Decorate Interior

Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Interior Decorating project

December 2021

Homeowners have many important questions about their Interior Decorating Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Interior Decorating investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?

Costs, materials and best practices for the example Interior Decorating project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Interior Decorating - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical Interior Decorating project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).

Project descriptionDecorate existing room. Update molding, flooring, doors, switchplates and decorative hardware. Add built-in speakers and modern recessed lighting. Install new window treatments.
Project size210 square feet
Material and labor cost$5,261 - $6,137
Material cost$4,005 - $4,673
Do-it-yourself assessmentThe typical Interior Decorating project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Interior Decorating requires attention to detail and careful planning.
First year Return on Investment - ROIReturns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Interior Decorating project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
First year Return on Investment - ROIReturns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Interior Decorating project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost
Green ratingInterior Decorating projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials.

Interior Decorating - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Interior Decorating. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Interior Decorating project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Interior Decorating project cost and quality.

Do you expect to spend more than $250 on your Interior Decorating project? If so, it is important create and manage a detailed plan for all project activities.

TaskService ProviderTimeDifficultyBasic Cost Range
Develop Home Design IdeasArchitect5 to 20 d$3,090 - $5,161 per project
Prepare Home Lighting IdeasLighting Designer3 to 5 d$1,162 - $1,940 per project
Specify MaterialsInterior Designer2 to 15 d$258 - $431
Specify FinishesInterior Designer1 to 2 d$774 - $1,293
Install Circuit BreakerElectrician1 d$173 - $302
Install Lighting Control SystemElectrician1 d$3,809 - $6,420
Remove Acoustic CeilingPainter1 to 3 d$0.89 - $1.51 per square foot
Repair CeilingDrywall Contractor1 to 2 d$146 - $247
Repair PlasterDrywall and Plaster Contractor1 to 2 d$100 - $172
Install BaseboardFinish Carpenter1 to 2 d$6.18 - $10.74 per linear foot
Install Interior DoorFinish Carpenter1 d$260 - $447 per door
Install French DoorsFinish Carpenter1 d$1,494 - $2,688
Install Door HingesFinish Carpenter1 d$45 - $77 per door
Hang Curtain RodFinish Carpenter1 d$84 - $145
Install Interior Window ShutterFinish Carpenter1 d$375 - $675
Paint WoodPainting Contractor1 to 3 d$1.76 - $2.99 per linear foot
Install Laminate FlooringFlooring Contractor1 d$8.68 - $14.90 per square foot
Install Wall Mounted LightingElectrician1 to 3 d$452 - $795
Replace Electric SwitchElectrician1 d$74 - $126
Replace Switch PlatesElectrician1 d$20.53 - $34.49

Interior Decorating - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Interior Decorating project plan.

  • To maximize return on the Interior Decorating project, limit cost to no more than 1.75% of home's total, post project value
  • For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
  • To keep Interior Decorating costs low, do not move walls or relocate plumbing fixtures or electrical boxes
  • For best resale value, select a taste neutral design for your Interior Decorating
  • For best resale value, select components, appliances, finishes and fixtures of comparable quality
  • Recess speakers into walls or ceiling to share media system access and create room ambiance
  • Use under floor electrical receptacle(s) to provide interior portion of room with cord free electrical power
  • Use low voltage interior lighting to illuminate pathways used at night

Hiring Local Professionals

How to hire a trustworthy pro contractor for your project

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