How Much Does It Cost to Furnish and Fit Out an Apartment? A Realistic Guide by Room Type
Furnishing an apartment is one of those projects where everyone has an opinion and almost nobody has reliable numbers. The interior design magazines show you the result. The furniture stores show you the unit prices. Nobody shows you what it actually costs to furnish a complete apartment — room by room, item by item, from an empty shell to a finished interior.
This guide is that number. It covers the realistic cost of furnishing and fitting out an apartment in France, broken down by room type, for three specification levels: standard, mid-range, and high-end. Whether you are furnishing a primary residence, a rental investment, or a pied-à-terre, these figures give you a realistic starting point before you talk to anyone.
What This Guide Covers
This guide covers the cost of FF&E — furniture, fixtures, and equipment — for a residential apartment. It includes all moveable items: furniture, lighting, curtains and window treatments, rugs, artwork and decorative accessories, kitchen equipment, and bathroom accessories.
It does not cover construction or renovation costs — walls, floors, tiling, plumbing, electrical installation, or kitchen and bathroom fitting. These are separate budget lines that depend on the condition of the apartment and the scope of works required.
It does not cover white goods — refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, oven — which are typically budgeted separately and vary significantly by brand and specification.
The figures are based on Western European market prices, with a specific focus on the French market. Paris carries a premium over regional markets of approximately 15 to 25% on logistics and installation, but the product prices themselves are broadly consistent across France for equivalent specification levels.
How to Read the Figures
The figures below are presented by room type and by specification level.
Standard specification covers functional, durable furniture from mid-market suppliers — think Maisons du Monde, But, or equivalent. Good quality, no bespoke elements, straightforward sourcing.
Mid-range specification covers a step up in quality and design — furniture from independent retailers, design brands, or contract suppliers. Some customisation, better materials, more considered lighting. This is the specification level typical of a well-finished rental investment or a comfortable primary residence.
High-end specification covers bespoke or semi-bespoke furniture, designer lighting, made-to-measure curtains, and a coherent interior design concept. This is the specification level typical of a luxury rental, a high-end primary residence, or a project developed with an interior designer.
The figures include furniture, lighting, curtains, rugs, and decorative accessories. They include delivery and installation. They do not include interior designer fees, which are additional.
→ Your project has specific parameters. Run a free simulation on Figurz to get a budget calibrated to your property size, specification level, and location — in minutes.
Living Room
The living room is typically the largest single budget item in a residential interior. It carries the most furniture, the most visible lighting, and the most decorative elements.
Standard specification: €3,000 to €6,000. Covers a sofa, coffee table, side tables, TV unit, floor lamp, ceiling light, curtains or blinds, and basic decorative accessories.
Mid-range specification: €6,000 to €15,000. Covers a quality sofa or sofa configuration, coffee table, side tables, console, TV unit, statement floor lamp, ceiling light or pendant, made-to-measure curtains, rug, artwork, and decorative accessories.
High-end specification: €15,000 to €40,000 or more. Covers bespoke or designer furniture, custom joinery elements, designer lighting, made-to-measure curtains and blinds, quality rug, curated artwork, and full decorative styling.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom budget is driven primarily by the bed and headboard, storage, and window treatments. Lighting and decorative accessories add relatively little cost compared to the living room.
Standard specification: €2,000 to €4,500. Covers bed frame and headboard, mattress, bedside tables, bedside lamps, wardrobe or fitted storage, curtains or blinds, and basic decorative accessories.
Mid-range specification: €4,500 to €10,000. Covers a quality bed frame and upholstered headboard, quality mattress, bedside tables, bedside lamps, ceiling light or pendant, fitted wardrobe, made-to-measure curtains with blackout, mirror, rug, and decorative accessories.
High-end specification: €10,000 to €25,000 or more. Covers a bespoke or designer bed and headboard, quality mattress, custom bedside tables, designer lighting, bespoke fitted wardrobe, made-to-measure curtains and blackout, quality rug, artwork, and full decorative styling.
Additional Bedrooms
Additional bedrooms — guest rooms, children's rooms — typically run at 50 to 70% of the master bedroom budget at equivalent specification levels, depending on size and the degree of design attention given to them.
Standard specification: €1,200 to €3,000 per room.
Mid-range specification: €2,500 to €6,000 per room.
High-end specification: €6,000 to €15,000 per room.
Kitchen and Dining Area
The kitchen and dining area budget covers furniture and equipment that is not part of the fitted kitchen installation — dining table, chairs, bar stools, pendant lighting over the dining area, and any freestanding storage or decorative elements.
Standard specification: €1,500 to €3,500. Covers a dining table, four to six chairs, pendant light, and basic accessories.
Mid-range specification: €3,500 to €8,000. Covers a quality dining table, chairs, bar stools if relevant, statement pendant lighting, sideboard or console, and decorative accessories.
High-end specification: €8,000 to €20,000 or more. Covers a designer or bespoke dining table, designer chairs, statement lighting, quality storage furniture, and full decorative styling.
Bathroom
The bathroom furniture and accessories budget — excluding sanitary ware, tiling, and plumbing, which are construction costs — is typically the smallest room budget in a residential interior.
Standard specification: €300 to €800. Covers mirror, towel rails, toilet brush and accessories, basic bath mat and towels.
Mid-range specification: €800 to €2,500. Covers a quality mirror or mirror cabinet, towel rails, bathroom accessories set, quality towels and bath mat, and small decorative elements.
High-end specification: €2,500 to €6,000 or more. Covers a designer mirror, heated towel rail, complete bathroom accessories set in quality materials, quality towels and bath mat, candles and decorative accessories, and potentially a freestanding storage piece.
Total Budget by Apartment Size and Specification
Combining the room-by-room figures above, here are realistic total FF&E budgets for complete apartments at each specification level.
Studio or one-bedroom apartment (30 to 50 sqm):
Standard: €6,000 to €12,000
Mid-range: €12,000 to €28,000
High-end: €28,000 to €65,000
Two-bedroom apartment (60 to 90 sqm):
Standard: €10,000 to €20,000
Mid-range: €20,000 to €45,000
High-end: €45,000 to €100,000
Three-bedroom apartment (90 to 130 sqm):
Standard: €15,000 to €28,000
Mid-range: €28,000 to €65,000
High-end: €65,000 to €150,000 or more
These figures assume a complete furnishing from scratch. A partial refurnishing — replacing selected items while retaining others — will cost proportionally less, but the cost per item tends to be higher when pieces are sourced individually rather than as part of a complete interior project.
What These Figures Don't Include
Three cost categories are not included in the figures above and need to be budgeted separately.
Interior designer fees typically run between 10 and 20% of the total furniture and decoration budget for a full-service engagement. For a mid-range two-bedroom apartment with a €35,000 FF&E budget, this means €3,500 to €7,000 in designer fees on top of the furniture cost.
Construction and renovation costs — floors, walls, tiling, electrical, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom installation — are entirely separate from the FF&E budget and can represent a multiple of the furniture cost on a full renovation project.
White goods — refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, oven, microwave — are typically budgeted separately and vary significantly by brand. Budget €3,000 to €8,000 for a complete mid-range white goods package for a two-bedroom apartment.
Getting a Number for Your Specific Project
The figures in this guide are benchmarks. Your actual budget will depend on the size of your apartment, the specification level you are targeting, your location, and the specific products you choose.
Figurz allows you to run a budget simulation calibrated to your specific project parameters — apartment size, specification level, room count, and location — and produces a breakdown by room type and by furniture category. It takes minutes and gives you a realistic number to work from before you start visiting showrooms or talking to interior designers.
Run a free simulation at figurz.eu.
