Cost to Decorate a Living Room

Decorating versus furnishing: what the cost covers

People use “decorate” and “furnish” interchangeably, but they lead to very different budgets. Furnishing means buying the main pieces: sofa, chairs, tables, storage. Decorating usually means the finishing layer: paint, rugs, curtains, cushions, throws, lamps, art and accessories. Some published figures for “decorating” a living room include new furniture and some do not, so always check the scope.

If you are buying everything from scratch, start with our guide to the cost to furnish a living room. If you already have a sofa and tables and want to refresh the room, this guide is the better match.

Typical cost ranges

Online estimates for decorating a living room, with furniture included, commonly span from a couple of thousand dollars at the low end to many thousands at the high end:

Budget or DIY: often a few thousand dollars or less, using flat-pack, secondhand and sale items.
Mid-range: a wide band, often several thousand dollars up to the mid five figures in some sources, covering durable furniture, a good rug, lighting and cohesive accessories.
High-end: can reach well above that, with designer upholstery, custom rugs and bespoke elements.

If you are not replacing furniture, the real cost is usually much lower and depends on how many of the items below you change. All figures are rough and vary by region.

Where the money goes

Paint: one of the most cost-effective changes (our interior painting checklist helps you plan the prep). Cost depends on room size, ceiling height, whether you hire a painter, and the amount of prep needed.
Rug: a rug is often the most visible textile in the room. Size is the biggest cost factor.
Curtains and hardware: hanging rods higher and wider than the window frame is a common way to make a window look larger (see curtains in interior design).
Lighting: swapping lampshades, adding a floor lamp, or using warmer bulbs can change the feel for relatively little.
Cushions and throws: a low-cost way to add colour and texture, easy to change seasonally.
Art and mirrors: prices range from free prints you frame yourself to original pieces. Our guide to choosing wall art for a living room covers sizing and budget options.
Plants and accessories: inexpensive ways to finish a room, though it is easy to overbuy.

Hiring help: what design fees look like

Fees vary a lot by region, experience and service type. Commonly described models include:

Online or virtual design: often a flat fee per room, usually lower than in-person services.
Hourly consultations: typically charged by the hour; useful for a single decision such as colour or layout.
Flat project fees or percentage of project cost: more common for full-service work.

Designer fees are generally separate from the cost of products. For a fuller breakdown, see interior designer fees. Ask what is included, whether you must buy through the designer, and how revisions are handled before signing.

Doing it yourself

Yes, you can design a living room yourself. A simple process works well:

Pick a palette of two or three main colours plus a neutral.
Decide on a focal point, such as a fireplace, a window or a TV wall.
Arrange the furniture to suit how you use the room.
Layer lighting: overhead, task and ambient.
Add texture and personality through textiles, art and objects.

You may see the “70/30 rule” mentioned in design advice. It has no single official definition, but it is commonly used to describe roughly 70 percent of a room in a dominant, calmer scheme and about 30 percent in contrast or accent. Treat it as a way to check balance rather than a strict formula.

How much does it cost to redecorate a bedroom?

The same logic applies. A bedroom refresh built around paint, bedding, curtains, a rug and lamps costs far less than replacing the bed and storage. Costs depend on room size, whether you hire a painter, and the quality of bedding and window treatments. Get quotes if you are hiring out the painting, and price each item at a low, medium and high option before deciding.

Is $5,000 enough to furnish an apartment?

It depends on the size of the apartment, your location and what you already own. For a small apartment, $5,000 can go a long way if you buy secondhand or flat-pack and prioritise essentials: a mattress and bed, seating, a table, and lighting. It is unlikely to stretch as far in a larger home or if you want premium pieces. A staged plan is more realistic than buying everything at once. For a whole-home view, see the house furnishing cost guide.

Ways to keep costs down

Repaint or rearrange before buying anything new.
Prioritise the largest visible elements: rug, curtains, lighting.
Frame your own prints or photos rather than buying expensive art.
Buy accessories gradually instead of all at once.
Use secondhand shops for lamps, frames and side tables.

For more ideas, see our guide to furnishing a home for cheap.