An important question to ask before starting a design project is, “What is the budget?” It can be a hard question to answer and many times my clients are not sure what a reasonable budget really is.

I thought this would be a good topic to blog about and explore a little bit deeper.

Before I begin designing for a client, I always ask about budget. A budget number lets me know where to shop for your items and where to trim back. This way, we can get the most “bang for your buck.”

Of course, you could do it all DIY and garage sales and come in on a shoe string. However, I am going to discuss the costs for furnishing a room with new items. Most of my clients have not designed and decorated an entire room before – start to finish.

One thing I know for sure is, things add up quickly! I can mention an average number and to most people it sounds high. But when you actually look at a list of items, it soon makes sense.

So, I went ahead and created 3 price points to consider: low, medium and high for an average sized living room.

How much does it cost to decorate a living room?

Decorating Budgets:

See? That added up fast!

The Low Design Budget above is shopping places like Wayfair, Target, IKEA, World Market, etc. If you know what to look for, you can find some fun and interesting pieces without breaking the bank. Of course, it could be less if you already have a good quality sofa and just need to add other pieces. 

A Medium Design Budget means you want to invest a little more in the key pieces that get the most use, so a good quality sofa – maybe from a company like Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel.   shop where you like to shop, so let me know if there is a sofa you have in mind already. Maybe you want more art and accessories too.

A High End Budget means you definitely want quality pieces and possibly something really on trend, like possibly a coffee table from Studio McGee, a sofa from Restoration Hardware or a rug from Serena and Lily. Overall, the room will be really well appointed from top to bottom with quality, designer look pieces. Of course, this number can go sky high easily but only if you give me the green light, haha!

I hope this helps when you are considering how much to spend on your next decorating project.

Where I come in: I help you sort through all the options that are out there. (So many options!) I help you find a look that feels like you and is functional and on budget. I know where to find the look you want for a good price. 

I am looking at all the details: scale, style, finishes, colors and then together we make smart decisions.

When I work with clients virtually, an important part of my process is a floor plan to make sure everything fits in your space. I also create a custom design questionnaire for every project to really dive deep to discover your true style.

Please read more about my virtual design services here:

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or set up a Discovery Call. I’d love to hear from you!

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