Many people shop for furniture at well known, big-box stores. It's easy and convenient to just browse for Fast Furniture that you can normally leave with that day. This is the experience most are accustomed to. What are you actually paying for when you purchase from these bigger companies? A lot of your money is going towards their rent, employee costs and miscellaneous overhead. 

This table shows a breakdown of where the costs come from.

With custom furniture, you're paying for hand-selected quality wood, durability, longevity, and a unique design to fit exactly what you want.

Quality

We hand select each board and evaluate it on various characteristics. Each board is checked for signs of bowing, cupping, twisting or cracking. The color and grain is also checked to ensure they are all consistent with each other. With Fast Furniture, quality is the first thing sacrificed. They keep prices low by using particle board, MDF, laminates or softwoods. Poor quality wood isn't durable and won't last.

Durability

Various factors affect durability. The first line of defense is choosing the right type of wood. Hardwoods are normally selected as they naturally resist dents and scratches. However, the most important factor is how the furniture is designed and constructed - this is what determines how durable it will be. Before construction even begins, choices on structural integrity has to be thoroughly thought through to ensure the strongest design. You'll never know if it's built too strong, but you'll definitely know when it's not.

Longevity 

Quality + Durability = Longevity

When hardwood custom furniture is designed and built the right way, it should last generations. If dings or scratches do appear over time, you can have it refinished or repaired. Fast Furniture that use low quality materials like veneer or particle board, make it nearly impossible to repair - you just have to throw it away.

Unique Design

Custom furniture is designed exactly how you want it. It's a collaboration between you and the woodworker. Owning furniture that you helped design gives you a unique sense of pride, and creates heirloom pieces your family will be proud to pass down for generations.

I understand that not everyone is in a position to spend a little extra on custom furniture. When I purchased my first house, I needed furniture and wasn't concerned with how long it lasted - it just needed to get me by. As time went on, the furniture started to wear out and break down. I wasn't surprised. I got what I paid for. A quick fix at the time actually ended up costing more in the long run. Fast Furniture just doesn't have the quality and durability of hand-crafted furniture. 

If it makes sense for your situation, consider looking into custom furniture when you need something new.