Is Custom Furniture Worth It?

DIRECT ANSWER:

Custom furniture may be worth considering when standard furniture cannot provide the right dimensions, function, construction or relationship to the room. It may also make sense when you want a piece designed for long-term use rather than choosing among predetermined sizes and configurations.

CUSTOM FURNITURE ISN’T THE ANSWER TO EVERY ROOM.

BUT SOMETIMES THE RIGHT PIECE DOESN’T EXIST UNTIL SOMEONE BUILDS IT.

CUSTOM MAY MAKE SENSE WHEN NOTHING FITS

Common problems include:

Room too narrow

Room too wide

Unusual wall

Window in the wrong place

Radiator

Sloped ceiling

Odd corner

Specific seating requirement

Existing architecture that standard furniture ignores

FUNCTION CAN DRIVE THE DESIGN

Start with:

What needs to fit?

Who will use it?

How often?

What needs to be stored?

What isn’t working now?

QUALITY EXPECTATIONS MATTER

Custom may make sense when you are comparing it with higher-quality furniture intended for long-term use.

It may make less sense when the real comparison is an inexpensive temporary piece.

CUSTOM DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN ORNATE

Custom can be:

Traditional

Simple

Contemporary

Historic-inspired

Transitional

The defining feature is that it is designed for the project.