As the first of the year rapidly approaches, it’s a good time to start planning for redecorating projects. Doing a room makeover is a wonderful way to re-energize your space and to get excited for some change of scenery. As a decorator, I know how fun it can be to plan for a new color scheme or decorating style. The act of imagining how a new furniture layout can make a room feel is exciting, almost like your moving to a new house, right?
Trust me, I’ve spent many hours going down the Pinterest rabbit hole for myself and my clients and I know how easy it is to get lost in the hunt for the perfect look.
As a former furniture store designer, I saw that faraway look in people’s eyes all the time. It was a combination of inspiration and overwhelm. People would tour the showroom and fall in love with every vignette. The ones who were most excited would move pillows around and pull fabric and rug samples in. They would engage me in conversations about paint colors they wanted to change and layouts that were challenging. Some would even come in with sketches of their floor space and pictures.
The one thing that everyone seemed to forget about was budget. Knowing how much money you want to invest in a room makeover is the not the creative part of the project. Budget engages a different part of the brain – the logical part. It’s the part that introduces doubt – the kryptonite of creativity. Having a realistic investment range for your project is just as important as having an arsenal of Pinterest pictures that depict your goals.
Even though knowing exactly how much you want to spend is essential, it can also provide very important parameters that keep a project on track.
In my experience, there is no such thing as an unlimited furniture budget. Projects never failed to fall apart when the words, “If I like it, I’ll buy it” were spoken. It didn’t matter that they liked or even loved it, if the cost was over what they anticipated, the project would not go forward.
Every project, from simple to elaborate, has a budget and the quickest way to your makeover is to arrive at that number before you move forward with anything else.
If you’re the average homeowner, soup to nuts redecorating it isn’t something that you undertake often. According to my research, most people will undertake a major redecorating project that will last for 20 years. This includes things like main furniture purchases and floor to ceiling changes involving construction. Then, the average person will likely change wall color or wallpaper every 2 to 5 years and this is usually accompanied with accessory and artwork changes.
“In general, the cost of furnishing a living room starts at around $10,000 and can go up to $25,000 or more. However, you should be aware that the cost of decorating a living room will vary greatly.” – Circle Furniture, From their blog, Nov. 21, 2018.
Now that the cats out of the bag on the relative costs to redecorate, let’s get into what you ought to know about planning your living room makeover so you can put that money to best use.
How to plan your budget.
What You Need:
1. Measure your space. I’ve remarked on the importance of measuring your space in many of my previous posts, so I’m not going to go into that here. If you type “measure” in the search bar at the bottom, you will see how often I’ve written about it. I am so passionate about measuring being the first place to start that I’ve created a short step by step guide to help you measure your space correctly. Knowing how much floor space you have is an essential tool in your makeover planning process. Plus, when you get this short guide, you’ll also get my weekly email that’s full of helpful and timely tips, hacks and strategies to keep your decorating projects running smoothly.
2. Know Your budget: As you read above, average costs to redecorate are not insignificant. That is why I like to refer to this as an investment rather than just a budget. That’s because you must invest time and thought into what you want to spend on your living room makeover. Having a pretty firm number that you’ve planned for is the best way to avoid disappointment in the end. And, honestly, having a little reserve that you can draw on will also help. When you arrive at your comfortable investment number, add another 10% so you have some wiggle room if you need it.
Let me show you what this looks like for an average living room price by piece: If you’re making over an entire living room floor to ceiling, you will likely be shopping for: an area rug, a sofa, chair(s), cocktail table, end tables, accent tables, storage pieces: credenzas, entertainment console, lamps, artwork, window treatments, decorative accessories: pillows, throw blankets, wall and table top décor. This chart shows the cost from low to high.
3. Understand your Lifestyle: It’s important to think about how you live. If you have furry creatures that share your space and you enjoy their company, then delicate fabrics just won’t cut it for your everyday furniture. For example, I have a 15lb dog who’s in and out for potty time and play many times a day in all different kinds of weather. Even with my best efforts, she dodges past me like a running back when we get back in the house. And where does she go first? She darts right to her favorite spot, the sofa. If my sofa was a vacuum only fabric, the sofa would have been on the curb after week one. Instead, I have a polyester fabric that can be easily cleaned with water and detergent. I can also remove the cushion covers to wash for extra dirty days. I have a wipeable fabric on my accent chair as well. This advice applies to any situation pertaining to kids as well. Sticky fingers will ruin linen and delicate fabrics just as fast muddy pet paws. Even body oils can cause discoloration to build up from daily use. If any of these apply to you, choose your fabrics wisely.
