07/16/2024
If you’ve ever wondered, “How much would it cost to redesign my entire living room all at once?”, let me arm you with some information before you dive in.
It’s hard to imagine the total price for all of the furnishings in one 12’ x 14’ living room if you started from scratch.
That’s because there’s a really wide range of pricing, all the way from Target to Restoration Hardware. And that’s just retail. Custom-made pieces cost much more, but that’s a different topic for another post.
Today I’m sharing 3 ballpark retail budgets that you can use to gauge your own furniture budget. I compared the same types of items at each store: rug, chairs, sofa, ottoman, lamps, side tables, coffee table, window panels and hardware, TV console, artwork, accessories, and paint (32 items total).
Level One: if you were to shop at stores like Target, Ikea or Wayfair, you could spend a total of $4,395.00 for all of these furnishings.
Level Two: at mid-range retail chains like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and Ballard Designs, you’d be looking at a bill around $15,260.00.
Level Three: high-end stores like Restoration Hardware, Room & Board and Arhaus will run you about $56,451.00 for the same types of items.
Surprising, yes?
Of course this brings up the question: “what accounts for the big differences between these budgets?”
The short answer is labor, quality of materials and scale.
Creating one piece of furniture takes many many hours of development, designing and building, and that’s just for the prototype. There’s extensive trial and error in this process to create an original design that will actually function and look attractive.
Huge amounts of care and attention go into making high-quality furniture. Artisans and top-notch furniture companies pay special attention to details like finishes, which take time and skill to execute. They use durable fabrics and hardwoods that last for decades. Expert joinery, bracing and support are also hallmarks of excellent craftsmanship. All of these factors add up to a very reliable piece of furniture.
On the flip side, big-box manufacturers have different goals in mind. They want to sell as many pieces as possible to as many people as possible. This means a much faster production rate, which means much less time is spent in the design, development and building stages. They rely on cheap materials like particle board, MDF, softwoods and melamine, and quite often use adhesives instead of bolts or nails. The focus on quick turn-over means using the simplest, fastest methods of construction, which don’t always equal longevity.
Another factor is scale. Large companies can produce and/or purchase vast quantities of furniture and therefore get deep discounts on their wholesale costs. This method just isn't available to smaller independent businesses that lack the budget and space for this type of purchasing.
Most of my clients end up mixing budget-friendly furnishings with a few investment pieces. This is a practical way to portion out your budget. And if you don’t need to buy everything at once, then collecting things over time helps to mitigate that sticker shock of a total room redesign.
By the way, the best investment pieces for your home are the sofa, your bed, and a dining set. With the right sofa, you can sit comfortably every day and make a style statement at the same time. Sleeping well is essential for healthy living, so invest in a high-quality bed frame and mattress. Your dining table and chairs endure mealtimes, homework, craft projects and social gatherings, just to name a few. Give your new set a head-start by choosing hardwoods and sturdy construction that will last for decades.
So how much would it cost to totally redesign your living room?
It all depends on how much you want to invest in your space. Only you can determine this, and hopefully I’ve given you some insight that leads you to the answer.
If you need more help with your project, comment below and we’ll connect. 😊
