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What You Need To Know Before Going Bespoke

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Everyone’s initial thought when discussing bespoke furniture is, “it’s expensive”. And yes it can be – but don’t instantly rule it out as an option, as you could be surprised at what’s on offer for your budget. It all depends on your required design and the company you use to create it. If you’ve been considering going bespoke, let us offer you some great advice and tips before you take the plunge. We’ve got this information straight from the horses mouth as we spoke to a bespoke furniture company to get the best and most accurate information possible. So from handy tips to questions you should be asking your supplier, let us enlighten you. 

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DO YOUR RESEARCH

Don’t panic if you don’t know what you want, just be prepared for when the company asks you what you want. Get on Pinterest, start Pinning with different boards, create collections on Instagram and use Houzz to convey your ideas. There is so much inspiration out there that will help you with your own design and ideas. These platforms are great in helping you get ideas that you probably haven’t seen or thought about before, as well helping to rule out the styles that you don’t like. 

Work out what you’re storing inside the unit. Ensure your measurements are taken correctly e.g. measure your skirting boards as this will affect alcove shelving. Also measure personal items you want to store away so the furniture is built around them and ensures they will fit. E.g. is the cabinet deep enough for the Sky Box and DVD player? Is the hanging space long enough for your suit jackets?

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INITIAL STAGES WITH THE MAKER

Ask for a home visit, they are usually free. This allows you to get the designers opinion and their thoughts on the style. They’ll also be able to show you their previous projects and help you work out if going bespoke is applicable for you. Sometimes you can even get visual mock-ups made for free. 

The designer will ask you, what design do you want? Traditional, shaker, contemporary? Show them images of what you like and what you don’t like. If you’re living in London in a Edwardian terraced house then it would be recommend to either go with a traditional style or dress up a shaker style. If you’re living in a new build then a more modern contemporary or shaker style will suit the home better. 

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BE CREATIVE

An obvious point, but a really key thing to remember is that the furniture is bespoke. It’s being designed for you – so take advantage of that! You can match the colour of your walls with the furniture, add a wood worktop to accentuate your wood flooring, have lighting on the shelves, spray the inside a different colour. Be adventurous but realistic with your budget in mind. The more design features you add, the pricier it will get. Get the designer to price the additional features up separately and then you can add what you want according to your budget. Don’t be scared either to share your budget as it’s usually easier for the designer to work with you to get the design you want for the money you have. 

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CARPENTER OR BESPOKE COMPANY

One thing to note is that a carpenter and a bespoke furniture company are different. A carpenter is a jack of all trades with experience in joinery. A bespoke furniture company will specialise in not only the manufacturing and installation of the furniture but also in the design. So when you choose the company who is going to be making the furniture for you, make sure you are confident with their quality and service.

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KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK 

  1. Ask to see samples of the finish to see the quality first hand.
  2. Is the furniture made off site or in your home?
  3. Is it painted off site or in your home by them or someone else?
  4. What’s their lead time?
  5. How long will it take to install?
  6. Is it a sprayed finish or is it hand painted?
  7. What materials do they use?

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WHAT WOOD

MDF is a common material used along with plywood and chipboard. Ask the company what they use and why they use it as everything has it’s pros and cons. MDF is cheaper and has a better finish than a laminate when it is sprayed. Some say it isn’t as durable but it is durable if tolerances and restrictions are taking into consideration with the design. If you want any wood features, then consider using veneers as they are a cheaper option when compared to hard woods but then you’re not going to get the durability.

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Like these bespoke furniture ideas? Pin em!

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A big thanks to Frankie at www.u-furniture.co.uk for helping us create this post with all the useful information!
All images from Pinterest and feature photo from Pixabay.

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