There’s more to furnishing a room than picking out fabric swatches or conducting a sit test: It’s a careful mix of palettes, proportions, and materials—and finding the right balance can be easier said than done. If you’re struggling to find items that are at home in your client’s space, a custom design may be your best option. Admittedly, enlisting a vendor to build a banquette or dining room table from scratch can be a timely and costly endeavor; however, the result is often well worth the investment.
“I’d advise exploring custom furniture if you’re dealing with a particularly awkward space where no ‘off the shelf’ pieces seem to work,” says Brooklyn-based designer Isy Runsewe. “It’s also a great investment if you have specific desires that you just can’t find anywhere else. We all appreciate having something special!”
Sidestepping store-bought might be an effective way to give a client’s home that one-of-a-kind edge, but it’s not exactly foolproof. Custom items have so many specific details that even the most discerning designer can mistakenly swerve into miscalculation. (And unlike off-the-shelf buys, these unique pieces don’t come with generous return or exchange policies.) To help, two interior designers shared the common pitfalls that often come with custom furniture—and how to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Mistake #1: Mistaking personalized furniture for custom furniture
“Custom” and “personalized” are often used interchangeably, but when it comes to furniture, San Francisco–based designer Maria Khouri argues that they have different denotations. “When you order custom furniture, you can choose the dimensions, materials, colors, finishes, and even specific design elements to match your vision,” she says. “The emphasis here is on creating something that’s tailored to your exact needs and desires.” Meanwhile, personalization typically refers to sprucing up a piece without necessarily starting from scratch.
“While you can personalize a sofa from West Elm by selecting the fabric, a truly customized design is created to the exact specifications you want,” Runsewe adds. “From the shape of the couch to its dimensions and materials—even its firmness!”
Though both options can give a room a unique touch, custom furniture is usually pricier than personalized as it often requires a higher caliber of craftsmanship. Additionally, since custom furniture is designed and built anew each time, it can take months to arrive at your client’s doorstep compared to the few weeks needed for a personalized piece. “Custom” and “personalized” are two very different processes, so it’s important to make sure you’re using the right jargon with your client. (After all, nobody wants to think they’re getting a custom sofa for a steal, only to find out that their new seat comes from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer.)
Mistake #2: Choosing an unqualified vendor
It doesn’t matter how much it costs or how gorgeous the sketches were, custom furniture will always fall short if it’s not in the hands of a qualified, reliable vendor. To help find a craftsperson who will provide a smooth experience, Runsewe encourages designers to do their research. “Ask around, read reviews, and look at their websites and social media accounts,” she recommends. “You can always ask them for referrals and past clients that you can speak with directly.”
That said, just because you’ve had a positive encounter with one vendor doesn’t mean they should be your go-to option for all your custom needs. Runsewe points out that while some craftspeople might be well-versed in certain pieces or materials, they might not be as knowledgeable about others. “It’s important to have a network of people who are talented, and know both their strengths and their limitations,” she shares. “Even better if they can suggest a specialist when their skill set falls short.”
Speaking of which, here’s your sign to share your positive (or negative) vendor experiences with your community. Though keeping your sources close to the vest can seemingly give you a leg up on the competition, referring your favorite craftspeople is one pro move that’ll help you rack up some good karma in the industry.
Mistake #3: Prioritizing form over function
Everyone might want gorgeous custom furniture worthy of an AD Open Door visit, but designers should never lose sight of its function. “It’s quite easy to get carried away with a particular design, simply focusing on the ‘look’ of an item,” says Runsewe. “Designing anything custom without considering its intended use and context can result in a piece that just doesn't help the space function as desired, let alone as needed.” Throughout the design process, remember to ask yourself if the latest iteration still serves its proposed function.
To strike the right balance of beauty and brains, Runsewe encourages pros to ask vendors for photo and video updates to track a piece’s progress. “You may think it drives some vendors mad, but many understand,” she shares. “They also want to be sure they’ve created something the clients will truly love.”
Mistake #4: Messing up the measurements
Since many designers choose custom to create furniture for a very specific area, you won’t want to fumble your figures. “Designers have to triple-check all dimensions and specifications when working on custom furniture and make sure that everything is very clearly outlined in the contract,” says Khouri. “In addition to a written scope, they should also confirm the details verbally, as some people don’t read proposals all the way through.”
Not only is it important to confirm all dimensions down to the millimeter, but Khouri also recommends double-checking the unit of measurement. “I once had an assistant from Spain who requested the dimensions of a chandelier in [meters] instead of inches,” she shares. “When the chandelier arrived, it was huge! Luckily, we were able to box it back up before they ever saw, but that was a close one.”
Grow your business in 2024 with the AD PRO Directory
Mistake #5: Underestimating the lead time
Good things come to those who wait—and custom furniture is no exception. From sourcing the right materials to putting the piece together, the entire process can take months—and that’s before you factor in shipping delays or supply chain hiccups. That’s exactly why Runsewe says it’s important to relay a realistic timeline to your clients. “As a rule of thumb, I often double the amount of time I’m given by furniture vendors,” she says. “[It’s] far better for an item to surprisingly arrive early than having to go back to your clients repeatedly to explain delays.” While slowdowns are often out of a designer’s control, clear and honest communication will help manage your clients’ expectations.
Mistake #6: Charging your client for mistakes
Despite your best efforts, mistakes still happen. So, who should pay for them? Well, it depends on what went wrong. “The client should never pay for a mistake,” says Khouri. “It is usually between the designer and the manufacturer depending on the nature of the error that was made.”
For example, a vendor should foot the bill if they accidentally ordered the wrong wood species. But if the mishap happened on your watch, you’ll be financially responsible for the piece. “I once took incorrect measurements for drapes and had an entire set of custom drapes arrive two feet short,” Runsewe shares. “This was absolutely my miscalculation, so of course I covered the cost to have them remade.” For most small-business owners, an unexpected expense is less than ideal; however, it can double as a valuable lesson. Or as Runsewe puts it, “A costly mistake I luckily never made again!”
