Whether you are furnishing one room, your whole home or a rental property, the task of furnishing can be overwhelming. Like planning anything in life, it ultimately comes down to what your goals are and how to balance them against the time you have and your budget. Whether your goal is to make your space a home or to provide a comfortable living space for a guest or renter, there are many factors to consider. If you are planning to move to a new home, you likely have a timeline in mind. The budget is often the most challenging part of the planning process. This is guide to help you make decisions about how to balance your goals, timeline and budget.
First, is this space for you or for someone else?
This is an important question to determine how important personalization is for this home. If this home is for you and your loved ones, you would want to create comfort that makes the space feel customized to your preferences and needs. If this home is for someone else, you would likely want to prioritize the ease of maintenance and durability of the products along with style. If you are furnishing a short-term rental home or vacation home ( for Airbnb or VRBO), we have another furnishing guide here for rental usages.
This is an important question to determine how important personalization is for this home. If this home is for you and your loved ones, you would want to create comfort that makes the space feel customized to your preferences and needs. If this home is for someone else, you would likely want to prioritize the ease of maintenance and durability of the products along with style. If you are furnishing a short-term rental home or vacation home ( for Airbnb or VRBO), we have another furnishing guide here for rental usages.
Second, what are the priorities between style, budget and timeline?
From the thousands of design consultations we have done, we find that our customers often have one weighted priority and have some flexibility between the other two priorities.
From the thousands of design consultations we have done, we find that our customers often have one weighted priority and have some flexibility between the other two priorities.
Time as the priority
If you are relocating to a new city for a new job or moving out for school, time is usually more limited. We are able to accommodate a quick turnaround time in these situations, often prioritizing essential items to help you ease your transition. Nobody wants to move into a new place and sleep on an air mattress! In this case, our recommendation is to start by furnishing your home with key essentials and worry about personalizing later. Over time, you will start collecting items from experiences in this new city, travels and friends. We always encourage you to bring any items you already have into the design, especially sentimental pieces and artwork.
If you are relocating to a new city for a new job or moving out for school, time is usually more limited. We are able to accommodate a quick turnaround time in these situations, often prioritizing essential items to help you ease your transition. Nobody wants to move into a new place and sleep on an air mattress! In this case, our recommendation is to start by furnishing your home with key essentials and worry about personalizing later. Over time, you will start collecting items from experiences in this new city, travels and friends. We always encourage you to bring any items you already have into the design, especially sentimental pieces and artwork.
Style as the priority
If you are moving within the same city or have more time to work on this project, you would likely prefer to focus more on a personalized space that extends your identity. You’re now ready to live life on your own terms. This is now going to be YOUR space. Personalizing your space can take time, especially if you aren’t sure what your style is. If you have been struggling with this, we would love to help! Try going through this design request questionnaire and talk to our design consultant.
If you are moving within the same city or have more time to work on this project, you would likely prefer to focus more on a personalized space that extends your identity. You’re now ready to live life on your own terms. This is now going to be YOUR space. Personalizing your space can take time, especially if you aren’t sure what your style is. If you have been struggling with this, we would love to help! Try going through this design request questionnaire and talk to our design consultant.
Budget as the priority
Budget is always a consideration no matter where style and timeline stand. We see budget as more of a conversation about your flexibility in cost, time and style. This can vary depending on your life stage, priorities, style and the quality you’re looking for. Since this is so personal, we have created a budget calculator to help give you an idea of what it would cost to furnish different sized spaces with different rooms and quality levels.
If you want a quick and easy tool to calculate the budget for furnishing an apartment or a house based on the number of rooms you have, we have a friendly budget calculator you can use to get an average range of how much it costs to furnish the rooms you need. Just note that you may still want to consider quality and personal style when actually furnishing the space.
Budget is always a consideration no matter where style and timeline stand. We see budget as more of a conversation about your flexibility in cost, time and style. This can vary depending on your life stage, priorities, style and the quality you’re looking for. Since this is so personal, we have created a budget calculator to help give you an idea of what it would cost to furnish different sized spaces with different rooms and quality levels.
If you want a quick and easy tool to calculate the budget for furnishing an apartment or a house based on the number of rooms you have, we have a friendly budget calculator you can use to get an average range of how much it costs to furnish the rooms you need. Just note that you may still want to consider quality and personal style when actually furnishing the space.
Cost breakdown of furnishings by tiers
If you have done any furniture shopping, you probably felt overwhelmed by the number of choices on the market. You can always find furniture and decor in the aisles of big box stores, but their prices and quality are often questionable. There are brands that specialize in home furnishings, but they might not have everything you need for setting up a home and it’s always nice to have pieces from many places, nobody wants their home to look like they just copied it from a store display. At the same time, we know you have a timeline and budget and still want to achieve a stylishly furnished home.
