Renovation costs, Australia

How much does a living room renovation cost in Australia?

The figures below price a 25 m² living room floor in eight interior styles, plus wall paint, a style-matched light and real furnishing picks from Australian suppliers. Every total is computed from current pricing: tiles by the box with wastage built in, adhesive, grout, paint for 30 m² of walls at two coats, and laying labour at living-area rates, which sit lower than wet-area rates because there is no waterproofing or falls to work around.

Living room renovation cost by style

Based on a 25 m² floor, priced live from current supplier data. AUD, ex-GST.

Style	The look	Estimated total
Modern Farmhouse	White subway, shaker doors, black iron handles	$5,178
Japandi	Warm greige, matte stone, charcoal — zero gloss	$5,188
Dark & Moody	Charcoal tiles, matte black tapware, cave-like drama	$5,198
Biophilic	Raw stone, living green, timber grain — nature brought inside	$5,228
Neo-Deco	Curves, fluted panels, zellige, jewel tones	$5,593
Mid-Century Modern	Terrazzo, bold colour, tapered legs, retro confidence	$5,623
Contemporary	Clean lines, neutral palette — the reno everyone wants right now	$5,853
Heritage Modern	Period bones, marble, coloured joinery, brass	$6,366
Warm Minimalist	Vein-cut travertine, warm greige, honed everything	$6,978
Industrial	Exposed concrete, raw steel, black pipe — warehouse meets home	$7,237
Modern Hamptons	White shaker, honey oak, marble bench, matte black tapware	$7,629
Modern Coastal	Sandy neutrals, pale oak, honed stone calm	$7,757
Earthy Boho	Terracotta, zellige, rattan, layered earthy warmth	$8,277
Modern Mediterranean	Sun-baked terracotta, limewash, soft arches	$8,317
Earthy Australiana	Sage, terracotta, brushed brass, raw clay	$8,327
Modern Classic	Half traditional, half modern — warm, timeless, never trendy	$9,990
French Provincial	Cream cabinetry, carved timber, aged brass — effortlessly romantic	$10,684
Hotel Luxe	Book-matched marble, brushed gold, freestanding bath	$14,349

Cheapest

Modern Farmhouse at $5,178. White subway, shaker doors, black iron handles.

Dearest

Hotel Luxe at $14,349, a spread of $9,171 across the eight styles for the same room.

What is included: an example schedule

Here is the full line-item schedule behind the Industrial figure above. Covers floor tiling, grout, adhesive, wall paint at two coats, a style-matched pendant or floor lamp, real furnishing picks and laying labour. Demolition of existing flooring, subfloor preparation and electrical work are excluded.

Material scheduleliving room · Industrial

MATFloor: Cemento Lumière (600x300mm, matte)26 box @ $100$2,595

MATGrout: Kerakoll Fugabella Color 35 — Graphite for floor3 bag @ $38$114

MATAdhesive: Kerakoll Biogel No Limits (gel-technology, 20kg)5 bag @ $32$160

LABTiling labour (living, supply-fix band)25 m² @ $70$1,750

FURAmalfi 2 Seater1 item @ $1,190$1,190

FURRoma Marble Coffee Table1 item @ $890$890

FURRoma Bar Stool Leather1 item @ $199$199

FIXBlack Steel Cage Pendant, Edison bulb1 item @ $209$209

FIXWall paint, low-sheen interior acrylic (30 m² non-tiled walls, 2 coats)5 L @ $26$130

Estimated total, ex-GST$7,237

On a tighter budget?

The same engine can work to a number. Give it a budget and it swaps the dearest tile lines for honest cheaper alternates, smaller formats or ceramic instead of porcelain, then steps the labour band down a tier if it still needs to. Asked to bring the Industrial living room in at $6,151, it lands at $5,188, saving $2,048 against the standard schedule. The swapped lines are flagged as budget picks so nothing is hidden.

The costs that catch people out

Demolition and skip bins

Strip-out labour plus bin hire. Allow $800 to $1,500 for a wet area, less for a dry room.

Waterproofing

Mandatory in wet areas under the NCC. Allow $500 to $900 for a bathroom, $300 to $500 for a laundry.

Contingency, 15 to 20%

Walls and floors hide things: out-of-level slabs, old leaks, surprise plumbing. Price it in up front, not after.

Lead times

Imported stone and feature tiles run 3 to 6 weeks. Order when the schedule is locked, not when demolition starts.

Frequently asked questions

Is tiling a living room cheaper than a bathroom?

Per square metre, yes. Living-area laying runs about $70 per m² against $95 in a bathroom, because there is no waterproofing, no falls to the drain and far fewer cuts. The room is bigger, so the total is higher, but the rate is friendlier.

Why do the style totals differ so much?

The floor tile does almost all the work in a living room, so the per-square-metre tile price drives the total. A large-format marble-look porcelain costs meaningfully more per box than a concrete-look tile, and over 25 m² the gap compounds.

What about timber or hybrid flooring instead of tiles?

These schedules price tiled floors, which suit Australian living areas for thermal mass and durability. Hybrid plank typically lands at a similar supply price to mid-range porcelain but with cheaper installation; engineered timber usually costs more on both lines.

What should I add on top of these figures?

Removal of the old floor covering and a skip bin, floor levelling if the slab is out, and a 15 to 20 per cent contingency. All figures here are AUD ex-GST.

Price your own room

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