Cost to Remodel a Living Room

Estimating Living Room Remodel Costs

Material Prices

The cost of materials for a living room remodel varies significantly. For interior wall paint, expect to pay between $1 and $5 per square foot for materials only, and for drywall installation and finishing, you'll pay $1.50 to $2 per square foot without labor. However, if you're adding a brick wall as part of your remodel, the brick alone can cost up to $45 per square foot.

For flooring, plan to spend up to $15 per square foot without labor. To refinish your ceiling, budget $2 to $17 per square foot, depending on the type of ceiling and the finish you choose.

"An extensive living room remodel can be very costly and complex,” says Andrew Kilborn, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Andy’s Handyman. “Make sure to get several quotes to determine which contractor is the best for your project"

Labor Costs

Labor costs for a living room remodel depend on the size and scope of your project. As a general rule, labor accounts for between 40% and 50% of the total project budget. Therefore, if the average remodel cost is $8,000, between $3,200 and $4,000 is for labor. If the remodel you're undertaking is substantial enough that you need to hire a local general contractor, expect to pay them a fee of 10 to 20% of the project budget.

Here are some other types of pros involved in living room remodels and their average charges:

• Hiring an electrician: $50–$100 per hour

• Hiring a carpenter: $35–$100 per hour

• Hiring a painter: $25–$75 per hour

• Hiring an interior designer: $50–$200 per hour

• Hiring a flooring installer: $5–$12 per square foot

• Hiring a window installer: $30–$50 per hour

• Hiring a handyperson: $55–$75 per hour

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro for a Living Room Remodel

To reduce project costs, if you have the time and some DIY skills, you can do simple refinishing yourself, such as painting, wallpapering, or adding window treatments. If, however, your project involves making structural changes, reconfiguring the space, rerouting, or working with plumbing or electricals, it's best to find a suitably licensed pro to handle the project for you. If the living room remodel is extensive, you may want to hire a construction manager to oversee the whole process.

You can also save money on your remodel by doing some or all of the demo yourself. This is simplier than trying to tackle the remodel on your own, and you won’t have to pay for demolition labor.

How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Living Room by Size?

Generally, the cost to remodel a living room is $10 to $60 per square foot. A simple DIY job will likely cost less than this, while a high-end custom remodel is likely to run you well above $60 per square foot. Take a look at the typical range and average cost of remodeling rooms of different sizes, including all materials and labor.

How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Living Room by Project?

Remodeling a living room is a project with a lot of variables. While some people want to add a fresh coat of paint, some attractive new window treatments, and a couple of stylish but practical storage units, others undertake a larger project. Adding new electrical outlets or light fixtures, installing new windows, and laying new flooring can quickly result in a hefty project price. Here are some remodeling tasks and their associated costs to budget for:

How Much Does it Cost to Reconfigure a Living Room?

Living Room Expansion Cost

If you want to significantly expand your living space but cannot do an open plan, you can expand with a home addition. Costs vary depending on your location, the complexity of the job, and the size of the addition. For example, adding 300 square feet, which is an addition of 15-foot by 20-foot, typically costs $40,000.

If you need a smaller addition, consider bumping the room out. Bumping out a room costs $85 to $210 per square foot. So, a 3-foot by 30-foot bump-out gives you an extra 90 square feet of usable space and costs between $7,650 and $18,900.

Living Room to Open-Plan Cost

Converting your living room to an open-plan space that could include the dining room, kitchen, or both, costs $1,200 to $5,000 on average. This is enough to remove non-load-bearing walls and refinish the space with moderately priced materials. However, if the walls are load-bearing, if you need to reroute plumbing or do any electrical reconfiguring, the cost will increase significantly, so discuss this with your contractor in advance.

What Factors Influence the Cost to Remodel a Living Room?

Aside from the size of the room and the project's scope, many other elements impact the final cost of your living room remodel. These include the type of refinishing you choose, any additions and extras, and whether you need permits for any project tasks.

Refinishing

You'll need to refinish the space when any construction work is complete. Similarly, if you want to upgrade or refresh the look of your room, refinishing is how you get the job done.

Finishing the Walls

Painting or wallpapering changes the look of the room and can impact the perceived size and aesthetic. For painting or wallpapering, expect to pay an average of $30 per square foot, including labor and materials.

Window Treatments

For new window treatments, you'll pay an average of $525. Applying new window treatments is a finishing touch that frames your windows and helps set the theme of your space.

Flooring

Flooring costs between $500 to $14,750 for a 250-square-foot room. You’ll want something durable because your living room floor gets a lot of foot traffic and is likely to be the victim of a few spills and accidents.

Vinyl is budget-friendly and reasonably easy to maintain. Carpet is more challenging to maintain but is still fairly budget-friendly, plus it creates a cozy atmosphere. Hardwood flooring is more costly but is long-lasting and has a warm appearance. Marble flooring is expensive and challenging to maintain yet is known for its ultra-luxurious look and feel.

Additions

Aside from the basics, some homeowners like to customize their living rooms by including special additions. These can be as simple as installing a wall-mounted TV, costing between $100 and $500, or as complex as installing a new fireplace, which costs up to $8,000.

Home Theater System

Home theater systems cost between $2,000 and $63,000, on average. These systems are perfect for family movie nights and for entertaining. They comprise a variety of elements, including a screen, a television, a projector, surround sound speakers, and more.

Minibar

Minibars typically cost $600 to $4,000 and provide a place to store and serve adult beverages. If you do a lot of entertaining, you can consider installing a small dry bar or even a wet bar with running water and a functioning sink. Depending on the size and specifications, a wet bar costs between $6,000 and $22,500.

Fireplace

Installing a new fireplace generally costs $880 to $3,790. The average is $2,320 but varies significantly based on whether you're building a new fireplace or replacing an old one, the size and type of fireplace you're adding, and what fuel it burns.

Permits

While you may not need permits for most simple remodeling, the rules vary by state. If your project includes wall removals or additions, changes to electrical work or plumbing, or bumping out or expanding a room, you will likely need a permit. You can discuss this with your pro when planning the project and follow up with your local municipality with any further questions.

FAQs About Living Room Remodeling

How can I make my living room look bigger?

To make your living room look bigger, use reflective surfaces like large mirrors and mirrored wall sconces. Paint or paper the walls and ceilings in light colors and add plenty of light fixtures and lamps. And be sure not to add too much furniture, as this can make the room look cluttered and small.

How can I update my living room on a budget?

To remodel your living space on a budget, do some of the work, such as painting, adding window treatments, or hanging drywall yourself. Rearrange the furniture, add houseplants, and hang inexpensive wall art.

How can I add office space to my living room?

Add office space to your living room by creating a small, uncluttered area where you can focus on your work or study. Place a stylish desk and chair in a corner, in front of a bookshelf, or, ideally, in an available nook. This creates a practical, usable office space in your living room without being excessively obtrusive. Choose a desk and chair that match the theme and tone of the room so that they won't look out of place.