To help you navigate this complex endeavor, we’ve broken down the essential furniture and accessories you need based on three tiers of needs:
Aesthetic differences between tiers is minimal. The difference is in the build quality and materials used.
If you have done any furniture shopping, you probably felt overwhelmed by the number of choices on the market. You can always find furniture and decor in the aisles of big box stores, but their prices and quality are often questionable. There are brands that specialize in home furnishings, but they might not have everything you need for setting up a home and it’s always nice to have pieces from many places, nobody wants their home to look like they just copied it from a store display. At the same time, we know you have a timeline and budget and still want to achieve a stylishly furnished home.
To help you navigate this complex endeavor, we’ve broken down the essential furniture and accessories you need based on three tiers of needs:
Aesthetic differences between tiers is minimal. The difference is in the build quality and materials used.
Basic Tier: Essential furnishings at an affordable price point. These items are typically made from manufactured or synthetic materials and will be more simple in design. We recommend this tier for a starter apartment, or a lower traffic space. Comparable brands in this category include Target, World Market and Ashley Furniture.
Standard Tier: These pieces are typically made with solid wood frames, denser foam, natural and synthetic materials. This tier can include some accessories and decor pieces to make your space feel like home. If you’re looking for quality furniture at a reasonable price point this is for you. Comparable brands in this category include Article, Crate and Barrel and West Elm.
Luxury Tier: If you’re looking for high quality furnishings and a fully accessorized space, this is the tier for you. These pieces are typically made with solid wood frames, higher quality finishes, denser foam, performance materials and leather. This tier can include a full selection of accessories and decor pieces to give you a complete design. Comparable brands in this category include Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and Room & Board.
Standard Tier: These pieces are typically made with solid wood frames, denser foam, natural and synthetic materials. This tier can include some accessories and decor pieces to make your space feel like home. If you’re looking for quality furniture at a reasonable price point this is for you. Comparable brands in this category include Article, Crate and Barrel and West Elm.
Luxury Tier: If you’re looking for high quality furnishings and a fully accessorized space, this is the tier for you. These pieces are typically made with solid wood frames, higher quality finishes, denser foam, performance materials and leather. This tier can include a full selection of accessories and decor pieces to give you a complete design. Comparable brands in this category include Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and Room & Board.
Basic Tier:
Price ranges from $4500-$8000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Price ranges from $4500-$8000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Living room:
- Sofa
- Accent chair
- Coffee table
- Media unit
- Area rug
- Floor lamp
- Two counter stools
- Queen bed frame
- Mattress
- Nightstands
- Small dresser
- Table lamps
Standard Tier
Price ranges from $8500- $12,000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of the items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Price ranges from $8500- $12,000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of the items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Living room:
- Sofa or sectional
- Accent chair
- Coffee table
- Media Unit
- Area rug
- Floor lamp
- Side table
- One piece of artwork
- Throw pillows
- Dining table
- Four chairs
- Queen bed frame
- Mattress
- Nightstands
- Dresser
- Table lamps
- One piece of artwork
- Area rug
Luxury Tier
Price ranges from $12,000- $16,000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of the items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Price ranges from $12,000- $16,000 for a one-bedroom and will include most or all of the items below as well as delivery and assembly:
Living room:
- Sofa or sectional
- Two accent chairs
- Coffee table
- Media unit
- Area rug
- Floor lamp
- Side table
- Artwork
- Throw pillows and blankets
- Coffee table decor
- Dining table for six
- Six chairs
- Sideboard or bar cart
- Area rug
- Tabletop decor
- Artwork
- King bed
- Mattress
- Nightstands
- Large dresser
- Area rug
- Table lamps
- Mirror
- Artwork
- Throw cushions
- Bench or accent chair
We can furnish any size of home, just reach out to get a more accurate quote for your property size!
How do we compare to other brands?
It is always a challenge to gauge quality and comfort online, especially from brands you aren’t familiar with. We source from many of the same suppliers as brands you already shop from so that you can feel confident in your purchase. Our team of experts is trained and experienced in furniture selection so that you can sit back and relax without worrying about reading reviews and testing out what seems like hundreds of sofas in store. We also offer a flexible exchange policy in case something doesn’t turn out how you hoped, let us take the pressure off!
It is always a challenge to gauge quality and comfort online, especially from brands you aren’t familiar with. We source from many of the same suppliers as brands you already shop from so that you can feel confident in your purchase. Our team of experts is trained and experienced in furniture selection so that you can sit back and relax without worrying about reading reviews and testing out what seems like hundreds of sofas in store. We also offer a flexible exchange policy in case something doesn’t turn out how you hoped, let us take the pressure off!