What is the cost of remodeling a living room?
What would you like to change about your living room?
First, decide what you don't like about your living room. This could be because of a lack of space, a bad layout, a boring color scheme, or old furniture and décor. Your living room might also feel dark or gloomy, or it might feel too small. It might not have enough personality, or you might want to make it more up-to-date. Once you know what you want to change in your living room, you can decide how much remodeling your home needs.
Things to think about when remodeling your living room
When redesigning a living room, a budget ensures you stay within your means and have enough money. Whether you're planning a little or large living room redesign, affordability is key.
Here are some of the things that affect the cost of remodeling a living room, as well as some tips to keep in mind as you work:
The Living Room Size and Layout:
Living room size and layout affect how much it will cost to remodel. The size of the room affects not only how much space there is but also how much work needs to be done on the project. The site's square footage influences most building aspects. Materials and labor are generally charged per square foot.
Most of the time, the total cost of a project is related to the size of the living room that needs to be renovated.
The layout of a living room is also a big part of how much it will cost to remodel it. Add a wall, expand, or remove architectural pieces to change the layout. Changes to the layout include rearranging the ceiling, lighting, and power.
Changing the layout of the ceiling and lights is a major type of renovation, so it costs more. Changes to the electrical wiring are also important. It's more time-consuming and requires more wiring, etc.
Renovation: Full or Partial
Whether the project is a full or partial renovation is another important factor. It helps you figure out how much it will cost to remodel a living room. Depending on how much work needs to be done, this is often called a minor renovation or a major renovation. Minor renovations alter little. Major renovations need extra work.
Minor living room renovations include:
- Painting the walls and ceiling
- Putting up wallpaper
- Changing the light fixtures
- Getting new furniture
- Putting up a knock-down shelf
- Adding accessories
- Changing window treatments
- Upholstery or textiles.
- Anything that doesn't need a lot of demolition or structural changes to the space.
Small renovations can be DIY projects if you know what you're doing. Minor renovations cost less because you don't need subcontractors or builders.
Major renovations cost more in labor and materials. They take longer and require more materials than smaller renovations.
Pro tip takeaway: Major living room remodels need more work, take longer, and often need a professional. Major renovations often involve floor, wall, ceiling, structural, demolition, and electrical work. It could also include some small repairs, which would make it more of a large-scale project. Major renovations are called "full renovations" because they involve the entire living room.
Previous renovations or project prep can make new improvements harder. Partial renovations need extra care during demolition and construction. They take less time and fewer materials than full jobs.
Living Room Remodeling Supplies
A living room remodel's materials account for at least 70 to 85 percent of the total project cost. Materials include
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Flooring |
Furniture |
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Walls |
Ceiling |
Flooring
Changing the living room's flooring is a major improvement. Mild scratches can be refurbished or polished; more serious damage may require replacement. Changing the floor may also be a result of aesthetic preference or a style update.
Pro tip takeaway: If your living room has ceramic floor tiles and you want a rustic look, replace them with wooden planks.
Flooring installation costs $400 to $1,800 per project. This is dependent on materials, room size, and prep work. Removing old flooring or restoring subfloors increases living room flooring costs. Each type of flooring has different installation and preparation needs.
Walls
A large part of a room's interior is made up of its walls. People think of them as an important part of a room's look that can make or break the whole look. Most home upgrades and makeovers entail changing the wall color or finish.
Walls can be altered by:
- Repainting
- Adding textured finishes to wallpaper
- Custom paint treatments
- Even drywall or a stone-accented wall.
The easiest and least expensive way to change the look of the walls in a living room is to paint them. A new coat of paint can do a lot to add visual interest and change the mood of a living room. (House Beautiful 2020)
Companies offer latex paints with layered colors and textures for a distinctive appearance.
Wallpaper installation requires skim coating the surface to make it even. Apply metylan glue, and then lay down the wallpaper. Wallpaper is usually put up by a professional, who may charge per roll or per foot.
Living room wall treatments can cost $500 to $2,500 depending on the material, finish, and prep work. Size and wall height affect the cost of living room wall treatments. This is because the size of the room and the height of the wall determine how much material will be covered.
