to Furnish the Kitchen

To a degree, your kitchen decorating expenses depend on your cooking style. Also, consider what’s already installed. Let’s say you plan to keep the current sink, backsplash, cabinets, and countertops.

Next, does your kitchen have all the major appliances? Namely, did it come with a range oven, vent hood, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave?

If all the above is true, earmark $2,000 to furnish the kitchen.

Basic Kitchen Layout

• table and set of chairs
• counter stools
• prep and cooking vessels
• small appliances
• serving dishes and utensils
• silverware and kitchen knives
• window treatments

Median Prices of Kitchen Furnishings

Table and Seating

Allot $400 for a wooden kitchen table and four matching chairs. Do you serve meals at a kitchen counter or built-in bar? If so, you’ll pay $200 for a set of four upholstered stools, on average.

Prep and Cooking Vessels

A collection of durable mixing bowls averages $40.

High-quality pots and pans are pricey, whether stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. Still, according to Real Simple magazine, a family cook needs only three lidded pots:

• 2-quart copper saucepan – $30
• 10-inch stainless steel sauté pan – $50
• 8-quart copper stockpot in mid-weight anodized aluminum – $80

When shopping, ensure that each vessel has thick walls and sturdy, heatproof handles.

Small Appliances

Next, here are the mid-range costs of homeowner favorites:

• blender – $50
• toaster – $30
• food processor – $60
• 6-quart crockpot – $25

Serving Dishes and Utensils

A dish set serving four costs $25 on average.

Also, plan on spending $25 for an eight-piece set of serving utensils made of silicone and stainless steel.

Silverware and Kitchen Knives

The mid-range cost of a four-place stainless steel silverware set is $25. This purchase includes dinner spoons, teaspoons, dinner forks, salad forks, and dinner knives, housed in a drawer organizer.

Likewise, you needn’t break the bank on quality kitchen knives. Allocate just $40 for a stainless steel block set of six.

Window Treatments

Are the kitchen windows near food-prep areas? If so, consider vinyl roller shades, averaging $36 a piece. If food splatters on the shades, you can clean them easily with a wet cloth.

Or are the windows in a food-safe zone? In that case, Roman shades are delightful, charming and chic. At $70 per shade, they’re also reasonably priced.

If your kitchen tends to be chilly in winter, choose cellular shades, averaging $80 a piece.

Some cooks prefer the frilly look of curtains. If that’s true in your home, budget $23 per set, including upper and lower tiers.

4. Average Cost to Furnish the Dining Room

Before appointing this gathering space, reflect on these two questions:

• How many folks do you expect to serve at most?
• How much storage space do you need?

Your answers will guide you to the ideal furnishings, spending $3,800 on average.

Basic Dining Room Layout

• table and chairs
• sideboard and china cabinet
• lighting
• flooring
• window treatments

Median Prices of Dining Room Furnishings

Table and Chairs

First, decide on a table shape, such as rectangular, round, or square. Then, measure the table dimensions that will seat your guests comfortably. For instance, a 72-inch table accommodates seven people in a formal setting.

Next, consider table materials, such as sturdy hardwoods. The top contenders are brown maple and red oak, valued for their durability and exquisite grain.

Mid-priced solid wood dining sets average $1,500.

Sideboard and China Cabinet

Meanwhile, plan to spend $750 on a sideboard, housing your fancy napkins, tablecloths, stemware, silverware, and the like.

Do you have fine china? If so, a glass-windowed cabinet can display your pristine dinnerware. A moderate price for a china cabinet is $1,000.

Lighting

As mentioned, lighting costs vary by the type of fixture.

Does your dining room have a formal design? In that case, consider buying elegant sconces or a small chandelier, averaging $150 each.

Moreover, budget extra funds for possible labor costs. You may need an electrician to install your particular lights.

Flooring

An area rug can outline your dining space. The most economical synthetic fabric is nylon, averaging $75 per yard.

For a natural material, consider wool at $100 per yard. It’s renewable, durable, non-flammable, and naturally stain-resistant. Plus, you can easily blot spills with soap and water.

Does your dining room have hardwood floors in excellent condition? If so, consider displaying their beauty, polishing them to a gleaming shine. This way, you can forgo an area rug, saving money.

Window Treatments

For cotton or linen curtains, figure on paying $40 per set of two 84-inch panels.

On the other hand, drapes average $100 per panel. The higher cost reflects the heavier, light-blocking fabric, such as velvet. In turn, drapery materials are stiffer than curtains. Still, drapes can lend a graceful, luxurious ambiance to a dining room.

5. Average Cost to Furnish the Patio

Here, the determining factors are the size of your patio and how you expect to use it.

For instance, do you plan to host dinner parties on balmy summer evenings? If so, you’ll likely want a dining set and sofa. Or will the patio be a private haven for you and close family members, a place to relax?

Let’s say you have a 12 x 16-foot deck. If you aim to entertain several guests periodically, allocate $1,375.

On the other hand, if you’ll be gathering on a small scale, earmark $875 for patio furniture. A dining set accounts for the cost difference.

Basic Patio Layout

• outdoor sofa
• dining set
• cushioned patio chairs
• coffee table
• side tables
• patio bench with storage

Median Prices of Patio Furniture

A weather-resistant outdoor sofa averages $400. Then, expect to pay $150 for two cushioned patio chairs. If possible, buy these pieces with polypropylene fabric, drying quickly after rain.

Do you prefer the warm look of wood? If so, purchase your outdoor furniture in teak. Its natural oil repels water, preventing warping and splitting.

For $500, you can get a high-quality patio dining set.

Next, allocate $120 for a set of four side tables, averaging $30 a piece. The most durable materials are synthetic resin, metal, and all-weather wicker.

Then, earmark $130 for a coffee table. For a patio bench with a storage compartment, expect to pay $75.

How to Save Money on Patio Furniture

Outdoor furniture retailers have markedly varied pricing. The top stores with the most reasonable costs are IKEA, Sears, and Walmart.

While you can research outdoor furniture online, it’s best to buy from a physical store. This way, you can try out the sofa and chairs. Also, before shopping, measure your patio space to ensure all the furniture will fit.

If possible, cash in on the end-of-season sales, typically after Labor Day. Still, some retailers start their markdowns in mid-summer. To know the exact sale months, start checking retailer websites in July.

Final Decorating Tally

Let’s recap the total costs to furnish an average house.

• living room – $10,000
• bedroom – $6,000
• kitchen – $2,000
• dining room – $3,800
• patio – $1,375

Total – $23,175

Remember, this figure doesn’t include the costs of installation and accessories, such as artwork. Hence, always reserve extra funds.

May your decorating project go smoothly, staying within your budget!