Affordable Options for Custom-made Furniture

The term custom-made furniture evokes a sense of exclusivity, beauty, and elegance.

 

 

The idea of having custom-made furniture for your home seems unattainable by most people’s standards. At one point, the only way you could get furniture custom-made was through commissioning designers and craftsmen. The underlying idea was that these specially built furniture would cost at least an arm and a leg. We’re not here to dispute that fact. We feel that handcrafted furniture are value for money and a wise investment in itself.

What most don’t understand is that there are ways to reduce the cost of your custom-made furniture. In other words, there ARE affordable options for your customised furniture.

 

Material

 

 

First and foremost, the materials used in your custom-made furniture plays a vital role in the overall price. For instance, different types of wood are priced differently. But depending on your home and environment, you could get away with choosing a cheaper alternative.

 

 

Manufactured wood such as chipboard, fibreboard, and plywood can be used to make a great piece of furniture. And best of all, these are the cheapest types of wood you can find. Just don’t expect top-tier quality when you use these kinds of wood in your furniture.

Aesthetics wise, manufactured wood generally looks the same as solid wood. Though some connoisseurs may find that it lacks that “natural” look.

 

 

If you’re someone who appreciates the aesthetics of things, solid wood may be the better choice for you. Solid wood is generally divided into hardwood and softwood. And these varying types of wood are priced differently.

For example, pine wood may be on the lower end of the price spectrum, whereas mahogany is often regarded as the premium wood. Choosing the right kind of wood based on your budget and preference is key in helping you get the best deal.

 

 

Additionally, there may be times where the cost of materials are affected by its availability. If your material is imported, additional shipping fees will be incurred. This shipping fee will be added to the total price of your custom-made furniture. Subsequently, your furniture will be more expensive.

In this case, we’d recommend speaking to your designer on what material is  available on-hand. That way you skip the hassle of having to ship it over.

 

Difficulty of Design

 

 

One of the main reasons people opt for custom-made products is for exclusivity. That one-of-a-kind furniture that only you own. Though this uniqueness does come at a cost.

 

 

The more complex the design you have in mind, the higher the price of your furniture. Let’s say you want a cabinet with multiple drawers, or a wacky-looking coffee table. The cost of designing and crafting such a furniture will definitely be higher than that of a standard cabinet or coffee table.

 

 

That being said, if you’d like an affordable custom-made furniture, we suggest going for a simpler design. If you want a new custom table, tell the designer to sketch a simple table. It doesn’t have to be overly simple, just make sure that it’s not overly complicated as well. Basically, think minimalism.

On that note, also try to keep your custom-made designs reasonably sized. Reason being, extra large furniture will require more material to make, which is going to cost you in the end. Besides, having smaller furniture will go a long way in giving the illusion that your home is bigger than it is.

 

 

Alternatively, you may even choose to use an existing design for your custom-made furniture. This way, your designer won’t have to start from scratch and you may request for a different size or configuration depending on your preference. This is generally a more affordable option for you if you don’t have the extra budget to draw up a brand new design.

 

Labour Cost

 

 

We feel that carpentry is an acquired art form. And like any art form, it requires an enormous amount of time, dedication and effort to master. It literally takes years to hone one’s skill up to this point. Which is why custom-made furniture are priced the way they are.

Undoubtedly, every one of us hopes to be able to buy our dream furniture at the lowest possible price. But the true value of custom furniture lies within the care and focus put into creating it. With that said, there are definitely ways to alleviate this “creative” cost.

For one, keep your ideas as simple as possible. We’ve already talked about this before but simpler designs are easier to come up with, and they’re also easier to craft.

 

 

Case in point, let’s say you’re somewhat of a flashy person. You’d want the flashiest and most “extra” product in existence.  

Your designer would need to come up with a design that’s to your liking, which takes time. Then, the craftsman/carpenter will spend hours to ensure everything is perfect. Not to mention, he/she would also need to meet your requirements at the same time. Last but not least, every part of the furniture also needs to be working as intended. These time factors combined with the skill needed will drive up the end cost of your custom-made furniture. Hey, time is money after all.

 

The Finish

 

 

The last thing you need to know about custom-made furniture is the finish. If you’ve been to any furnishing showroom, you’d notice that the furniture is limited to a certain type of finish. This finish may not be what you have in mind for your home. What we’re saying is, it’s difficult to find furniture with a design and finish that you like.

However, custom-made furniture allows you to choose any finish you like for your piece. Of course, the type of finishing has a bearing on the final cost of your furniture. In addition, time and effort are also required to complete a high quality piece that you’ll be satisfied with.

 

 

The types of finish include staining, oiling, painting, upholstery, dye and more. Of the lot, we’d suggest using drying oils such as linseed oil and tung oil as they are the most inexpensive and readily available.

 

Conclusion

 

We hope that we’ve cleared up any misconception about the “lavish” nature of custom-made furniture. The word “custom” itself means that you get to decide how much you’re willing to spend on your furniture. Whether it be premium materials, simple designs or even a very polished finish, the final choice lies in your hands.

So, the next time you hear someone say that custom-made furniture is a luxury, point them our way. We’ll be sure to enlighten them all the same.