Before the age of the Industrial Revolution, much of our furniture was, you guessed it, made by bespoke furniture makers. But, elaborately carved oak dressing tables, beds and wardrobes soon became a thing of the past.
The significant furniture manufacturing advancements of the 18th and 19th centuries quickly made flat-pack furniture cheaper, more accessible and more popular.
One-of-a-kind furniture is making a resurgence, and bespoke furniture makers are busier than ever.
So, anyone searching for ‘bespoke furniture makers near me’, this guide is for you.
Find talented bespoke furniture makers near you
If your home would benefit from a piece or two of hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces of wood furniture, you need talented bespoke furniture makers near you. But how do you find them?
Check out two easy ways to find a bespoke furniture maker near you;
Option 1: Request a quote
If you’re short on time, use our ‘request a quote form’. With just a few basic details you can list your bespoke furniture job, and local bespoke furniture makers will contact you shortly.
Follow these steps:
- Add your details to the form
- Let us know what work you need
- We’ll search our leading directory for you
- Our approved furniture makers in your area will contact you to discuss your vision
Option 2: Browse our online trade directory
Or, if you have some free time to browse, type in your postcode and search our large online UK directory of homeowner-reviewed bespoke furniture makers.
It’s an easy way to find highly recommended bespoke furniture makers in your local area.
Your questions answered about bespoke furniture makers
What do bespoke furniture makers do?
Bespoke furniture makers create unique pieces of furniture tailored to their client’s specifications. UK-made furniture that is bespoke will usually be unique, beautiful and functional, depending on what their clients ask for.
But bespoke furniture makers also create custom wood furniture based on their own designs to sell online or in markets. If you’d prefer to choose from a selection of custom-made wood furniture rather than wait for a bespoke piece, you can search for ‘custom wood furniture makers near me.’
Why is bespoke furniture better?
Whether you’re after a custom-made coffee table, dining table, fitted wardrobe, or under-stairs library, a bespoke furniture maker can design, create and install furniture to suit your brief.
When you hire a bespoke furniture maker, you can choose the furniture’s style, shape, size or design.
What is the difference between custom and bespoke furniture?
Bespoke furniture UK style are pieces of furniture, home decor or storage designed and manufactured to be individual to the customer.
In contrast, custom furniture makers make limited numbers of furniture from pre-existing designs, altering a few specific elements to create new pieces.
Types of bespoke furniture
Furniture that’s hand-made is better for originality, clever storage, and durability. When you look for ‘bespoke furniture makers near me’, your furniture choices are endless.
Here are some of the most popular bespoke furniture options;
- Staircases
- Wine racks
- Vanity units
- Garden furniture
- Kitchen cabinets
- Bathroom cabinets
- Dining room tables
- Home office desks
- Media walls and TV units
- Walk-in wardrobes, cupboards, and shelving
However, bespoke or custom-made furniture for commercial properties like offices, hotels, salons, cafes and restaurants is an increasingly popular option.
How much do bespoke furniture makers charge?
How much your bespoke furniture will cost you will depend on the materials, time, complexity and effort required of your bespoke furniture maker.
Generally, you’ll pay more for bespoke furniture rather than mass-produced furniture. However, hand-made furniture is often sturdier and hardwearing in comparison to flat-packed furniture, making it a good investment in the long-run.
Best, each independent bespoke furniture maker and national company’s prices vary. Before commissioning a furniture piece, always contact a custom furniture maker for a direct and written quote.
Bespoke furniture can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred pounds for a small piece like a radiator cover, to thousands for larger items like complete garden furniture sets.
Trending bespoke furniture
Whether hand-carved, intricate, chunky, industrial, classic or rustic, the options for trending bespoke furniture are aplenty.
Some of the more popular UK-made furniture choices include;
1. Sustainable furniture
Buying hand-made, customised furniture that lasts for decades to come is one of the easiest ways to do your bit for the environment.
Spending extra money on your custom-made furniture means you’re more likely to keep hold of it and avoid buying cheap, disposable furniture in the future.
The popularity of furniture handmade from recycled materials is also on the rise.
