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Updated 3/14/2021
If you are looking for furniture that will give your living space a bit more of a unique feel, custom furniture may be the thing for you. Perhaps you have a specific vision of a sofa or bedroom, and you can’t seem to find one that matches the version in your head.
Maybe you want a unique piece that nobody else has that will show your home’s character and fit in well with your other decor. Custom furniture stands out and makes for a great conversation piece.
Here at Furniture Fair, we are well-versed in the custom furniture industry, and we have several custom design furniture templates on our showroom floor. While we are passionate about the brands we carry, our goal with this article is to help you find the best custom furnishing for you.
We have over 50 years of experience in the furniture business, and we love serving customers with a keen eye for something a little more special. With that in mind, we’ve researched the five methods that you can use to create your dream custom furniture.
If you’ve been anywhere near the general vicinity of Pinterest, then you will be all-to-familiar with the “Do It Yourself” or “DIY” enthusiasts. Pinterest is overflowing with hundreds of ideas and plans for creating everything from bookends to bookcases.
Now, while you might not have access to a woodshop, sewing machine, or leather shop, making furniture on your own is not impossible. Many furniture plans only require a hammer, drill, trip, or two to the hardware store.
The potential downside to DIY is making a mistake when building a custom piece. Another thing to consider is that building or repairing custom pieces requires a workspace, and if you live in a small space, building furniture can be a delicate process.
While the idea of creating something by yourself can seem daunting, the reward you will feel for having accomplished your project will feel incredibly satisfying.
If you live in an area that has an IKEA, chances are you’ve purchased one of their unusually named furniture pieces. The simplicity and modular design of many IKEA products provide an excellent platform for someone looking to create a custom piece on a budget.
Ikea furniture is affordable and lasts for around five years, so consider using Ikea as your customized piece. Your piece may not last as long as some other custom-made furniture on this list.
Try adding legs, knobs, and other features to the existing design for an upgrade in style!
Sometimes a great piece of furniture is waiting to be rediscovered. That older accent chair at the thrift shop may have a worn-out fabric cover, but the bones might still be good! A little applied elbow grease and some care can turn an old chair into a new chair!
Depending on how much work you want to put into the project, you might also consider sanding and re-staining the wood finish.
Upcycling is another trend made famous, thanks to its affordability, creativity, and low impact on the environment. Upcycling uses unusual items to create custom furniture or home décor.
Anything from milk crates to old pallets can transform into a practical or decorative piece with a little bit of ingenuity and hard work. Upcycling will give you that satisfying feeling of accomplishment while also keeping unnecessary waste out of the landfills and oceans.
Upcycling requires a lot of effort, depending on your skill level. The piece may not turn out the way you expected, and all your action may be for not. Also, if your style is very classic or modern, upcycling may not be the style you are trying to emulate.
Check out thrift shops, antique stores, and flea markets for objects you can convert to furniture or décor! If you like hands-on projects and want to create something new from something that would otherwise go to a landfill, consider giving upcycling a try!
Etsy is an online arts and crafts store run by individual small business owners and artists alike. Many members create custom furniture to the customer’s exact needs. While results will vary and you should do your research, Etsy provides a unique way to get artistic, custom-made furniture.
Unlike big-name brands, Etsy artists are usually part of small shops or even operating out of their garages, making the work much more personal and approachable than a mass-produced piece.
The drawback to small shops is that the cost may be significantly higher, and the creator may take longer than a company to create a furniture piece. If you want your furniture to have a story, Etsy is the place to go.
If you live in the midwestern part of the United States, you’ve probably heard about the fantastic handcrafted quality and construction of Amish furniture. Many custom-order Amish shops have been building furniture for generations, and the quality of the work gives Amish furniture such a legendary reputation.
Furniture Fair has several business relationships with Amish manufacturers, such as Daniel’s Amish and MAVIN. Daniel’s Amish offers custom manufactured, made-to-order options with over 50 wood finishes and 70 cabinet hardware options.
MAVIN is an excellent example of a brand with a large amount of customization available, such as multiple wood types and finishes. MAVIN also offers a catalyzed finish, the strongest wood finish in the industry.
Unfortunately, if lower prices are what you are looking for, Amish furniture is not the way to go. Old fashioned furniture takes time and effort to manufacture, and due to the amount of effort required, the cost of Amish furniture runs higher than most brand name companies’ furniture.
Amish brand furniture offers some of the industry’s best quality custom furniture with a legacy of Amish culture and craftsmanship. If solid wood and high-quality craftsmanship are what you are after, consider buying your custom furniture from an Amish manufacturer.
If you are lucky enough to live near someone with a passion for carpentry and woodworking, consider using them for a custom order. Small shops make custom pieces for a wide range of prices and styles.
One of the most unlikely examples of passionate custom woodworkers is Parks & Recreation star, Nick Offerman. The successful actor has used his career to help fund his passion for woodworking in his shop in Los Angeles.
Shops like this work with friends and a select few clients to create custom, one-of-a-kind pieces. Shops all over the world echo this level of dedication to craftsmanship and love for woodworking.
One or two people usually make custom shop designs, and thus your piece will be a bit higher priced to compensate for the time spent making the custom order furniture to your specifications.
If you are looking for a custom piece from a reliable source, finding a local woodshop near you might be just what you need for your living space.
Custom-made brand name furniture differs from some of the other options on this list in that mass production makes the options slightly more limited than a custom shop piece would be.
Customers have multiple preset options available that they can mix and match to suit their needs.
England Furniture is an excellent example of custom furniture designers. England has over 400 fabrics and leathers in stock.
England sofas also feature sturdy frames and heavy-duty coil core springs that give added support to your custom chair, sofa, or sectional.
A great example when considering custom living room furniture is the Smith Brothers of Berne, Indiana. An American-made company, Smith Brothers, has over 800 fabrics and leathers to choose from, with options to customize the frame, trim, and legs!
Check with your local furniture retailers and find out what options they have available for custom furniture. If you aren’t willing to settle for picking between two colors or styles, try custom-made.
Now that you know what options you have available, from
Do-It-Yourself to entirely custom made, go out and find the right fit for you!
If you are looking for custom furniture or new furniture in the Louisville, Dayton, or Cincinnati area, check out Furniture Fair! With 11 locations and a great collection of custom options for bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms, Furniture Fair has options for you!
Visit our showroom today or visit us online for an effortless shopping experience.
