Renovating a French Country Property: What the Interior Budget Really Looks Like
Updated September 2026 · Based on Figurz interior budget benchmarks
The quick answer
Furnishing a French country property, excluding construction and structural work, typically runs from €30,000–€55,000 for a small house (80–120 sqm) at standard specification, to €150,000–€300,000 for a large mas or maison de maître (200–350 sqm), and €300,000–€800,000+ for a château or exceptional property. Bespoke elements, which are the rule rather than the exception in French country properties, are what move the number most.
Few renovation projects capture the imagination quite like a French country property. A mas in Provence, a longère in Brittany, a chartreuse in the Bordeaux countryside, a maison de maître in the Lot. The bones are extraordinary. The light is exceptional. And the budget — particularly the interior budget — is almost always larger than the buyer expected when they fell in love with the place.
This article is for the buyers and investors who are at the stage between acquisition and renovation — who have a property, a vision, and a construction estimate, but have not yet built a realistic interior budget. It covers what furnishing and fitting out a French country property actually costs, why it costs more than a standard residential project, and what to model before the works begin
Why French Country Properties Cost More to Furnish Than You Expect
French country properties have a specific interior cost profile that is consistently underestimated by buyers — particularly foreign buyers who are using their experience of furnishing properties in other markets as a reference point.
Room proportions are generous but irregular. The high ceilings, deep window reveals, and non-standard room dimensions that make these properties so attractive also make them expensive to furnish. Standard-size furniture rarely fits correctly in rooms with 3.5 metre ceilings and windows that start at floor level. Curtains need to be made-to-measure. Wardrobes need to be custom-built. Headboards need to be sized to walls that are not standard dimensions. Every category where standard sizing is assumed in a modern apartment becomes a bespoke item in a French country property.
The volume of space is larger. A mas or a maison de maître that costs the same per square meter to furnish as a Paris apartment will have a much larger total interior budget simply because it has more square meters — and more rooms, more corridors, more outdoor spaces, and more ancillary areas that all need to be furnished and equipped.
Outdoor spaces are significant. A French country property typically has terraces, gardens, pool areas, and outdoor dining spaces that need to be furnished and equipped. Outdoor furniture for a property with a large terrace and pool area can represent €15,000 to €50,000 of the total interior budget — a line item that is frequently absent from initial estimates.
The property often needs everything. Many French country properties are purchased empty, or with furniture that is end-of-life and needs to be replaced entirely. Unlike an urban apartment where some existing pieces can be retained, a country property renovation typically requires a complete interior from scratch — which means the entire budget lands at once.
Cost Benchmarks for French Country Properties
The following figures represent realistic total interior budgets for French country properties at two specification levels. They cover all interior furniture, lighting, curtains and window treatments, rugs, kitchen equipment, bathroom accessories, and outdoor furniture. They include delivery and installation. They exclude construction and renovation works, white goods, kitchen installation, and interior designer fees.
Standard specification produces a comfortable, well-furnished property that is functional and attractive without bespoke elements. Suitable for personal use or mid-market rental.
Premium specification produces a designed interior with made-to-measure elements, quality fabrics, and a coherent design concept. Suitable for high-end rental, prestigious personal use, or properties positioned in the luxury market.
Small country house or cottage (80 to 120 sqm, 3 to 4 bedrooms):
Standard specification: €30,000 to €55,000
Premium specification: €55,000 to €120,000
Medium country property (120 to 200 sqm, 4 to 6 bedrooms):
Standard specification: €50,000 to €90,000
Premium specification: €90,000 to €200,000
Large mas or maison de maître (200 to 350 sqm, 6 to 10 bedrooms):
Standard specification: €80,000 to €150,000
Premium specification: €150,000 to €350,000
Château or exceptional property (350 sqm and above):
Standard specification: €150,000 to €300,000
Premium specification: €300,000 to €800,000 or more
→ Your property has specific parameters. Run a free simulation on Figurz to get a budget calibrated to your property size, specification level, and location — in minutes. figurz.eu
The Bespoke Premium: Where the Budget Goes
In a standard residential project, bespoke elements are the exception. In a French country property, they are the rule — and they represent a significant proportion of the total interior budget.