I would also recommend thinking about choosing finishes that are more forgiving for your accent pieces as well. For example, gloss finishes can easily scratch if things like toys are pulled across them. I would go for a more distressed or rustic finish for accents. Luckily, these finishes are quite in style now, so they are easily found.
4. Consider who will be using the furniture: If the person who will sit on the sofa the most is 6’ tall, don’t buy a sofa that is shallow or constructed for a petite person. Conversely, if you’re just around 5’ tall you won’t be comfortable in a sofa that is 40” deep. This goes for any seating in the room. Always think about who will use that piece the most. Also, I always say comfort is king and what I mean by that is you should always consider the comfort level of the furniture that you sit in the most. If you find a great looking piece but it’s horribly uncomfortable, keep looking. Don’t rush into a purchase because something looks nice. Take your time to find the pieces that have the look and comfort level you want.
What You Want:
There is definitely a difference between what you need and what you want. It’s practical vs emotional thinking. Left brain vs right brain. But, when you join the two together, you find the ideal recipe for a successful living room makeover.
1. Know your style: Having a good sense of what you like is important for a successful project. If you’ve stopped into your local furniture show rooms or watched decorating programs or got lost in the land of Pinterest, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what you like. If you’re struggling to find your style, I created a free quiz that will help you figure that out in about 5 minutes and you can even grab a handy little 1 page document all about your personal style result that will keep you on track when you’re shopping for everything you need for your makeover.
2. Don’t compromise on what you truly want: Say you want a Mid-Century style living room. You’ve watched every episode of Mad Men and you absolutely love the streamlined arms of the sofas and sectionals and you die over hair pin legs on just about anything. Then it makes no sense to buy a sofa with a big rolled arm and skirt. That doesn’t translate to what you love. Even if you got a great deal on the sofa, every time you look at it you’ll regret getting it because it doesn’t fit the look you truly want.
3. Take your time: Getting the look you want may take some time. When I was selling furniture, people thought that the exact right piece would jump out at them and they’d know it right away. What they didn’t know was that I was able to change the look of anything they saw in the store. So, it’s important to consult with furniture salespeople and in store designers because they can help you choose the right fabrics and finishes. In the long run, that will save you time and will help you get to the result you want much faster than trying to go it alone without any help.
Where to Save:
1. Use what you already have: Sometimes you have pieces that will translate to a lot of different furniture styles. Maybe you have an etagere that is the ideal size for a small corner. It’s a functional piece that gives the room height and a place to display your favorite books and collectibles. If it’s the wrong wood tone, give it a coat of paint. If it has glass shelves and you want a more rustic look, replace them with wood shelves. Sometimes the perfect piece is hiding in plain sight.
Think about buying a thrift store find piece or re-using something you get from a relative or friend. If Mid-Century is your look, you may be able to score an amazing piece from someone who loved the look when it was iterated.
2. Accessories:
• Throw pillows can be expensive if you go the custom route. Some sets can cost $300 or more depending on the fabric, fill and trim. You can easily find amazing alternatives for much less in home stores and online. I love finding pillow covers that you can purchase from places like Amazon and Etsy. They are usually much less expensive than instore options and they are easy to ship. They are also custom and you can change your covers with the season or holidays without having to store actual pillows. Pillow covers can be folded and put away much easier.
• Area rugs often have a pretty significant price tag as well. A wool rug can run anywhere from $1000 to $5000 or more. If you get into custom sizes, you’ll be spending a chunk of change on that. First, I recommend staying with standard sizes. My go to room size rug is 8’ x10’ or 11’. That will allow you to have enough rug showing and it will provide a great anchor for your furniture. I recommend that for most any size room, large or small. Second, you can find beautiful synthetic rugs for a fraction of the price of wool. Synthetics have come a long way in terms of durability and cleanability. My secret hack for synthetic rugs is to put a thick carpet pad underneath them to give them a bit more heft. It will feel more luxurious and extend the life of the rug as well. I had a very lite synthetic rug that had a red wine spill on it and I was able to get it completely out with a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol and a white kitchen sponge in just a few minutes. The secret is to get after stains right away. Don’t let them dry because you’ll have a much tougher time getting them out.
