- Jess Harrell
How Much Does it Actually Cost to Decorate a Dining Room From Top to Bottom?
Hi friends! It's time for another round of "How much does it actually cost?". Yay! Get excited for some awkward money talk. If you missed the first post in the series where I broke down how much it costs to furnish a living room, you can check it out here. Today, we're getting into the nitty gritty details of the dining room. I always recommend that before you embark on a design project, it's a good idea to have an idea of what you should expect to spend to fully decorate the space. There are many factors that can impact your budget, but one of the biggest is where you like to shop. The chart below shows over 40 different home decor stores and the budget ranges they fall under.
Now that you have an idea of the budget ranges of different stores, there are several others things to consider. Are you thinking about having a custom dining table made? Will your dining chairs need stain-resistant fabrics? All of those will increase your budget. Do you plan to purchase original artwork for the walls or will you go with framed prints? Original art will definitely up your budget. Are you hoping for a one-of-a-kind vintage wool rug under the dining table? It all adds up to more $$$.
Another thing to consider is the size of your dining room. If you have a very large space, it will require a bigger table, more chairs, a bigger chandelier, more wall decor, more window treatments, and a bigger rug. More of everything. All of which means...upping the budget. On the other hand, a smaller room would mean needing to purchase less. A table that seats 4 versus a table that seats 8. You get the point. And don't forget to factor in things like shipping, handling, & taxes. Those things can really add up and all of a sudden you have an expense that you didn't plan for.
Are you ready to see what it all adds up to? Check out the table below to see the average cost of decorating a dining room from top to bottom at low, mid-range, and high-end stores.
While it is totally possible to furnish a dining room for under $10k I do not recommend doing so. Generally speaking, the lower the cost of a dining table, dining chairs, or sideboard, the lower the quality will be. When you buy furniture from budget-friendly stores like Ikea, chances are good you'll end up needing to replace it in a few years time because they're just not built to last. So you're going to end up spending more money in the long run anyways to replace them when they inevitably fall apart. For furniture that can withstand daily use for years and years stick to stores in the mid to high range. In addition, the lower your budget, the smaller the selection you have to choose from. The options for dining tables that seat 6 under $500 are pretty limited. But when you increase your budget to $2k a whole new slew of options become available.
I think a happy medium is a mix of high and low. Splurge on the dining table & chairs but save on the bar cart, lamps, and decorative accents like candle stick holders and table centerpieces. Places like Target & Zara Home are great for budget friendly decor and oftentimes they look pretty high-end. Don't forget about Facebook Marketplace! Sometimes you can find well-made vintage furniture at budget-friendly prices. When you mix high and low the end result is more curated and unique looking. You definitely don't want your dining room to look like you bought the showroom at Ikea.
Were you surprised by how much it really costs to decorate a dining room or was it about what you expected? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
