5 Tips when buying custom furniture

Here are 5 Tips to help you when buying custom furniture

When you're looking for that perfect piece of furniture to match your personality, sometimes getting something custom made is the best route to take. With all of the options out there, it is best to do your research before deciding to take that plunge.

Custom furniture is typically more expensive than going to your local big box store and buying something off the floor that was built overseas by the container load. Custom woodwork is very labour intensive and if you're going with a small craft builder like Grain and Burl, you can bet that they aren't using million dollar equipment to make it. Most furniture makers have only a few industrial tools and the rest is done by eye, a few small power tools and years of perfecting the craft. 

People often ask me why our products are more expensive than the big stores and I have to explain that in custom work, I am the salesman, I am the designer, I source and hand pick the materials, do all dressing of the materials, build the product, do the finishing, market the products and deliver and set up. All the materials I use are high quality as opposed to the particle board with thin vaneer found in most mass produced furniture. Our options for customizing are virtually endless and in the end, you're getting a product that was built with pride of workmanship and will last you for decades.

So to help you on your journy of buying custom furniture that will be a part of your family for generations, I have put together a few tips to keep in mind when commisioning your next home furniture purchase.

1. Figure out how much space you have - If you have a small dining area, a large dining table might not be the best idea. If you only want the bigger table for your holiday gatherings, consider getting a leaf extension to add the space to your table only when it's needed. Having the option to increase the size is much better than bumping into your table every time you walk passed it on the way to the kitchen.                                                                                                                                       
2. Ask about the different materials available - Most custom shops have a variety of materials to offer and can aslo source unique materials by request. The type of material can make a considerable difference in price as well. Specialty materials such as Reclaimed Wood or Live Edge are expensive to buy and require much more work and specialized equipment and therfore are guaranteed to cost you a premium however the character you get from such materials are definitely worth the little extra.                                     
3. A quote is never final - Ask if there are any ways to get the price down or if you can get a deal if you buy more items. Most companies are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their customers are happy. This means that they are almost always willing to give you a deal, especially if you promote their business on social media. It never hurts to play a little, let's make a deal!                     
4. Have an idea of what you're looking for - It's always a good idea to look around online for designs and products that you like and send them to the builder so that they can start to visualize your ideas. Believe it or not, "something kinda vintage" might not get the point across as well as a few photos.                                                                             
5. Get it how you want it - Ideally, if you went with the right builder, this piece of furniture will last you for a very long time so settling on something that isn't exactally what you want isn't worth the couple hundred you saved by not getting that unique touch that made you originally decide on custom in the first place. Spend a little extra and get something that you will be bragging about for years to come.​ 

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Now that you have a few tips on buying your next piece of furniture, why not check out some of the great options Grain and Burl, Urban Design has to offer?

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