Made-to-measure curtains and window treatments are the most universal bespoke requirement. High ceilings, deep reveals, and non-standard window dimensions make off-the-shelf curtains impractical in most rooms. A large property with 15 to 20 window treatments in quality fabrics can spend €20,000 to €60,000 on curtains alone.
Custom joinery — wardrobes, kitchen cabinetry beyond the standard kitchen budget, library shelving, bathroom vanity units — is the second major bespoke cost. A property with fitted wardrobes in multiple bedrooms and custom storage elsewhere can spend €30,000 to €100,000 on joinery depending on the scope and specification.
Outdoor furniture for pool, terrace, and garden areas is consistently underestimated. A large terrace with a dining area, a lounging area, and pool furniture requires a serious outdoor furniture budget — €15,000 to €50,000 for a premium specification at a property with significant outdoor space.
Lighting in high-ceilinged rooms requires larger, more expensive fixtures than standard residential projects. A chandelier or statement pendant that works in a room with a 4 metre ceiling is a different product — and a different price — from one designed for a 2.5 metre ceiling.
Finding Suppliers in Rural France
The best suppliers for a French country property are hard to find from a distance, especially for foreign buyers without a local network. Three routes work:
- Local craftsmen: often the most cost-effective option for bespoke joinery, made-to-measure curtains and upholstery, but finding the right one takes local knowledge.
- National retailers and design brands: they deliver across France, but delivery to rural locations can be costly for large pieces. Compare delivery and installation costs against local alternatives.
- Regional interior designers: a designer who has worked in your area, such as Provence or the Dordogne, already knows the local craftsmen, the delivery logistics and the cost levels.
Planning the Interior Budget Alongside the Renovation
The most common mistake in French country property renovation is treating the interior budget as a separate phase that comes after the construction works are complete. In practice, the interior budget needs to be planned alongside the renovation from the start — because decisions made during the construction phase directly affect the interior cost.
Ceiling heights affect curtain and lighting costs. If the renovation involves lowering ceilings in certain rooms to accommodate services, the interior budget changes. If it involves restoring original ceiling heights, the interior budget changes in the other direction.
Floor finishes affect furniture specification. A property with original terracotta tile floors throughout has different furniture requirements from one with new oak parquet. The interior design concept — and the budget — needs to reflect the actual floor finishes, not assumed ones.
Window restoration affects curtain specification. If original windows are being restored rather than replaced, their dimensions and opening mechanisms affect what curtain and blind solutions are practical and cost-effective.
The practical approach is to run an interior budget estimate at the same time as the construction estimate — using the same project parameters — so that both numbers are in the financial model from the start and can be updated together as the design develops.
Figurz produces independent interior budget estimates for French country properties, calibrated to property size, specification level, and regional location. Run a simulation alongside your construction estimate before the renovation begins.
How much does it cost to furnish a French country house?
Between €30,000 and €55,000 at standard specification for a small house of 80–120 sqm, and €150,000 to €300,000 for a large mas or maison de maître of 200–350 sqm. These figures cover interior furniture, lighting, curtains, kitchen equipment, bathroom accessories and outdoor furniture, including delivery and installation. They exclude construction, renovation works, white goods, kitchen installation and interior designer fees.
Why do French country properties cost more to furnish than expected?
Room proportions are irregular, so standard-size furniture rarely fits: high ceilings, deep reveals and non-standard window dimensions make curtains and window treatments bespoke by default. The total volume to furnish is also larger, with more rooms, corridors and outdoor spaces than a city apartment of the same headline value.
Should the interior budget be planned before or during the renovation?
Before. Ceiling heights, lighting positions and floor finishes are all decided during construction, and each of them constrains what furniture will fit and what it will cost. An interior budget planned alongside the renovation, rather than after it, avoids the choices that lock in a higher cost without anyone noticing.
About the author: Martin Bretécher has spent 15+ years budgeting and procuring interiors for hotels and private properties, delivering over 3,100 keys across Europe and beyond. He co-founded Figurz to give owners an independent, realistic interior budget, with no incentive to understate it.
Run a free simulation at figurz.eu.
