How Much Does It Cost to Furnish an Apartment? Free Calculator!
- Balm Interiors
- Jul 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 3, 2024
Curious how much it costs to furnish an apartment? Well, congrats on a very grown-up milestone!
The internet will give you a range that’s absurdly enormous, varying between the cost of your grocery bill to the cost of two years rent. But I’ve got a calculator for you to keep things simple! This handy tool takes into account every factor, so click away until you find a figure that doesn’t make your eyes water. The calculator considers the following:
Number and size of rooms
Your preferred furnishing vendors
How much of your own furniture you’re bringing with you
Whether you’re going all out or just need the essentials
How much does it cost to furnish an apartment?
Budgeting to furnish your new place with accuracy can be tricky, but the Balm Interiors project calculator is designed to simplify the process for you.
The Calculator focuses on rooms containing furniture, so you won’t find detailed cost breakdowns for bathrooms and kitchens. For these and other wet spaces, I recommend budgeting $100-$500 as a starting point.
Here’s how to make the most out of the calculator.
STEP 1: Estimate the Number, Category, and Size of Your Rooms
Begin by taking stock of your home or apartment’s layout and room specifications.
Number of Rooms: Make note of how many spaces require furnishing, including living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, and home offices.
Room Categories: Identify how you plan to use each of the rooms. Will it be a bedroom, a living room, or a great room? Different categories will have varying furniture needs and costs.
Room Sizes: While you don’t need to get out your measuring tape, estimate whether the room is “small”, “medium”, or “large” in size. Since larger rooms require more or larger furnishings and decor, this affects the overall cost.
By understanding the number, category, and size of your rooms, you can input accurate data into the calculator, leading to a more precise budget estimate.
STEP 2: Decide Your Preferred Furnishing and Décor Vendors (IKEA or West Elm?)
The next step is to choose where you’d want to shop when you’re looking for something new. The calculator allows you to select from a range of vendors, each with different price points and styles:
Budget-Friendly Options: If you’re on a tight budget, consider stores like IKEA, thrift stores, or Walmart. These retailers offer a wide variety of affordable and stylish furniture.
Mid-Range Options: For a balance between cost and quality, look at stores like Wayfair, Overstock, or Target. These options provide good quality at reasonable prices.
High-End Options: If you prefer luxury and designer pieces, consider vendors like West Elm, Pottery Barn, or Crate & Barrel. These stores offer high-quality, stylish furniture, though at a higher price point.
Deciding on your preferred vendors helps tailor the calculator’s estimates to your specific tastes and budget, ensuring that the final number reflects your shopping preferences.
STEP 3: Assess What New Furniture You'll Need
Assess your current furniture inventory to determine what you already have and what you will need:
All New Furniture: If you’re starting from scratch and need almost all new furniture, select this option in the calculator.
A Few New Pieces: If you have a sofa, a bed, and a dresser, but nothing else, this is the category to give you the estimate you need.
I Have What I Need: If you have almost all the furniture you need and are just looking to finish out your rooms with drapes, lighting, fabrics, and rugs, then select this option.
STEP 4: Decide Between Fully-Decorated Rooms or Just the Essentials
Determine your furnishing goals for each room.
Fully-Decorated Rooms: If you aim for a fully-furnished, cohesive look, consider all the elements that make a room complete. This includes major furniture pieces, décor items like rugs and curtains, and other accessories such as lamps, throw pillows, and artwork.
Just the Essentials: If your goal is to start with the basics and gradually build up, focus on purchasing only the essential furniture pieces. Essentials include a bed, a sofa, a dining table, and a few chairs. You can add decorative and supplementary items over time as your budget allows.
Deciding between fully-finished rooms and just the essentials helps the calculator provide a realistic cost estimate based on your immediate needs and long-term plans.
Discover more BIG tips to stretch little budgets here.
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Furnishing your apartment is a significant step, and an informed estimate is a powerful tool to have in your hands. Remember, your home has endless potential, and with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can create a space that reflects your personality and meets your needs without breaking the bank.
Kelley from Balm Interiors believes that everyone deserves a beautifully designed space, regardless of budget, and she's developed a knack for decorating homes creatively and affordably through the best education a person can have... decorating seven apartments and homes of her own, then completing projects for dozens of clients.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
How much does it cost to furnish an apartment?
The cost to furnish an apartment can vary widely. I recommend using the custom Balm Project Calculator, which has been updated to 2024 pricing. Your estimate includes furnishings and decor (to your specifications) for all rooms containing furniture, though it does not include wet areas like kitchens or bathrooms. Using our calculator can help you get a more precise estimate based on your specific preferences and existing inventory.
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