Retirement Home: Furniture Cost Estimation

This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a retirement home.

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The Dojo Business Team

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How many residents will the retirement home accommodate?

Decide a firm capacity target first because it sets every downstream furniture quantity.

Small retirement homes commonly plan for 12–24 residents, while dementia “households” run in 8–12-resident clusters to balance privacy and supervision.

Capacity directly determines dining seats (one-sitting vs two-sitting), lounge seats, and activity-room tables.

Use 1.0 dining seat per resident for single sitting or 0.6–0.7 for two sittings to size tables and chairs accurately.

Document the capacity per wing/household to phase purchases without overspending.

What room sizes and layouts should we assume, and how do they change furniture needs?

Select room standards that meet code and allow safe circulation around furniture.

For October 2025, assume private rooms at 80–100 ft² (≈7.5–9 m²) minimum and semi-private at ≈130 ft² (≈12 m²), both with accessible ensuites and wheelchair turning space.

More square footage supports a visitor chair, wider wardrobe, or bariatric-rated bed; tighter rooms require slimmer casegoods and fewer loose items.

Plan clear 36–48 in. pathways from bed to bath and door to chair to enable safe transfers.

Pick layouts that allow caregiver access on both bed sides to reduce injury risk and speed care.

What furniture is required in each resident room?

Equip every room with a consistent, code-compliant kit to simplify purchasing and maintenance.

Each room needs an adjustable bed (with optional rails), an ergonomic armchair with arms, a small desk or writing table, a wardrobe, a bedside table with lamp, an overbed table, and a dresser or drawers.

Add lockable personal storage, visitor chair, and TV/phone shelf when space allows to improve resident satisfaction.

Standardize finishes and hardware to speed cleaning and reduce spare-parts inventory.

Choose antimicrobial, cleanable materials that tolerate hospital-grade disinfectants.

What comfort, ergonomics, and accessibility level is expected?

• Seat height 17–19 in. and firm cushions for easier sit-to-stand transfers in the retirement home context.
• Rounded edges, anti-tip construction, and non-slip feet to minimize injury risk for older adults.
• Table height 29–30 in. (74–76 cm) with knee clearance for wheelchair use and dining comfort.
• Chairs with arms, lumbar support, and wipeable, antimicrobial upholstery for daily cleaning.
• Hardware and pulls shaped for arthritic grips; lightweight movable pieces for staff.

Which communal areas need furniture and what capacity should each support?

Cover dining, lounge, activity/multi-purpose, and outdoor areas with capacities tied to total residents.

Dining rooms should seat all residents at once or plan for two sittings; lounges should have at least 0.8–1.0 soft seats per resident; activity rooms need flexible tables and stackable chairs.

Ensure wheelchair turning radii between tables and specify chairs that can be moved with glides to protect floors.

For dementia areas, create smaller “nooks” with two-seat clusters to reduce overstimulation.

You’ll find detailed market insights in our retirement home business plan, updated every quarter.

What safety standards and healthcare regulations must furniture meet?

Use healthcare-grade furniture that satisfies fire, hygiene, and safety rules for retirement homes.

Specify flame-resistant upholstery per local fire codes (e.g., NFPA equivalents), anti-tip casegoods, rounded corners, and materials that tolerate hospital-grade disinfectants.

Follow senior-living guidelines on accessible reach ranges, clear widths, and fall-risk mitigation to pass inspections.

Select vendors who provide compliance documentation and installation certifications.

Build periodic inspection into operations to keep items within spec over time.

What lifespan and durability should we target for retirement home furniture?

Plan for heavy-use durability with defined refresh cycles.

Set expectations of 7–15 years for beds, 5–10 years for communal seating and tables, and 5–7 years for dressers and wardrobes, with re-upholstery options for high-wear pieces.

Favor reinforced frames (metal or engineered hardwood), replaceable components, and commercial warranties.

Track item age in your asset register to schedule phased replacements.

Budget a small annual reserve to address early failures without disrupting cash flow.

What is a realistic budget range per resident room and per communal space?

Use clear bands per room and per space to control the total CapEx for the retirement home.

For rooms, set $1,500–3,000 for basic fit and $3,000–4,000 for mid/high ergonomic fit; for communal areas, plan $4,000–8,000 for a medium dining room and $2,000–5,000 for lounges/activity rooms.

Add 10–15% contingency to cover delivery, assembly, and first-year maintenance to avoid change-order surprises.

