Maximizing Your Interior Design Budget: A Cost Guide
How much does it cost to do up your home in 2024? The cost of decorating has changed significantly in recent years and it can be confusing to work out how best to spend your budget to make the most of it.
Did you know that antique furniture generally costs less than new (and it’s usually solid wood where even quite expensive modern furniture is often veneered MDF), but antique rugs usually cost more than new ones?
Did you know that you could save £300 per window buy choosing Roman blinds instead of curtains, but you can only save £150 by buying cheap synthetic paint instead of ‘designer’ natural paint?
Did you know you should budget as much for a set of 8 dining chairs as you do for a 3-seater sofa?
Below, I’ve set out low, average and high costs of the most common components of a new interior. Please note this is just a guideline, costs will vary per product, the size of your room, and your specific preferences!
Decorating Costs
Paint for a 4msq room basic brand:
Ceiling: 2.5L @ £30, Walls @ 5L £42, Woodwork: 2.5L @ £42
Paint for a 4msq room high quality brand:
Ceiling: 2.5L @ £66, Walls @ 5L £114, Woodwork: 2.5L @ £90
Wallpaper for a 4msq room:
Low: £500, Average: £1,000, High: £3,000+
Flooring for a 4msq room including underlay:
Basic LVT: £650, Engineered oak: £880
Basic fitted carpet: £500, Sisal fitted carpet: £1,400
Furniture Costs
Coffee table
Low: £100, Antique: from £350, Average: £600, High: £2,000+
Tall bookcase
Antique: from £150, Low: £175, Bespoke alcove: £600+, Bespoke wall-to-wall: £2,500+
Dining table
Antique: from £400, Low: £600, Average: £1,200, High: £3,500+
Dining chair (each)
Low: £75, Antique: from £150, Average: £275, High: £600+
Wardrobes
Antique: from £250, Low: £250, Off-the-shelf storage system: £1,000, Bespoke alcove: £3,000+
Upholstery & Soft Furnishing Costs
Sofa
Low: £750, Average: £2,250, High: £5,000+
Armchair
Low: £350, Average: £1,250, High: £2,500+
Footstool
Low: £150, Average: £600, High: £1,200+
King-sized bed
Low: £300, Average: £1,000, High: £3,000+
Curtains for a window W90cm (floor-length)
Low: £150, Average: £600, High: £2,000+
Roman blinds for a window W90cm, D135cm
Low: £75, Average: £300, High: £600+
Cost of Accessories
Chandelier/ceiling light
Low: £125, Average: £450, High: £1,250+
Wall lights
Low: £40, Average: £120, High: £300+
Table lamp
Low: £20, Average: £150, High: £300+
Large rug
Low: £150, Average: £750, High: £1,500, High-quality antique: £4,000+
Accessories (cushions, art, vases, mirrors, etc.)
Low: £250, Average: £1,000, High: £3,000+
I hope this guide has been useful. If you’re planning on refreshing your interiors, it can help you to decide where it is worth hanging onto your existing pieces and where you can update. Of course, there are many factors which will affect how you allocate your interior design budget such as aesthetics, function, practicality, the size of your space and the specifics of you home. If you’d like help navigating this to make the most of your cash, and of course benefit from my trade discounts, get in touch!