Investing in custom furniture allows you to own unique, specialized pieces made exactly to your specifications. When exploring furniture, there are several key questions you should ask a custom furniture builder during the process.
1. What Specific Materials and Brands Do You Use?
The quality of the materials selected greatly impacts the overall durability, longevity, and cost of your custom pieces. Many custom furniture builders work with solid wood species, upholstered fabrics, and more. Ask for samples of available finishes and wood grain patterns from quality materials they source. Reputable furniture makers will only select and integrate premium materials.
2. What Is Your Design Background and Area of Expertise?
It’s important to look for custom furniture builders who have specialized experience crafting the types of pieces you want. Ask for detailed examples of past furniture projects they’ve built in the specific style you envision, whether modern, contemporary, farmhouse, or traditional. Reviewing their design portfolio shows the level of artistry, skills, and range of what they can produce.
3. How Long Is Your Typical Lead Time?
Since quality custom pieces are built completely from scratch to your specifications, it typically takes weeks to months for full furniture completion and delivery. Understanding the typical timeframes the builder requires and their current production schedule is essential. Custom work cannot and should not be rushed — quality furniture requires time and meticulous attention to detail from builders.
4. What Financing Options Are Available?
Reputable furniture builders offer financing options for their work. At Furniture in the Raw, our team offers a few payment options to ensure you can take your custom pieces home. Our 90-day payment plans through Acima allow you to take your custom pieces home and pay gradually. No credit check is needed — you will need proof of income, a three-month income history with your current employer, and a bank account free of excessive overdrafts and negative balances.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture a year, creating waste that has increased 450% since 1960. Doing your due diligence by clearly communicating with furniture designers and makers upfront ensures you invest in and receive custom products you’ll genuinely enjoy for decades. Purchasing quality furniture will extend your usage of it. If you’re ready to start creating custom furniture for your home, call Furniture in the Raw today!