Lock specs in a master schedule to avoid scope creep and vendor price drift.

Phase by wing so you buy only what you need for the first occupancy wave.

Which suppliers are reliable and cost-effective for retirement home furniture?

• Healthcare-focused vendors such as Kwalu, Norix, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, Stryker (beds), and Yumeya for senior seating.
• Contract dealers who bundle compliance documents, delivery, and installation for retirement homes.
• Local installers with healthcare references to reduce damage and delays.
• Vendors offering re-upholstery and parts programs to extend asset life.
• Shortlist at least three suppliers per category to benchmark price and lead time.

What are current average costs for essential retirement home furniture pieces?

Anchor your estimate with up-to-date unit costs per furniture type.

Use the 2025 benchmarks below for adjustable beds, ergonomic chairs, wardrobes, tables, and casegoods suitable for a retirement home.

These ranges assume healthcare-grade materials and cleanability; finishes or bariatric ratings may push costs higher.

Apply your quantity × unit price per room and per communal area to build the total.

This is one of the strategies explained in our retirement home business plan.

What delivery, installation, and maintenance costs should we include?

Include logistics and upkeep so your retirement home budget reflects the true total cost.

Delivery and installation typically add 7–12% of furniture value; plan 1–2 days of setup per 10 rooms, plus annual maintenance of $150–300 per room.

Difficult sites, elevators, or remote locations increase costs; confirm building access with installers during quoting.

Use the table to capture these add-ons and contingency as a percentage of the furniture subtotal.

What cost-saving strategies are realistic for a retirement home?

• Bulk purchasing across rooms and wings to capture 10–25% vendor discounts.
• Phased procurement aligned to occupancy (buy 60–70% for opening, defer the rest).
• Standardized finishes/hardware to reduce unit prices and spare-parts costs.
• Leasing or vendor buy-back for high-ticket beds to protect cash and upgrade faster.
• Modular, multi-use furniture (folding tables, stackable chairs) to do more with less space.

We cover this exact topic in the retirement home business plan.

Can you show a per-room furniture kit with quantities and costs?

Use a standard per-room kit to price quickly and compare vendor quotes for the retirement home.

The table below shows a practical kit with 2025 unit ranges; multiply by your room count and adjust finishes for your market.

Keep one or two optional add-ons to fit different resident needs without fragmenting SKUs.

Lock the kit in your purchasing schedule to control scope and timing.

How do room sizes change the furniture list or layout?

Right-size furniture to the room footprint to keep safe clearances in the retirement home.

Smaller rooms (≈80 ft²) should use narrower wardrobes and one visitor chair; larger rooms (≥100 ft²) can add a secondary chair and wider dresser.

Ensure 36–48 in. pathways to the bath and door regardless of room size for wheelchair access and caregiver assistance.

Use the table below to translate size into furniture choices and quantities.

What regulations and standards should I check before ordering?

Confirm codes early to avoid costly re-orders in the retirement home.

Use recognized healthcare design guidelines for resident rooms, fire safety, accessibility, and infection control; ensure suppliers provide conformity letters and test data.

Coordinate with local authority interpretations, which may add requirements for flame spread, smoke, and anti-ligature features where relevant.

Capture all references in your spec book and attach them to RFPs for vendor accountability.

How do I turn all of this into a quick total furniture budget?

Build a fast, defensible estimate by multiplying quantities by unit costs and adding logistics and contingency.

Start with capacity, apply the per-room kit, add communal seats and tables to the desired sitting strategy, then add 7–12% for delivery/install and 10–15% contingency.

Phase by household/wing to align cash outlay with occupancy; update as quotes firm up.

Use a simple spreadsheet tied to your room schedule to maintain version control.

Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our retirement home business plan.

Conclusion

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.

Sources

1. FGI Residential Health Care Guidelines – Resident Rooms
2. Hong Kong SWD – Design & Operation of RCHE (2023)
3. Sara Hospitality – Senior Living Furniture Requirements
4. Dojo Business – Retirement Home Startup Costs
5. FHG – Aged Care Furniture Quality
6. Ontario LTC Home Design Manual (2023)
7. Comfort a Life – Ergonomic Furniture for Seniors
8. Angi – Furnishing Cost Benchmarks
9. CMHC – Nursing & Residential Care Facility Design
10. YOUEquip – Ergonomics in Retirement Living Furniture