How Much Should I Spend Furnishing a Secondary Bedroom?

It might not be the first room that people see when they walk into your home, but if they’re spending a night or two, they’ll probably get pretty acquainted with your secondary suite. And you want your guests to feel at home, right? So, how much is it going to cost to achieve that?

And perhaps your secondary bedrooms aren’t even guest rooms at all – they’re for your kids. You want them to be comfortable, too.

So, when it comes to putting furniture in those rooms, what’s going to be a reasonable price point for you?

Since 1994, McElheran’s Furniture + Design has been in the business of making anyone and everyone feel at home. Whether you just want to be comfortable in your own space, or you want to make your home comfortable for visitors, we have countless pieces and accessories to help you accomplish that.

And secondary bedrooms can be a bit tricky – do you really want to spend a bunch of money on a room that your kids may not appreciate, or your guests won’t use very often? Luckily, our in-house designers, known as Design Guides, have helped many customers determine a reasonable budget for furnishing any room – regardless of the amount of use it gets.

In this article, our Design Guides will do a price breakdown of each piece of furniture in your secondary bedroom. We’ll go over the factors that affect the cost and let you know how much to spend in comparison to your master suite to give you a better idea of what you’re getting into financially.

So, let’s get the big question out of the way first, shall we?

How much will it cost to furnish a secondary bedroom?

Furnishing a secondary bedroom with high-quality pieces -that will likely be used for kids or the occasional guest- usually comes with a price tag of around $8,000 to $30,000.

Of course, you could absolutely spend just as much on your secondary bedroom as your master. You could even spend more if you want to!

And on the other side of the spectrum, especially if you don’t feel like the furniture will be seen or get a lot of use, you could definitely spend less than that.

Price breakdown of the furniture in a secondary bedroom

Bed Frame: $1,000 - $5,000

Mattress: $2,000 - $5,000

Box spring: $500 - $2,000

Nightstands: $800 - $2,000 each

Mirror: $500 - $2,000

Lamps: $250 - $1,500 each

Bedding and Pillows: $600 - $2,500

Chest/Dresser: $2,000 - $5,000

Accessories: $500 - $2,000

What are the factors that affect the cost of a secondary bedroom?

That’s a pretty big range for furnishing your secondary bedroom - $8,000 to $30,000. But the truth is, there are so many variables involved when calculating the overall cost!

Looking at these factors will help narrow down the price a bit more and determine how much you can expect to spend furnishing a secondary bedroom.

The function of the secondary bedroom

This type of bedroom is most commonly a kid’s room or a guest room.

The purpose of the room could change the budget based on the need for certain pieces. For instance, a single child may not need two nightstands and two lamps – one of each is usually enough. And for kids that might want to do their schoolwork in their rooms, a desk could be added to the budget.

And if the room is only used for the occasional guest, you may not feel the need to spend as much on a mattress. Not that you want your guests to be uncomfortable, but the mattress does not have to be as durable when it’s only slept on once in a blue moon.

Your flexibility on the pieces you want

If your heart is set on making a purchase from a certain furniture line – one that offers intricate detail and one-of-a-kind craftsmanship, well, that unique piece of furniture may come with a heftier price tag.

And customizing furniture can bring up the price, too. To achieve the exact look that you want – like a specific finish on a dresser or a certain fabric on a bed frame – the cost of customization should be factored into your overall budget.

But if you’re willing to explore different looks at different price points, that could open up your budget to other projects or allow you to save your money.

How much storage space is required?

If it’s strictly a guest room where your friends and family stay for a few days at a time, copious amounts of storage may not be necessary. Especially if these guests usually prefer to live out of their suitcases.

But if your guest suite is more for long-term stays or a kid’s room, you may want to invest in additional storage solutions, like a dresser or a chest.

Keep in mind, too, that secondary bedrooms don’t offer the same kind of built-in storage as a master suite. Closets are typically smaller and with fewer compartments for your belongings, so the room may need more furniture for storage.

The size of your mattress

The cost of the mattress itself will go up or down depending on the size, and then, there are a few other pieces that are at the mercy of your mattress’ size, like the box spring and the bed itself. And if you’re furnishing a kid’s room, you may be looking at significantly smaller mattresses, like a twin or full (double).

And if you’re going for a bigger bed, it will cover more area in the room; therefore, you won’t have to spend as much money on additional furniture and décor that won’t even fit.

Existing pieces in the secondary bedroom

The budget of $8,000 to $30,000 is calculated for those that are starting with an empty room. However, if you already own a bed or a nightstand, you can just take that right out of your furnishing budget!

The size of the secondary bedroom

The size of the room itself may let you know right away that this secondary bedroom is just a place for your kids or guests to sleep. But, if you have the space, you might want to fill it with furniture that could really give someone their own private living quarters.

Perhaps there’s room for seating, a desk, a mirror, or a vanity. These additional pieces would certainly bump up the price of furnishing this room.

How much of a priority is it to furnish a secondary bedroom?

If this is a room where the door is normally kept shut and very few people use it, you may not have to rush to furnish it.

Unless it’s your kids room, of course.

But if it’s a guest room and you’re not expecting any visitors for a while, you could save money now, by putting off this furnishing project or just getting a few basic pieces in the meantime.

The thing about secondary bedrooms is that finishing touches, like accessories and storage, can usually wait.

How much should a secondary bedroom cost in comparison to the master bedroom?

Out of all the bedrooms in your home, your master bedroom should get the most financial attention. It’s usually quite a bit bigger and used much more often than any other bedroom, and your budget should reflect that.

If you’re looking for a reference point when furnishing those other bedrooms in your home, we would suggest taking your master bedroom’s budget and cutting it in half.

So, if you’re spending $30,000 to furnish your master bedroom, $15,000 is a decent price point for secondary suites.

And if you’re not really sure where you’re at with your master suite, check out How Much Does It Cost to Furnish a Master Bedroom?

Our Design Guides are well versed in furnishing any room in your home and helping you figure out a price point that works for you. If you’re in the Edmonton area, schedule a visit with one of our Design Guides to get you started on furnishing your secondary bedroom.