How Much Does It Cost to Furnish a Bedroom?

Furnishing a bedroom is an exciting part of moving into a new home or first apartment. Whether it’s a primary bedroom, a guest room, or even a bedroom doubling as a home office, understanding the costs involved can help you budget more effectively. In this post, we’ll explore the average cost of furnishing a bedroom, from tips to creating a budget to what pieces of furniture you might need. Read on for valuable insights into how much money you can expect to spend on bedroom furniture and accessories so that you can create a beautiful and functional space.

Understanding Bedroom Price Ranges

The price range for furnishing a bedroom can vary significantly based on several factors including the quality of furniture, the size of the room, and your decorating style. In general, I’ve found that most homeowners tend to underestimate the overall cost to furnish a bedroom. They think about the cost for some of the major items, but fail to include the cost for things like decorative items, art, and window treatments. All of those small extras are necessary to give the room a finished and completed look, and can really add up.

In this post, I’ll be sharing some example budget ranges for furnishing a bedroom. There is a “Low Budget” category for anyone with a tight budget or a very small room. There is the “Average” category, which represents a typical size room and purchasing new furniture through local and online retail stores. And finally, there is the “High End” category for anyone that has an unlimited or higher overall budget. The High-End budget category is for those seeking out luxury items, or desiring one-of-a-kind pieces, regardless of price.

The budget ranges I’m going to share with you assume that you’ll be buying all (or most) of the items on the list, to completely furnish your space. You can reduce your budget and spend less if you are inheriting furniture pieces from a friend or family member, or if you can repurpose items you already have.

The budgets also don’t include any professional services or labor you might need to update the space. For example, if you’re going to be hiring a painter to freshen up your walls, or a handyman to install new light fixtures, you’ll need to add that cost in separately. If you’re thinking about hiring an interior designer to design your bedroom, you can expect to pay them about $2000-2500 per room.

How do you start setting up a decorating budget?

For any room, it’s important to start by thinking about your wants and needs for the space. The first step is to create a wish list of everything you’d like to do, or buy, to decorate the bedroom (assuming money were no object). Then, prioritize your list into “must haves” – things that either need replacement, or are functionally necessary for your space.

In the section below, you’ll see a list of furniture and decor items that are typical for a bedroom. You can customize this list to your specific wants and needs, and use it to help you come up with an overall decorating budget for your space.

Here’s a few more tips to keep in mind for your bedroom decorating budget:

Set a Clear Budget: Before you start shopping, have a good idea of how much money you are willing to spend. This will help you make decisions more quickly and avoid overspending.
Shop Around: Compare prices at various furniture stores and online marketplaces. Sometimes, the differences in price can be substantial, especially between high-end retailers and discount outlets.
Consider Multi-Functional Furniture: If you are furnishing a smaller space or a dual-purpose room like a home office that doubles as a guest room, look for furniture that can serve multiple functions. This can save you both space and money.
Don’t Rush: Particularly if you’re decorating an entire home or moving into a new apartment, it can be tempting to buy everything at once. However, taking your time can lead to better decisions and better deals.

How much should you spend when decorating your bedroom?

I want you to keep one important thing in mind as you read this post…great design does not depend on how much money you have to spend! You can create a beautiful, functional, stylish looking bedroom at any price point.

The budget ranges I’m going to show you in this post will give you a ballpark estimate of how much you should spend to completely decorate a bedroom in your home. You can spend less by repurposing items you already have, or shopping for bargains, and the Low Budget Range will be a good estimate for you to create your overall budget. If luxury and high-end finishes are a priority, use the High End Range for each room for an estimate of total cost.

Cost to Decorate a Bedroom

Homeowners often skimp on the design of their bedroom because they think no one will see it. But, you deserve a beautiful, restful retreat! And, if you’re decorating a guest room, you’ll probably want to spend enough money to make your guests feel comfortable, without breaking the bank. So, how much money should you allocate to decorating a beautiful looking bedroom?

Low Budget Range: $3000 – $5000
Average Range: $10,000 – $15,000
High End Range: $25,000 – $35,000

For a basic bedroom setup, including a bed frame, a couple of side tables, and a modest area rug, the cost range could be as low as $500 to $1,000. Once you start adding in bedding, accessories, art, plants, and window treatments, you can expect to fall into the Low Budget Range shown above.

When decorating a guest bedroom, you can expect to spend a little less, and should aim for the low end of the budget ranges shown. The guest bedroom is usually smaller than a primary bedroom, and you may not need as much furniture, or as large of a size for your guests. You can also get away with slightly reduced quality pieces (I don’t mean poor quality!) because they may not be getting heavy, daily use like the furniture in a primary bedroom would.

For those with a flair for unique styles, flea markets and second-hand stores can be treasure troves of fantastic finds that add character to your bedroom without breaking the bank. Incorporating these can be a cost-effective way to personalize your space, particularly if you’re furnishing an entire house and want to maintain a manageable budget.

These budget ranges are a great place to start, whether you’re outfitting a guest bedroom in your new house, or furniture shopping for your sleeping space in a one-bedroom apartment.

Bedroom Budget Breakdown

For a bedroom, be sure to include the following items in your design and budget.

bed
bedding & pillows
area rug
chandelier
decorative accessories
dresser
1-2 nightstands
1-2 table lamps
art/mirror

The top priority item for your bedroom should be the bed, and it also happens to be the biggest expense. The bed will often be the focal point of any bedroom, and can be a key piece of furniture for defining the style of the room. The bedding is also key for defining the color palette and style of the space. Together, you should allocate around 25-30% of your budget to your bed and bedding.

The next largest item on your bedroom budget will be a dresser, coming in at around 15-16%. It’s important to buy the best the best quality dresser you can afford, as it will likely get heavy use. Look for a dresser made of solid wood, with sturdy, smooth drawers. For two nightstands (or end tables), you should allocated about 14-15% of your budget.

Speaking of nightstands, this is a great place to save a little money! You don’t need heirloom-quality nightstands in a bedroom. Rather, look for attractive nightstands at a lower price, and spend your money on other items that will have more influence on the overall design of the room, like your bed, bedding, and an impressive light fixture.

When I’m creating a bedroom budget, I typically allocate 15% to an area rug. However, if you have carpet in your bedroom, you can skip the area rug, and instead distribute that money toward other items on your list, like your bed, dresser, or window treatments. The remaining 30% of your budget should be allocated to things like decorative accessories, lighting, and art.

Example Budget for Decorating a Bedroom

Here’s an example breakdown for a $10,000 bedroom decorating budget:

Knowing the total cost to decorate a room upfront will not only help you create a reasonable budget, but it can also help you narrow in on the price range you should aim for when shopping for specific items. The ultimate goal is to end up with a beautifully furnished room that looks fantastic and reflects your style, so it’s important to have enough money set aside to buy the essential items you need to create a room you will love.

Conclusion

While the average cost to furnish a bedroom can vary, understanding your needs and researching options can give you a better idea of what you’ll spend. Whether you’re creating a tranquil primary suite, designing a multifunctional home office, or setting up a cozy guest room, there are options for every budget to create a space that feels like home. Remember, the key to successful home decorating is balancing your personal style with your budget constraints to create a space that is uniquely yours.

Learn the steps to decorating any room in your home

Looking for an easy, step-by-step recipe to follow to design and decorate any room in your home? Check out my Room Design Recipe course! It will teach you everything you need to know to decorate your home like a pro!