Are you someone who spent many years buying inexpensive furniture pieces that looked great on the showroom floor or online, only to find that they started to break down or wear out after only a short amount of time? Or maybe you bought a second-had piece with the intention of refinishing it, but then realized that it was actually made using particle board and veneer, and can’t really be refinished in the way you had hoped.
If you’ve had these experiences, you may have come to the conclusion that it’s time to start investing in quality furniture pieces for your home, rather than continuing to waste money on inferior products that just don’t hold up, and as a result, make your home look run down.
While there are furniture stores out there that sell quality pieces, they are few and far between. Many people ultimately come to the conclusion that a better option is to commission a piece from one of the custom furniture makers around the country. Working with a custom furniture maker can allow you to get the exact piece you want. It can be any dimensions, made from just about any wood you want, and include all of the details you hope for.
Now, just like furniture stores, custom furniture makers can run the gambit. There are the furniture-making hobbyists who just like to tinker with wood and build simple tables and benches. And then there are the true craftsmen who are dedicated to producing high-quality pieces using the best materials and construction methods. They can build any type of piece you desire, including more complicated pieces like ergonomic chairs, or pieces with intricate details, such as wood inlays or traditional joinery methods. An experienced furniture maker is also who you want to look for when commissioning pieces like loft beds or bunk beds—where the stability of the piece is of the upmost importance.
If you can find a local custom furniture maker, that is the ideal situation, since you can save on expensive shipping or delivery costs once the piece is completed. However, most custom furniture makers around the country are happy to work with customers outside of their geographic area. So, if you find someone who has a design style that speaks to you, as well as a good reputation for crafting quality pieces, you may want to reach out—even if they are on the other side of the country.
Unless you are willing to give a custom furniture maker free reign on the design of your piece, it’s important to come to the process with some ideas of your own. If you have photos of pieces you like, you can show them those. Or maybe you have a piece already in your home that you would like your custom piece to complement—like an heirloom dining table that could use a matching hutch. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of your ideas fleshed out—a good custom furniture maker can help you with the design of your piece and make suggestions based on their expertise.
