DeMystifying Interior Design Budgets
When it comes to interior design budgets, transparency is an evading concept.
And look, I’m not going to act like other designers don’t try to be transparent when it comes to costs but they are charging you markup. To be fair, from product + labor to shipping + taxes –– there’s so much that goes into defining a healthy interior design budget.
Which is why it’s so important for us to have a budget conversation upfront because, in our experience, it’s always the most difficult conversations that lead to some of the best things in life, Right?
Now I don’t want you to think of interior design ‘budget’ as being a hard conversation, because it’s not, but it can be a confusing conversation...
Because each project is drastically different (based on the scope of work to be completed.)
Because we don’t know the precise costs of craftsmanship, labor, shipping etc.
Because the cost of furniture can be high + low or somewhat of a mix.
Long story short my friend, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to defining an interior design budget. So, to simply toss numbers out there can be detrimental if the conversation isn’t framed with the right context.
READ: If you haven’t already Home Makeover Shows vs Real Life Interior Design
Beyond the drastically deflated budgets that we see being tragically tossed around on TV or the latest home remodel flick –– I'm going to swan dive into what an interior design budget actually looks like.
Because for as long as I’ve been in the industry, as a professional interior designer, the conversation of ‘budget’ has always been filtered through rose-colored glasses.
Leaving little to no information available for you to wrap your mind around what the heck a healthy budget actually looks like when it comes to reimagining that humble abode of yours.
And quite frankly –– that really makes me upset! With over a decade of experience working with clients — we’ve seen it all.
From designing their custom home + large-scale remodels to simply furnishing + styling their current space –– we’re peeling back the curtain + exposing the hidden truth behind interior design budgets…
...because there are no perverse incentives (we don’t charge hourly, by the square foot or mark-up!)
...because you deserve the truth….and by golly, I’m gonna give it to you!
A good foundation for this conversation begins with clarity + context for what healthy interior design budgets are made of.
So, how much is all of this going to cost, you ask? Alas, the time has come, my friend! Let’s dig in.
Context For An Interior Design Budget
For the sake of this conversation, we’re going to frame “interior design budgets” as everything you need to plan + account for when furnishing + styling your home.
This means that this conversation excludes things like labor, construction + any materials.
AVERAGE COST
In our Free Resource Library, you’ll find a ton of incredibly helpful goodies; but when it comes to understanding the average cost of things, I’d highly encourage you to download the Pricing Guide: What It Costs To Furnish + Style. It’s where we go into detail, providing an in-depth budget for each room in your home, at two different price ranges.
But really, the best part is knowing that these are real numbers. From real projects. That we’ve completed. That said, most of our clients are somewhere in the middle — balance is essential.
QUALITY
At Elegant Simplicity, we have a pulse on the disposable design culture that’s pushed in shelter magazines as trendy, made cheaply + ultimately detrimental to the environment so we encourage our clients + source for them quality furniture that’s made to last by real people who care.
When it comes to principles of crafting high-quality furniture what you find at big-box retailers is hit or miss + so we’re conscientious in curating pieces for our clients that are both beautiful and made to last.
What is an Interior Design Budget?
Another thing we do at Elegant Simplicity, is we talk about money in terms of investment + budget. However, it’s important to understand that like a glass of ice water (where you’ve got ice + you’ve got water) while very similar, they have unique differences. And despite the fact that many designers use these terms interchangeably, budget + investment are two very different things.
INVESTMENT — IS FIRST.
You see, investment is the financial number you feel comfortable about spending on interior design. It’s the total you have to “invest” in its entirety for this phase of your project.
At the onset of your clarity call, we really encourage our clients to get very specific around what their willing to invest — not because we’re conspiring to spend every last penny — but because it’s your interior designer’s job to identify how to invest in the highest quality (in this case, furniture + decor) possible which they’ll never be able to accomplish if they don’t know upfront what you’re open, willing + able to invest.
In other words, investment creates clarity around how we can best serve you!
BUDGET
The budget on the other hand –– is what comes later. Your interior design budget is actually an itemized breakdown of what your dollars will be doing. It creates context for the ‘investment’ you’re making.
At Elegant Simplicity, we want your investment to work as hard as possible for you! Which is why, unlike a traditional interior designer, we DON’T charge markup on anything we purchase on your behalf. Nope, not a single penny! Which means down to the last penny, every single dollar itemized out on your interior design budget is going directly into the quality of craftsmanship of your home, the furnishing etc.
In other words, an interior design budget creates clarity around what things cost.
Which Factors Increase Your Interior Design Budget?
By now I’m sure you’re starting to imagine at least a handful of really important factors that could increase your interior design budget but to ensure we’ve covered all of our bases, I’ve outlined them below because –– it’s far more than just furniture + decor.
