On the search for some new furniture? If so, you’ll come across two types – custom-made and ready-made. While it might seem like there wouldn’t be much difference, there is. Below, you’ll learn more about these choices and how to choose the right one.
Custom vs. Ready-Made Furniture – What’s the Difference?
The main contrast is obvious – custom furniture is made exclusively for you while the other is pre-made and ready to go.
But perhaps the most telling variation is their materials. Plywood and pressboard are typical materials for ready-made furniture. Unfortunately, while they’re affordable and lightweight, they aren’t always the most durable. Because of this, they might chip and even become damaged during manufacturing or transport.
Custom furniture is created with numerous stunning hardwood options. These include:
- Oak;
- Elm;
- Maple;
- Cedar;
- Hickory;
- Cherry.
Pieces don’t have thick paint coats; instead, they have a beautiful finish that brings out the natural grain once cut. Many times, you can pick the finish’s hue.
6 Tips for Selecting the Right Choice
There are six factors to consider when choosing which is best for you.
1. Review Your Budget
One of the first things you’ll need to look at is your budget. Custom-made furniture can be pricey and could reach the thousands depending on what you want. On the other hand, ready-made is usually budget-friendly.
While ready-made might seem the best, this rate reflects a few things. One is its condition. Ready-made is constructed by machines and quickly put together, so there’s not much quality control. On the other hand, Custom-made is designed by craftspeople who intentionally place an effort to ensure unique, durable craftsmanship.
Consider exploring local furniture stores when searching for custom-made furniture. These stores often provide a range of customizable options that can suit various budgets, allowing you to find high-quality, personalized pieces that align with your style and preferences.
2. How Quickly You Need It
Another aspect to consider is when you need the furniture. If you want it instantly, ready-made is probably ideal. If you’re willing to wait, custom-made could be a good choice. While the time will vary depending on your order, it will take around 1-3 months.
3. Your Style
It’s also good to study the furniture’s aesthetics. To elaborate, it could look out of place if the hand-made table doesn’t match the room’s theme.
Custom-made furniture can be built to fit your design preferences, so you don’t have to go with generic pieces. Instead, you can work with the craftsperson to sketch your dream piece and make adjustments.
If you’re not necessarily big on personal style, ready-made might be the direction to go. While it comes in various looks, it has a more general appearance. This can often be good if you need some furniture to fill in a space quickly.
4. If You Need a Unique Fit
Many spaces have quirky angles and spots that can make fitting furniture inside them difficult. You’ll have a tough time getting it into these areas with ready-made furniture because they’re built to be one-size-fits-all.
Custom-made furniture caters to these needs. For instance, if you’d like to put a couch in an oddly angled window box, you can have it built to slide inside it perfectly.
5. Its Hardware
The hardware might seem like an afterthought, but it’s worth contemplating. Ready-made furniture is frequently made with cheap knobs and latches, many of which are molded out of unsightly plastic.
Custom-made furniture uses high-end hardware that you can choose. Craftspeople will have various hardware or magazines you can browse through – like art deco clasps or sleek metal handles.
While you can always change the hardware, this can be time-consuming, and you risk accidentally scratching the piece. It could also be a bit pricey. So it’s always an excellent idea to carefully look at your choices.
6. The Warranty
Another thing to analyze is if your furniture comes with a warranty. Unfortunately, many don’t come with warranties, so double-check if you’re interested in them. Depending on the seller, ready-made furniture tends to have a warranty of anywhere from one to three years.
Custom-made furniture also generally has this warranty timeline. But, unlike pre-made mass-brand furniture, customized furniture dealers will often send out an artisan to fix it if there’s a problem.
Do I Have to Install Custom-Made Furniture?
Having to transfer and assemble furniture is a nightmare for some – especially people with limited vehicle space. With pre-made furniture, you usually have to do this. However, you can have your furniture delivered and expertly put together on-site with custom-made options.
Where Can I Find Custom-Made Furniture?
Do a quick online search if you’re searching for a place to find custom Amish furniture in Houston, TX. Amish-made means quality. Here, you’ll find a variety of sellers you can research. While some solely offer their products online, many have showrooms you can visit. You can walk around to view the pieces and ask questions to help you determine whether you should invest in them.
Both custom-made and ready-made furniture are unique selections that cater to different tastes and needs. Remembering the information above, you can easily find the right option for your home or office.
