How Much Does It Cost to Furnish a House?

When it comes to buying a house, a popular question is how much does it cost to furnish a house? Here we share the total cost to furnish a home as well as for a variety of different rooms and items.

Buying a house is one of the top priorities of almost anyone. The process can be tedious, and the financial burden too much for many new homeowners.

Unfortunately, the expenditures do not stop with the handover of the keys and the title to the property. One must also purchase all the things that make an unfurnished house a home.

Unfortunately, it poses another question that new homeowners must answer. How much should they prepare to furnish their newly bought house?

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Average Cost to Furnish a House

Furnishing a house can run in the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the number of rooms, floor area, and choice of materials. On average, new homeowners can expect to spend between $12,000 and $50,000 to furnish a newly bought property.

However, one must understand the items comprise a furnishing budget. Furnishing a house means buying the following items.

Furniture
Décors
Styling accessories
Rugs and draperies
Artwork
Light fixtures

The furnishing budget does not include the following.

Flooring
Cabinetry and woodwork
Paint
Countertops
Stonework
Trim work and moldings
Renovation work
Appliances
Electronics

That is why many new homeowners will find that furnishing a property does not always translate to a complete house. They will still buy other things not included in the furnishing budget.

Here is an estimate of how much it will cost the new homeowner to furnish room by room.

Furnishing a Living Room Cost

Homeowners can expect to spend anywhere between $14,000 to $48,000 for furnishing the living room, depending on the number, type, and quality of furnishings. For example, they can buy a sofa for about $2,500 or choose a more luxurious model that costs at least twice the price.

Other items worth placing into a modern living room include the following.

Sofa – $2,500 to $5,000
Coffee table – $1,000 to $3,000
End or side tables – $500 to $2,000
Table lamps – $350 to $1,000
Club chair or living room chair – $1,000 to $3,000
Rug – $2,000 to $8,000
Floor lamp – $300 to $1,500
Chandelier – $1,500 to $5,000
Console or media cabinet – $1,500 to $3,000
Pillows – $400 to $1,500
Drapery – $800 to $5,000
Art work and mirror – $1,000 to $10,000
Accessories – $500 to $1,500

Furnishing a Bedroom Cost

Bedrooms will have a different set of furnishing requirements. A master bedroom may also cost more than a child’s bedroom or guest room.

On average, one can expect to spend between $10,000 and $38,000 for a single bedroom that may require the following furnishings.

Bed – $2,000 to $6,000
Pillows and bedding – $600 to $2,500
Rug – $1,500 to $8,000
Dresser – $1,500 to $3,000
Table lamps – $300 to $1,000
Nightstands – $1,000 to $2,000
Chandelier – $1,500 to $5,000
Bench – $1,500 to $2,500
Styling accessories – $500 to $1,500
Art and/or mirror – $500 to $5,000

Homeowners must understand that these estimates reflect only a single bedroom. As such, if one has a two-bedroom property, it is not surprising to spend about $20,000 for a standard furnishing project and up to $80,000 for a high-end endeavor. The price will increase depending on the bedroom sizes and total square footage of the layout.

Furnishing a Dining Room Cost

There are not that many furnishings for a dining room. However, it can still be costlier than bedroom furnishing because of the furniture’s nature.

A standard furnishing project can return a new homeowner by as much as $12,000. On the other hand, a high-end project can cost a family between $40,000 and $43,000.

On the bright side, most properties only have one dining room. If the house also has an outdoor dining area, that would be a different matter.

The following furnishings are essential to a dining room.

Dining table – $2,000 to $6,000
Dining chairs – $600 to $2,000
Buffet table or sideboard – $2,000 to $5,000
Chandelier – $1,500 to $5,000
Rug – $1,500 to $8,000
Sconces – $500 to $1,500
Art work and mirror – $1,000 to $5,000
Accessories – $500 to $1,500

Furnishing a Basement or Home Office Cost

Many people turned their rooms into workplaces even before work-from-home arrangements became the norm. One can always allot a bedroom as a home office. However, a more suitable option is the basement.

Furnishing the basement to convert it into a home office can cost homeowners anywhere between $4,000 and $11,000, broken down as follows.

Office desk – $1,000 to $2,000
Office chair – $200 to $1,000
Visitors’ lounge – $500 to $2,000
Filing cabinet – $800 to $2,000
Bookcase – $500 to $1,500
Other storage solutions – $500 to $1,000
Printer stand – $200 to $5000
Accessories – $500 to $1,000

Read more about basement home office designs here.

Other Cost Considerations

The estimates reflect only the furnishings. Families may also have to consider other costs, such as the following.

Delivery fees – Many furnishings are bulky and heavy. Unfortunately, most homeowners cannot transport them from the store to their house. That is why it would be best to purchase furnishings from a store that already provides free delivery. If not, one can expect to pay about $100 to $150 for the delivery.

Interior design fees – Not many people have an eye for interior decorating. That is why some homeowners prefer to hire an interior decorator to make their furnishing project more worthwhile. An interior designer can charge homeowners $50 to $500 per hour.

Protection plan fees – Furnishings are a large investment. That is why it would be best to check the manufacturer of each furnishing if they provide additional accident coverage outside the warranty. One can expect to pay at least $100 for a protection plan.

Cost to Furnish a 2-Bedroom House

Families who want to furnish a two-bedroom property can expect to spend between $26,000 and $67,000, excluding a home office. If one needs to furnish the basement for a home office setup, the cost can reach $32,000 to $74,000.

Cost to Furnish a 3-Bedroom House

A three-bedroom property can cost a family anywhere between $46,000 and $75,000. Add the furnishing budget for a home office, and the overall project cost can run up to $85,000.

Cost to Furnish a 4-Bedroom House

Houses with four bedrooms can require a budget of at least $56,000 or $60,000 if the family decides to have a home office.

For well-off households, the project cost can reach a staggering $125,000 (without the home office) or $135,000 (with the home office).

Conclusion

Furnishing a home is an expensive project that can easily run into a few hundred thousand dollars. However, homeowners can keep their furnishing selections simple to keep the costs down. They can also look for furniture shops that offer better value for their money.

Careful planning can also help improve the overall project expenditure without undermining the home’s aesthetics and functionality.

For more related content, see our article about the room addition cost here.