Hand-Made vs Factory-Made Furniture

When is it best to order tailor-made furniture? Is factory-made furniture a good choice?

The selection of furniture available in an overcrowded marketplace can be overwhelming so we’ve put together a few pointers to help you to answer these questions.

fallow and ball hall stand

Above: https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/farrow-and-ball-hall-stand-in-all-sizes

1. Maximise Space

There are a number of factors to consider when thinking about storage space in your home. How high are the ceilings? Are there some small spaces that could be used for storage if you could find just the right piece? Is there an area where it would be convenient to have a little extra storage space but not essential?

If you’re lucky enough to live in a property with high ceilings, which often feature in older style properties, a wonderful way of gaining extra storage space is to go tall with your cupboards. Locating a factory-made piece to fit is not impossible but it is likely to be a compromise; if the height is right, other dimensions might not be. Even if the desired size is found, the choice of style and finish is then restricted according to that size.

Often, there is a location within the home that would be the ideal space for an extra item that just wouldn’t fit anywhere else. A hallway is the perfect example, where a stand for shoes, coats and other miscellaneous items can be tailored to fit a particular space without interfering in the walking area.

farrow and ball collection

Above: https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/collections/farrow-and-ball-painted-furniture

2. Storage Where You Need It

Factory pieces tend to come with names to describe their intended location, such as ‘bedside cabinet’, ‘dining table’ and so on. Oddities can be harder to name. How about a kitchen cupboard that doubles up as a sideboard? You might even want to put castors on it so that you can move it on a whim. What about a tall, thin cupboard or bookcase with shelves, to fit in a tight alcove? What are the chances of finding a factory-made unit in the exact size? Invariably, a compromise has to be made, resulting in a piece of furniture that’s only 75% what was originally wanted. Bespoke furniture can cost less than you think and surely it’s always worth investigating before ‘settling’ on second-best.

farrow and ball painted arch topped glazed dresser

Above: https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/farrow-and-ball-painted-arch-topped-glazed-dresser-in-3-sizes

3. Size

It goes without saying that factory-made furniture comes in standard sizes. It would not be economical to produce and deliver in multiple odd sizes. This can work well with a little luck but more often than not, an item of furniture is needed to fit in a specific area. Especially when choosing an investment piece to last some years, such as a dresser, it is well worth ordering to precisely the correct size, including any interior fittings that may be required such as drawers, shelves and cupboards.

modern painted furniture

Above: https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/collections/modern-painted-oak-collection

4. Location

When creating a room within a room, such as a home office area, the furniture should be selected according to its intended location rather than the other way around. Measure the area and establish how much space can be allocated to everything you need to have in the room (desk, chair, filing cabinet and so on). Stick masking tape on the floor to mark where the furniture will be placed and then walk away and think about it. If on looking at the room afresh, you think it’s going to look cluttered, you can alter the dimensions of your intended furniture. This procedure is much more difficult to implement using factory-made furniture with its prescribed dimensions.

modo painted beds

Above: https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/modo-painted-high-end-beds-in-all-sizes

5. Personalisation

A massive benefit of hand-made furniture that factory-made furniture can never compete with is the ability to personalise it to encompass everything desired from that piece of furniture. For example, a bed can be crafted to include or exclude drawers, headboards and footboards, can be made to a specific size, can be painted in the colour of choice and have handles in any finish. This is truly a personalised touch and sets bespoke furniture in an elevated league of its own.



from List Posts from Furniture 4 Your Home https://www.furniture4yourhome.co.uk/blog/post/hand-made-vs-factory-made-furniture
via Furniture4YourHome

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