STORE-BOUGHT Or CUSTOM-MADE Furniture?

STORE-BOUGHT Or CUSTOM-MADE Furniture?

Buying furniture for your new home is an important milestone and a long-term investment. Furniture selection should be carefully considered, so that we are not forced to live with the consequences of a bad choice. Before all else however, we should think about what kind of furniture would better suit us – ready-made or store-bought.

What are the pros and cons of both types and how do we make the right decision?

store bought or custom made furniture

Store-bought furniture

The main advantage of ready-made pieces is affordable pricing. Mass production leads to better productivity, faster turnaround times and lower manufacture costs. An impatient customer can also be happy about the opportunity to immediately buy, assemble and install a chosen product – without having to wait for weeks. Another argument in favor of store-bought furniture is the possibility to actually inspect and try out a sample model in order to decide if it is a good fit. As far as product quality is concerned, it oscillates in a wide range. High degree of mechanization certainly reduces the rate of human error and product defects. If the quality of the used materials is also good enough, we can rest assured that the item will serve us a long time.

Probably the greatest issue with store-bought furniture is the limited choice of design, color and size. Typically, there are 2-3 different options for each product, and often none of these can satisfy a client’s specific requirements. If you have your mind set on ready-made furniture, then it is better to be flexible and prepare to compromise. A certain disadvantage of mass produced furniture may also be the lack of originality in its design. If you would like to get something exclusive and unique, then it is better to maybe not look for it in your local furniture store. Another thing to have in mind is that CHEAP store-bought items are often made of poor quality materials that can compromise the durability of the product. It is possible that you may have to replace your furniture much sooner than you would wish to.

store bought furniture

Custom-made furniture

The greatest advantage of bespoke furniture is the opportunity to completely tailor it to your special needs, requirements and preferences. Form and size can be adapted to the geometry of even the most oddly-shaped interior space, colors and materials can be carefully picked out and matched, and all tiny details can be specified. There is also the option to choose from a large variety of high-quality materials than the ones that are generally used in mass production. Thus, you can get yourself a high-end product that you can enjoy for a long, long time. Custom-made furniture can also help you get a unique design appeal that you can not find just anywhere.

On the other hand, a known disadvantage of bespoke furniture is the slow manufacture process. Turnaround times can often exceed a month and that is something you should have in mind when you place your order. The high amount of manual labor that is a part of the production process also leads to an increase in product costs – an item that is custom-made will usually be more expensive than a similar store-bought piece. When you choose to have your furniture custom-built, you should know that you may not be able to try out a finished sample beforehand – instead you can get an idea of what your product will look like by checking out concept pictures and technical drawings, and you can assess its quality judging from other completed furniture designs by your chosen manufacturer.

custom made furniture

What should you choose?

Standard shaped and sized rooms can be (almost) entirely furnished with store-bought pieces, as long as you do not have too specific requirements with regards to design and functionality. The only thing you need to do in that case is pick out a nice design in a suitable size and color.

That is not the case when you have to work with oddly shaped interior spaces with weird floor plans, curved walls or vaulted ceilings. To make the most of such a space, you should apply an individual approach and go with custom-made furniture in order to create a cozy and comfortable setting in spite of its peculiar features. Having all custom-made furniture is definitely worth it in tight rooms, as well.

bedroom furniture

Generally, it is a good idea to have both types of furniture.

When it comes to large specific pieces such as fitted wardrobes and kitchen cabinetry, often there is no other option but bespoke furniture. That is a justified expense as you will get a practical product of good design and great quality. It is important to research local manufacturers in order to choose the best option with regards to quality, price and turnaround times that they can offer. Or you could consult with your interior designer on that matter and ask for some advice and references.

Other elements such as tables, chairs, sofas and beds can easily be found in furniture stores. This can save you some hard-earned cash without you having to compromise too much with product design and quality. These items can also easily be replaced with new ones when necessary.

Lots of manufacturers sell modular furniture that can be easily assembled and adapted to the size of your interior space. With just a little bit of imagination you can create various designs and combinations that can also be quickly rearranged if desired.