How Much Does It Cost to Furnish a House?

Buying a house is one of the most significant investments you’ll likely ever make. However, the price of the home isn’t the only expense. You also need to furnish your home, and that can get costly.

The average cost to furnish a 2,000 square foot house with used furniture is $25,000, or $68,750 with new furniture. Homeowners spend an average of $725 per rug, $40 per rug, $500 per rug, $360 per desk set, and $165 per nightstand. You can expect to spend $925 on kitchen furniture and at least $1,250 on bedroom furniture.

As a general rule, plan to budget for between 10% to 50% of the home’s purchase price to furnish your entire home. Where you fall within that range will vary based on the brand, quality, and style of furniture you favor.

Buying a house is very exciting, and it can be tempting to go hog wild when it comes to decorating your personal castle. One way to figure your furniture costs is based on your home’s square footage.

Once again, depending on your furniture’s quality and source, you could pay between $10 to $50 per square foot. Here’s a glimpse at what you can expect to pay to furnish your home, whether large, small, or in between:

Note: Keep in mind, these figures assume you’re furnishing your entire home from scratch. If you already have existing pieces, obviously, you would pay less.

Again, these prices are rough estimates since what you actually end up spending relies on many factors. For example, if you live in a high-value area, you could spend $400,000 on a 1,000 sq ft home. However, you wouldn’t need as much furniture as if you purchased a 2,000 sqft home for $200,000.

Plus, if you opt for hand-me-down heirloom pieces mixed in with second-hand furniture finds, your price tag is apt to stay lower. Alternatively, if you shop designer brands and go for luxe, high-end furnishings, your total cost can easily quadruple.

Of course, based on your personal preference, you might place more importance on one room over another. For example, you want your living room to be a showstopper, whereas you hardly go into your home office.

Based on your own needs and wants, you can borrow more from one room’s budget to play up another space. However, it’s always helpful to have a general idea of what a specific room costs to furnish.

With everything you choose for your home, the price paid for a selected furniture piece will depend on multiple elements. You need to consider things like the piece’s size, how it’s made, any extra features, and where you purchase it.

Below, you’ll find different ranges of furniture prices, room by room. However, just because a piece is listed in a specific room doesn’t mean it only appears within that particular place. It ultimately all depends on your house and style.

For example, if you don’t have a designated dining room, you might have a china cabinet in your kitchen. If you don’t have a separate home office, then a desk might hang out in your family room.

No matter where you end up placing your furniture, the price of a piece is the same. Therefore, you can still get an excellent idea of how much it will cost to furnish your house. The prices used here are based on popular furniture stores like Rooms-to-Go and Ashley HomeStore.

Of course, if you choose to shop at designer boutiques, you could easily spend two to four times as much. On the other hand, if you decide to shop at your local big-box store, you’ll likely come in less. Choose to furnish your whole house with Ikea, and you’ll probably end up somewhere in the middle.

The lower-end prices are generally for smaller pieces or more standard, mass-produced styles. The prices toward the higher-end of the scale are for pieces that are higher quality, larger, or have more features.

You likely use your living area to either entertain, relax, watch television, play, or some combination of activities. Therefore, the typical living room or family room needs lots of seating, storage, and available surfaces.

Popular seating choices are sofas, sectionals, loveseats, recliners, and other various chair styles. For storage, you might have media cabinets, a variety of shelving options, and items like storage ottomans. Finally, surfaces can range from coffee tables to consoles to end tables and beyond.

Nowadays, many homes have expanded beyond the basics to include a wide range of bonus rooms. These rooms are spaces like game rooms, home theaters, music rooms, and home gyms.

If you have one of these rooms in your home, you can get a rough estimate of what furnishings will cost using the above charts. Extra, specialized equipment, such as fitness units, pool tables, and electronics, will, of course, drive up your expenses.

Here is an example of what you could expect to pay for some of these extras:

When it comes to furnishing a home, you’re making a major investment. It’s crucial to have peace of mind knowing that your new furnishings are protected. While most furniture comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, some retailers offer additional protection plans to cover other damage that may not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

If you choose to purchase these protection plans they, of course, come at an extra fee, which is typically in relation to the cost of the furniture.

Furnishing an entire home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have an eye for interior design. If you’re not feeling confident in your ability to choose and pair coordinating furniture, you may want to hire a professional interior designer. Considering the fact that furnishing a house is a significant investment, an interior designer can help you ensure that it’s done right.

They will help you bring your vision to life and know the right pieces to choose for all the rooms in your home. Hiring an interior designer can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 an hour, depending on whether you hire one freelance or go with one from a design firm.

After you picked out all your furniture, the next task is getting it to your home safely. When you’re furnishing your whole home from scratch, and especially if you don’t own a massive truck, you’re likely going to need to use a retailer’s delivery service. Delivery fees will vary depending on the retailer, the size and quantity of the furniture you purchased, and the delivery services you choose.

Check with your furniture retailer regarding the specific price they charge for delivery and what kind of services they offer. In addition to delivery, most will also unpack, inspect, and even set up your furniture in your home.

Related Questions

What is the best way to budget for furnishing your home?

Start with your total budget; the absolute most you can spend to furnish your whole house. Then, decide which rooms are the most important to you. Which places will need the most furniture?Once you have your rooms prioritized, start allocating portions of your budget to each space. Allot more money for larger, more significant areas. Write your budget down, so it is easier to stick to it!When you are considering furniture for each room, don’t forget about accessories. You need to leave some wiggle room in each room’s budget for decor. 

How long does it take to furnish a house?

Based on research collected by House Beautiful, it takes first-time homeowners an average of five months to fully furnish their home.

How can I furnish my entire home on a budget?

Furnishing your entire home from start to finish can be a daunting (and expensive) task. To ensure you don’t get overwhelmed and run out of money, pace yourself. Start with your most essential rooms and work your way through to the least-used spaces. Likewise, within each space, start with the most significant furniture pieces, for example, the bed in the bedroom. Over time, as your budget replenishes, you can add in that fancy console table in your entryway.The best way to furnish your home is a step at a time, and by paying attention to your budget. If you run into a jam, you can always grab a few plush poufs and bean bag chairs in the interim! Happy shopping!