Ceiling
The cost of any type of renovation project includes work on the ceiling. This is mostly because it takes a lot of work. Minor ceiling renovations for a living room remodel can be as simple as painting and fixing. Major ceiling restorations involve replacing old ceiling boards with new gypsum boards. Upgrade the ceiling's arrangement and design. Sometimes, recessed, drop, or cove ceilings are put in to give the ceiling a whole new look.
On average, ceiling treatments in living rooms cost between $500 and $2,300 per project. This range depends on materials, project complexity, labor, and ceiling installation. The cost of a project goes up when it's harder to do. Some require multiple steps, like installing a built-up or drop ceiling and features. High ceilings require more scaffolding and make work harder. Sloped and curved ceilings cost more to install than flat ceilings.
Moldings and trim:
One of the most common ways to improve the look of a living room is to change the decorative trims and moldings. Adding decorative molding to a plain living room can give it a more refined aesthetic. Decorative cornices, baseboards, and window trims are all examples of decorative trims. They come in a wide range of materials, thicknesses, and styles, from formal to casual. Some decorative trims are sold as pre-painted stock items. This makes them cheaper than custom trim. Custom milled trims are made from high-quality wood and cost more.
Moldings and trims aren't a big part of a living room's design, but they do add to the cost.
Seating furniture
Couches, armchairs, and recliners are the most basic options for seating in a living room. High-back chairs, bar stools, and accent chairs are more unique options.
Depending on what you want to do in your living room, you might want to buy new furniture. If you want to use old things but have a small budget, you can fix them up or reupholster them.
In-built furniture
Living rooms can be remodeled with built-in shelves and cabinets. Custom cabinets and shelves make a living room look better and can be used as a display, a bookcase, or a media center.
A finished carpenter or cabinet maker is required for built-in shelves, custom cabinets, and media centers. Installing built-in furniture in a living room costs $290 to $1,300 per piece. Prices vary based on the type of material and finish, size, style, and complexity of the design.
Lighting
A good lighting layout and design can make a big difference in a room's mood and atmosphere.
Changes to a living room's lighting can cost $400 to $1,800 depending on the layout, the number of fixtures, and the type. Some electricians charge by the light fixture instead of for the job as a whole. Also, you should expect to pay extra for extra wiring, switches, and outlets.
Windows
If your living room doesn't have enough airflow or seems too dark, you can also try to replace or add more windows. By replacing old windows, you can get more natural light, use less energy, and get more airflow. Aside from the practical advantages, new windows can also give your living room a new look. (Homewyse 2022)
Installing new windows for a living room remodel costs $300 to $1,500 on average. This depends on the material, size, and number. When you replace windows, you may also have to pay for extra work to get ready for the new ones.
Pro tip takeaway: The walls may need to be fixed before the new windows can be put in.
Other unique features
In some living room remodels, special features like a fireplace may be added. Fireplaces not only make a living room look better, but they are also useful in cold climates. Installing a new fireplace takes a lot of work and may require modifying the home's exhaust system. This adds to the cost.
A living room fireplace project costs between $560 and $250. This depends on size, material, and design.
Location of the project
Your home's location also has a big effect on how much it will cost to remodel your living room. This is because the cost of labor and materials varies a lot from place to place. Renovating a living room in a small town is much cheaper than in a big city.
How Much Does a Living Room Remodel Cost?
In general, there are two main things that make up the cost of remodeling a living room.
The cost of labor and the cost of materials. About 15–30% of the total cost of a project goes to labor. 70–85% of the cost goes to the materials.
At least $518 is the average cost to remodel a living room for rooms that are 300 to 400 square feet. For rooms that are 400 to 500 square feet, the average cost is $782. Prices go up with the size of the space. A 500-to-600-square-foot living room costs $982. The 600-800 square foot spaces cost $1200 to $2000 to remodel.
A partially renovated living room costs less than a full-scale renovation. They each cost about $850 to $1,200 on average.
Are You Ready To Remodel Your Living Room?
Get realistic estimates for construction, architectural, and design services from Smart Remodeling LLC in Houston. To get the best value for your money, use Smart Remodeling LLC cost as a guide.
Contact sales@smartremodelingllc.com to schedule a free consultation. If you have any questions, please contact us at 832-808-8889.