You're about to buy a home. Or you're in the middle of arranging financing.
You know how much you can borrow, how much equity you’re bringing to the table, or how much you want to invest in your new home. You know how much the house costs. But then comes the question that most people don’t ask until it’s actually too late:
How much does it actually cost to furnish a new home?
After all, living in a bare house is simply not an option.
And a home of this caliber deserves an interior that matches it.
Yet when buying a home, people almost always underestimate the budget for the interior. It doesn’t come up until after the contract has already been signed. And then it turns out the budget is tight, the choices are overwhelming, and the stress is unexpectedly high.
My name is Sharon Streuper, an interior designer from Rotterdam with over 20 years of experience. From my interior design studio, I guide owners of luxury apartments, penthouses, and villas in Rotterdam and far beyond in creating an interior that feels just right, from the initial concept to the final accessory.
In this article, I’ll address a question that almost everyone asks, but one that rarely gets a concrete answer.
After reading this article, you will know:
- What rule of thumb can you use to determine your interior design budget?
- What's included in an interior design budget
- What to Invest In and What to Avoid
- Why an interior designer often saves you money
How much does it cost to furnish a new home?
As a rule of thumb, you can use the following formula:
- 7 to 12 percent of the home's value for a well-finished interior
- 10 to 20 percent of the home’s value for a luxury interior featuring custom work and design consultation
- 25 to 30 percent or more for an ultra-exclusive interior
These are guidelines, but they provide a realistic starting point for estimating the approximate cost of the interior of your new home.
What is a realistic interior design budget?
Most people have no idea how much a fully furnished home costs. And that makes sense. After all, you don’t buy a new home every day.
In my initial conversations with clients, I often notice the same thing. The costs for the home and financing have been fully calculated, but the budget for the interior is still a big unknown.
I have this conversation regularly with people who have just bought a luxury apartment in Rotterdam. The apartment is beautiful, but it’s only when we sit down to talk that the question comes up: how much money will it actually take to bring the interior up to the same standard?
Still, you can estimate it fairly easily using a few clear categories:
Well-finished interior:
For a high-quality interior with attractive furniture, good lighting, and a neat finish—but without much custom work—you should budget approximately 7 to 12 percent of the home’s value.
This is the segment where people opt for high-quality collections from established furniture brands, and where interior designers often find them particularly easy to work with.
I also regularly oversee projects in this segment. For example, when an apartment already has a solid foundation and the focus is primarily on making the right choices in terms of furniture, lighting, and materials so that everything comes together as a cohesive whole.
Luxurious interior:
Are you looking for custom furniture, high-quality materials, a well-thought-out lighting plan, and full support from design to completion? In that case, the budget is usually between 10 and 20 percent of the home’s value.
This is the segment where I carry out the majority of my projects, such as city villas and penthouses in Rotterdam. Here, the interior is truly designed around the home and its residents.
Ultra-exclusive interior:
In the high-end segment, which features premium materials, artwork, extensive home automation, and intensive project management, the budget often amounts to 25 to 30 percent of the home’s value.
For highly customized projects, such as large villas or international projects, this figure may be even higher.
These are projects in which every detail becomes an integral part of the design. From custom-made furniture to lighting, art, and material selections curated specifically for the home.
For example, on a recent villa project, we began contributing our ideas as early as the architectural phase. This allowed us to fully integrate the lighting plan, custom work, and choice of materials into the home’s architecture.
A simple rule of thumb to start with is:
Home value × 15 percent = a realistic starting budget for a luxury interior.
What does this mean in practice?
| Type of home | Well-finished (7–12%) | Luxury interior (10–20%) | Ultra-exclusive (25–30%) |
| Luxury apartment in the s (€600,000 – €900,000) | €42,000 – €108,000 | €60,000 – €180,000 | €150,000 – €270,000 |
Penthouse (€1,000,000 – €1,500,000) | €70,000 – €180,000 | €100,000 – €300,000 | €250,000 – €450,000 |
Villa (€1,500,000 – €3,000,000+) | €105,000 – €360,000 | €150,000 – €600,000 | €375,000 – €900,000+ |
These amounts are estimates. The final investment depends on customization, material choices, and the level of support provided during the project.
What is included in an interior design budget?
When people think of interior design, they usually think of furniture. But a complete interior consists of many more elements.
For example:
- floor coverings and carpets
- lighting and a well-thought-out lighting plan
- window coverings
- custom cabinets and storage solutions
- custom kitchens and bathrooms
- art, decor, and accessories
- upholstery and luxury materials
- the work of the professionals who make this happen
An important point to note: the fees for an interior designer are often billed separately.
On average, this amounts to between 5 and 10 percent of the total interior design budget, depending on the scope of the project and the level of (construction) supervision required.
What should you and shouldn't you invest in?
In practice, I often see budgets getting out of balance. People invest heavily in one area—such as a kitchen—which leaves too little for the rest of the interior.
I once had dinner with a client who had just bought a stunning penthouse in Rotterdam. Lots of glass, spectacular views, and high ceilings. The kind of home where the interior design can really be something special.
The requirements were ambitious: a luxury kitchen, custom cabinets, artwork, and a comprehensive lighting plan.
But without an overview of the total budget, the kitchen was in danger of eating up almost the entire budget.
By reviewing the budget together, we came up with a better plan. The kitchen was designed to be a bit simpler, but with the necessary infrastructure in place for future upgrades. We did, however, focus our full attention on the lighting, as it sets the tone for the entire apartment. For home automation, we opted for a basic smart system that can be expanded later.
The result was an interior that felt just right, stayed within budget, and made no compromises where it really mattered.
The misconception that costs you money
Many people think that hiring an interior designer is an extra expense on top of the budget for furniture and materials.
In reality, it’s often exactly the opposite.
A good designer helps you avoid costly mistakes. No sofa that doesn’t quite fit right, no rug that’s way too small and ends up looking like a postage stamp… No floor that doesn’t look good in the light of your home. No curtains that are just the wrong shade.
Mistakes like that can cost a lot of money, cause uncertainty, and lead to frustration.
With over 20 years of experience and hundreds of projects throughout the Netherlands and internationally, I know exactly where you should invest and where you can make smart savings.
A well-designed interior starts with a good plan
A luxury home deserves an interior that matches it. That’s not a luxury—it’s just common sense.
The rule of thumb is clear: set aside 15 to 20 percent of your home’s value for a luxurious interior.
When you factor this into your planning ahead of time, it creates a sense of calm and clarity. You’ll make better decisions and avoid surprises the moment you turn the key in the door.
Many people don’t start thinking about interior design until after they’ve made the purchase. By then, the budget has already been set, the renovation has already begun, and the stress has already set in. Yet the financing and purchasing phase is actually the ideal time to think about this.
Because a bare house is not an option. And a half-hearted effort certainly isn't.
With over twenty years of experience, I help people create interiors they can enjoy every day. No decision fatigue, no costly mistakes, and no loose ends—just an interior that feels like home.
Wondering what a realistic interior design budget is for your home?
Are you in the process of buying a home and want to know what a realistic budget is for the interior of your new home?
During an introductory meeting, we’ll discuss the following together:
- the house
- your wishes
- and a budget that fits
This way, you'll know exactly what to expect from the start and avoid any surprises during the project.
Schedule a no-obligation introductory meeting at:
to make an appointment.
We’ll discuss your situation and work together to figure out how to get the most out of your new home and your budget.