1. QUALITY OF FURNISHINGS
We’ve already touched on our beliefs around why we believe high-quality furniture is so important. But remember that at Elegant Simplicity, this conscientious approach is all about you (not our markup). In other words, we’re not charging a markup on furniture or labor –– because we want to encourage you to envision + create a home you truly never want to leave. And yes, this includes investing in quality, what you spend on furniture + decor + who makes it.
2. OVERALL SIZE + ROOM LAYOUT
Hands down, the overall size of the room will directly impact your interior design budget because with larger spaces — typically larger furniture is needed to help keep the room in scale. However, the layout also matters because if a space has a unique layout that we’re trying to configure furniture in it may require a very specific piece of furniture to be custom made in order to maximize space + make the room functional.
3. TOTAL NUMBER OF PIECES NEEDED
In addition to any considerations around the overall scale of a room (think average living room with four walls vs. great room with an open concept floor plan) lets not forget that the more pieces of furniture, artwork + decor that’s needed to create a cohesive living space the more the overall budget will increase.
4. ONE-OF-A-KIND CUSTOM DETAILS
In an earlier blog on The Real Cost Of Custom Furniture, we talk all about the value of custom furniture + why we should be mindful of comparing custom furniture to what we see readily available at big-box retailers.
5. HOW MANY WINDOW TREATMENTS
Another detail you’ll notice in our comprehensive budgets is that drapery is included for each room. Like many things with interior design budgets, window treatments can be especially difficult to budget for simply because there are a lot of customizable options. However, window treatments are to your home what jewelry is to your outfit –– they add the perfect finishing touch that magically pulls everything together!
6. SUSTAINABILITY
If you prefer that all the furniture be sustainably made or made locally to lower the carbon footprint of your furnishing + styling project, this is absolutely something we can do! In fact, the Give More Project goes into more in-depth as to why this principle is near + dear to our hearts. So much so that a percentage of our own profits goes directly to educational, family or environmental non-profits seeking to make a difference in the world.
7. FABRIC DURABILITY
We love kids + we have a big ‘ol soft spot for dogs therefore we’re also well attuned to fabric durability. So while sticky fingers, dirty paws + everyday wear and tear are all challenges when it comes to furniture –– upholstery should be a lifetime investment
Because the fabric on your furniture is the most visible sign of quality. It’s also the most likely to show wear + soil which is why, when choosing upholstery, you should be mindful of durability, clean-ability, and resistance to soil + fading.
That said, it will increase your interior design budget; However, clients always appreciate this one because it protects the pieces you’re buying. From Crypton to other high-performance fabrics that are totally wine-proof fabric durability is key.
8. TAXES
Eh, nobody really wants to know about these but they’re always important to remember.
9. SHIPPING + WAREHOUSING COSTS
While most clients don’t consider shipping during the onset of planning their interior design budget I’m here to remind you that –– you should! Because typically, designer furniture can only be shipped to a receiver which involves people, warehouses, deliveries, gas, trucks, insurance, etc. So yeah, it’s gonna increase the budget a bit + shouldn’t be ignored.
10. INSTALLATION + PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
On install day (pop, fizz, clink!) the warehouse will deliver all of your furniture + any professional services that are necessary for installation will come in from time-to-time increasing costs.
How Does Elegant Simplicity Help You Create Your Interior Design Budget?
Believe it or not, over the last decade (and some change *wink*) John + I have been around the block a few times. In other words, we know what's possible and have a good pulse on what furniture + decor will cost.
That said, what’s really amazing about our Design Membership is that while there are a lot of variables in design + there are things that may “technically increase cost,” we outline each of these costs + allocated budget items to them in our Final Budget Meeting.
Not only will you have amazing visuals of what everything in your home is going to look like but we also have a comprehensive final budget for you to review (w/ no markup) + approve because nobody likes surprises — especially expensive ones.
So put your weary mind at peace, my friend, because we’re always thinking of the best way to serve you!
What Does An Interior Design Budget Look Like?
Below, we’ve outlined an interior design budget for furnishing + styling a living room. By now you know that there are a number of factors that influence the bottom line but most prominent is the size of your living space. The larger your living room is — the more it could cost.
In any case, a handful of pieces we recommend you invest in are the sofa or sectional, the lounge chairs + the rug because they help to establish proper scale + they’re what you feel when you are sitting down.
INTERIOR DESIGN BUDGET BREAKDOWN FOR A LIVING ROOM
Want to see more interior design budget examples? For a dining room? Bedroom? Office? Check out this free pricing guide in our resource library: What It Costs To Furnish + Style.
Hopefully, we’ve got you thinking + you’re able to put some context to the variables of what interior design actually costs from a furnishing + styling perspective.
And if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.