How to Budget for An Interior Design Project

The first step in any home project is often the most challenging, and the most important: creating a realistic budget. Whether you’re building a new home, renovating, or furnishing multiple rooms, your budget sets the tone for the project. It guides style, quality, materials, contractors, and what can realistically be achieved. Many homeowners have a clear vision but aren’t sure how to translate it into numbers. You might think, “I know what I want, but I don’t know the cost!” This is where an experienced interior designer can help. With proper budgeting for interior design, we take your ideas, assess your goals, and create a plan that aligns with both your vision and finances. Doing this upfront avoids surprises and ensures your dream space is achievable.

Why Budgeting Matters

As a full-service interior designer, a big part of our role is helping clients understand the cost of every element in a project. Renovations and new builds involve many moving parts, unlike simply buying a coffee table or rug. At Collins and Co Interiors, we break down costs clearly so you know what to expect at every stage.

Once the budget is established, my goal is to create a space that is both functional and stunning. Whether it’s a custom new build, full home remodel, or curated furnishing project, we focus on maximizing value without compromising style or quality. Staying on, or even under, budget gives our clients peace of mind while bringing their vision to life.

Factors That Influence the Budget

Every project has unique requirements, and budgets vary widely. After six years in design, we’ve developed starting points that allow us to collaborate with high-quality vendors, contractors, tradespeople, and architects. This ensures every detail is handled with care and precision.

For furnishing projects, we typically recommend starting budgets of $30,000 per room, not including design fees. For an entire home, this often equates to roughly 15% of the total house value, though percentages vary based on style, goals, and scope.

Estimating a Furniture Budget

A simple way to estimate a furnishing budget is to list every item you’d include in a room. This includes sofas, chairs, rugs, tables, lamps, window treatments, artwork, mirrors, and decorative accents. Don’t forget installation, labor, sales tax, and delivery fees.

This exercise helps illustrate the cumulative cost of furnishing a space. It also highlights why not every item needs replacement, which can save money while maintaining a cohesive, elevated look. Experienced designers can guide you in making strategic decisions that maximize your budget without sacrificing quality.

Making the Most of Your Budget

Our mission at Collins and Co Interiors is to create spaces that are functional, timeless, and uniquely tailored to each client. By setting a realistic budget from the start, we deliver homes that exceed expectations while maintaining quality and style. Our construction design services may include blueprint review, material selection, spec books, contractor collaboration, and ongoing construction support.

For full-service furnishing projects, we handle design, order placement, coordination, installation, and styling. This creates a seamless, white-glove experience where clients can enjoy a beautiful, fully realized space without stress.

Using budgeting for interior design strategically allows you to plan confidently, invest wisely, and achieve a home that’s not just beautiful, but built to last.

 Are you dreaming of a space transformation? I’d love to help bring your vision to life! Let’s create something beautiful together. Contact Danielle HERE to start.

Orlando Interior Designer | Orlando Interior Design