• Window treatments is another place to save some money. Ready made panels are significantly less expensive than custom drapes. I love the look of a custom drape with a beautiful pinch pleat top and weighted bottom. They finish the look of any room and add color and texture. But, if an additional $3000 to $5000 isn’t in the budget, you can order ready made panels and customize them yourself. It’s easy to add length to the top or bottom with some extra fabric in the same pattern or in a contrasting color or pattern. This will give you the ability to hang your curtain rod as high as it can go and still have the length to break at the floor. I also love to use clip on rings to hang the curtains: 1. They are inexpensive and 2. They mimic the look of pleated tops which make them look custom and expensive.
• Art can be costly if you purchase from a gallery. If you want to save some money, visit starving artist shows. You can purchase art directly from the artist, the money stays right with them and you can usually get amazing pieces to fill your walls. If you want large pieces for even more savings, I suggest going to thrift stores and shopping their art section. If you love a piece, get it right on the spot because it will probably be gone if you wait. If you want prints, buying form websites like Society 6 or Etsy can be a great route to go for some unique pieces that are affordable and easy to ship.
• Lighting: Lamps in specialty lighting stores will run you a few hundred dollars or more. That’s steep. You can find amazing deals at discount department stores, Homegoods World Market, etc. There you can expect to pay $20 to $100 per lamp, more for a floor lamp or pendant fixture. I also love to shop thrift stores and tag sales for lamps. I have found the most amazing deals and sometimes they just need a bit of cleaning or a quick re-wire. You can pick up a lighting kit at any big box home improvement store for around $10.00. Most thrift store lamps are around $5 to $10, score!
3. Hire a designer: We can save you money and time by using trade discounts to get the best prices. We also know where to shop for specific furniture styles so you don’t have to try to find them on your own. That means less hassle and headaches for you so, consider hiring a designer to help you realize your makeover goals.
Where to Splurge:
1. Buy the best you can afford: Don’t cheap out on your main seating pieces. A durable sofa that can withstand daily use is essential. There is nothing more disappointing than getting an uncomfortable sofa for a room that you spend a lot of time in. Conversely, inexpensive upholstery just doesn’t hold up to everyday use. Although some custom furniture can be costly, you will be far happier when you don’t notice your cushions crushing after a few months or your fabric failing after one year. In the long run, investment furniture will net you a higher return on your money because you won’t have to repair or replace it as often. Custom furniture is a long game. If you’re spending upwards of $5000 on a custom sofa, you should expect to see that last much longer than a sofa you spent $500 on.
2. Paint and wallpaper: To begin, purchasing a good quality paint is going to help keep you sane. Let me explain, I have painted rooms with bargain paint and I’ve painted with expensive paint. Hands down, expensive paint is far better for coverage and time. A $10.00 can of paint will take you 5 times as long to paint with than a $50.00 can of paint. In this instance, the quality of the product translates directly to the price you pay. Most expensive paint is now paint and primer in one, which means fewer coats and better coverage. The more expensive paint will also dry to a much more durable finish than the cheap stuff will. So, that means less scuffs and chips and less to worry about when you walls get dirty.
As for Wallpaper, you can bet that a cheap, thin wallpaper will be a nightmare to work with. I once had an install with a very pretty but totally inexpensive wallpaper and it kept tearing every time I would put paste on the back. In the end, I had to keep going back to the store to purchase more rolls to get the job done. I don’t think I had it up a week before I gauged it when I moved a desk chair to clean. I was steaming. Needless to say, the paper came down soon after and I purchased a more durable paper to take its place.
To Sum Up:
When you consider:
What you need
What you want
Where to save, and
Where to splurge
You will have all your bases covered for a successful makeover.
Now it’s your turn. Leave me a comment below to tell me all about your tips, tricks, hacks for a successful makeover. I’d love to hear what has worked for you and what thigs you’ve learned through making over your home.
I am so grateful that you decided to stop by today. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I really do read and respond to all the comments and I’d love to keep the conversation going with you each week.
Did you know?
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I hope you’ve had a great week that you are looking forward to a fun weekend! Until next week stay amazing and keep your dreams big for your small space!
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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.
