Decorating, Re-Decorating

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

December 2021

Homeowners have many important questions about their Home 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 Home 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 Home Decorating project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Home Decorating - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical Home 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 home. Replace existing flooring, doors, switchplates and decorative hardware. Add molding and recessed lighting. Install new window treatments. Use above average grade of materials, fabrication and installation quality. Estimated costs do not include furniture.
Project size1425 square feet of renovation
Material and labor cost$11,583 - $13,514
Material cost$7,592 - $8,857
Do-it-yourself assessmentThe typical Home Decorating project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Home Decorating requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home.
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 Home 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 Home Decorating project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost
Green ratingHome Decorating projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials.

Home Decorating - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Home Decorating. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Home 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 Home Decorating project cost and quality.

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

TaskService ProviderTimeDifficultyBasic Cost Range
Prepare Home Decorating IdeasInterior Designer4 to 10 d$1,033 - $1,724 per project
Produce Home Remodeling PlansGeneral Contractor3 to 5 d$771 - $1,288 per project
Select Family Room FurnitureInterior Designer3 to 5 d$387 - $647
Compile Home Remodeling Materials ListGeneral Contractor3 to 5 d$771 - $1,288 per project
Build CabinetsFinish Carpenter1 d$832 - $1,417
Install Can LightingElectrician1 to 3 d$211 - $361
Install Electrical Sub-PanelElectrician1 to 2 d$1,380 - $2,385
Install Crown MoldingFinish Carpenter1 to 2 d$9.36 - $16.34 per linear foot
Install Window SillFinish Carpenter1 d$54 - $92
Install BaseboardFinish Carpenter1 to 2 d$6.18 - $10.74 per linear foot
Hang Interior DoorFinish Carpenter1 d$260 - $447 per door
Install Interior Window ShutterFinish Carpenter1 d$375 - $675
Install Window ShadesFinish Carpenter1 d$127 - $223
Paint RoomsPainting Contractor1 to 3 d$5.74 - $9.79 per square foot
Paint CabinetryPainting Contractor2 d$5.42 - $9.11 per square foot
Install Hardwood FloorFlooring Contractor1 to 2 d$11.71 - $20.54 per square foot
Install Wall LightingElectrician1 to 2 d$452 - $795
Install Light SwitchElectrician1 d$155 - $261
Install Ceiling SpeakersElectrician1 d$158 - $274 per speaker
Replace Switch PlatesElectrician1 d$20.53 - $34.49

Home Decorating - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

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

  • To maximize return on the Home Decorating project, limit cost to no more than 4.5% of home's total, post project value
  • Keep the style, scope, scale and character of the project aligned with the rest of the home
  • For best resale value, select components, appliances, finishes and fixtures of comparable quality
  • For best resale value, select a taste neutral design for your Home Decorating
  • To avoid budget busting surprise expenses, it is imperative that you make all component and material selections before any work begins on the Home Decorating project
  • Update or restore electrical switches, receptacles and switch plates
  • Recess speakers into walls or ceiling to share media system access and create room ambiance
  • Add storage access to built-ins used for seating or decoration
  • Use separate, individually controllable lighting circuits for ambient and task lighting
  • Select finish treatments that harmonize with furniture and statement accessories

Hiring Local Professionals

How to hire a trustworthy pro contractor for your project

Our FREE hiring guide helps you hire wisely, get quality craftsmanship and understand fair pricing for your specific project.



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