Guide · ZAIA Design

How much does an apartment renovation cost in 2026

“How much will a full renovation cost me?” is the question we hear most from people buying an older apartment. The honest answer is a range, not a single figure: it depends on the apartment's condition, what you replace and the finishes you choose. Below you'll find what makes up the budget and how to keep it under control.

What makes up the budget

• Demolition and clearance — breaking out old floor and wall tiles and old plaster, and hauling away the rubble. In an apartment that hasn't been renovated in decades, this is a significant share of the labour.
• Services — electrical wiring redone from the fuse board, plumbing and, if needed, an individual boiler (with permits, disconnection from the district heating network and a separate project).
• Building work and finishes — plastering, screeds, drywall, floor and wall tiles, wooden flooring, painting, doors.
• Windows, if the old frames no longer insulate.
• Furniture — custom-made furniture (kitchen, walk-in wardrobe, hallway, bathroom) plus sofa, bed and dining table.
• Appliances and sanitary ware.
• The design project — the plan everyone works from.

Ballpark figures

Among people who have renovated recently in Bucharest, a full renovation of a 2–3 room apartment in an older block frequently reaches 15.000–30.000 €, for labour and materials only, excluding furniture. The range is wide because the differences come down to details: whether you redo the plumbing and wiring, whether you tile every wall or just the wet areas, whether you choose mid-range or premium materials. Custom furniture and appliances come on top.

Treat these figures as guidance, not a quote: the only real price is the one in an itemised estimate drawn up after a site visit.

How much of the budget goes on the design project

At ZAIA Design, the project costs between 15 €/sqm and 40 €/sqm. For a 55 sqm apartment, that means between 825 € and 2,200 € — usually a small fraction of the total renovation budget. The project is what decides how the rest of the money is spent: where the sockets go, what gets ordered and in what quantities. The details are in our interior design pricing guide.

Where most money is lost

• Work done twice — sockets moved after tiling, a kitchen that no longer fits once the walls are plastered.
• Vague estimates — ask for written quotes with every operation broken down per square metre or per item, so you can compare them.
• No contract — you need clear deadlines, payment stages tied to completed work, and penalties for delays.
• Rushed shopping — materials ordered without a list, in the wrong quantities, or that don't go together.

How to keep the budget under control

1. Get a measured survey and a furniture layout plan before asking for labour quotes: tradespeople quote more accurately when they have a plan.
2. Ask for at least three quotes on the same project, so you're comparing like with like.
3. Decide up front where you won't compromise (plumbing, wiring, waterproofing) and where you can save (decorative items, decorative light fittings).
4. Keep a 10–15% contingency for whatever turns up after demolition.

ZAIA Design projects

Cpt. Mircea VasilescuDecebalVictoriei