2. Vintage pieces
Another way to make your furniture choices more sustainable is to opt for vintage or second-hand designs. Choosing previously loved, vintage furniture is better than new for the environment, your wallet and it doesn’t involve any assembly (unlike flat-packed furniture).
Bespoke furniture makers are always on the hunt for antique furniture to reclaim, restore or recycle.
3. Painted furniture
Painted furniture is another style of furniture gaining traction, probably because it is versatile and customisable.
Painting wooden furniture looks great in both modern and traditional homes. Choosing contemporary colours can help brighten a quiet, classic colour scheme and avoid those beige flags in interior design.
4. That 70s furniture
The retro style of the 1970s is booming in popularity as a style full of energy and innovation. Custom-made 1970s furniture brings a sense of fun and quirkiness to any home.
When looking for 70s-style custom furniture, search for ‘custom wood furniture makers near me.’ When checking their reviews and photos you’re likely to see orange or burnt orange accent colours, acrylic coffee tables, bronze finishes, bright colour palettes, floral upholstery, rustic rattan, or striking ‘space-age’ furniture.
5. Combining styles
UK interiors are embracing a combination of styles, from retro furniture to classic patterns, bold vintage colour palettes and maximalist designs.
Homeowners can integrate yesteryear’s charm with today’s modern design functionality to result in elegant and comforting pieces of furniture.
Like these bespoke furniture ideas? Check out these 28 built-in wardrobe ideas for more.
Questions to ask a ‘bespoke furniture maker near me’
Before you commission your piece of furniture or decide between local and national bespoke furniture makers near you, ask these fundamental questions.
Can you show me some examples of your past work?
Before you agree to pay or sign any contracts, be confident in the ability of your bespoke furniture maker. One of the easiest ways to do this is to ask for examples of previously completed furniture projects.
Most bespoke furniture companies will use social media to advertise their services, so always check out their website, social media channel, or Checkatrade profile.
All Checkatrade members have a business profile that allows them to display photos of their past work and any customer reviews they’ve received. Check out these profiles before you make any decisions based on your ‘wood furniture makers near me’ search.
Do you have insurance?
Always ask a tradesperson if they have insurance, even bespoke furniture makers. This is especially true if you order furniture items like fitted wardrobes or kitchen cabinets.
If anything is accidentally damaged while your wardrobes or cabinets are being fitted, your tradesperson is covered to rectify this damage.
All Checkatrade members listed in our directory must have current public liability insurance, giving you peace of mind.
When can you do the work?
You might think that waiting for a furniture maker to complete the work is a bad thing, but it’s not. The opposite is true, tradespeople in high demand usually do a great job an are often in high demand.
The most skilled tradespeople get quickly booked, so get quotes as early as possible so you can find the best custom furniture maker near you.
How much do you charge for bespoke furniture?
Before you agree to any work, always ask how much it will cost to have your bespoke furniture designed, constructed and possibly fitted. Obtain quotes from two or three (at least) furniture makers to compare the different quotes against the other tradespeople in your area.
Ensure the furniture maker you decide on provides a written quote detailing what is included, such as materials, labour and parts.
Do you provide a warranty?
Always ask if your new bespoke furniture has a limited-time warranty or satisfaction guarantee to ensure you’re happy with the end product.
We can help you with this, too. When you find a bespoke furniture maker through Checkatrade, you will receive a guarantee for up to 12 months with a claim of up to £1,000 (exclusions and terms and conditions apply).
How do I find the best bespoke furniture maker near me?
To be confident in the bespoke furniture maker you’ve chosen, you can follow our three steps to find a trusted tradesperson.
- Check reviews – before hiring a custom-made furniture maker, always read reviews and check for pictures of any completed work you can find online – or request photos directly
- Obtain 2 to 3 written quotes – this will help you determine how fair the quote is
- Use Checkatrade – Checkatrade members go through 12 checks before becoming members and must adhere to all Checkatrade standards.
Checkatrade can help you find a tradesperson for any home improvement project, big or small. Pop your postcode into the box below or check out this article, ‘how to find a good tradesperson.’