Custom or ready-made furniture: which is the better value for your home

Custom furniture is the better value when every centimetre counts, when you need it to last and when the room is not standard. Ready-made furniture from a store works if you need it fast, the budget is minimal and the room matches standard module sizes. Here is where the real difference lies.

Use of space

Ready-made furniture comes in standard sizes: module widths in fixed steps and one or two typical heights. In a real apartment there are almost always gaps between the wardrobe and the wall, and empty space above it up to the ceiling where dust collects.

Custom furniture is designed for a specific room:

• Niches. A wardrobe is built into the niche completely, without gaps or untidy filler panels.
• Up to the ceiling. Top cabinets add space for seasonal items, suitcases and blankets.
• Non-standard walls. Sloped ceilings, projections, utility boxes and uneven corners are all taken into account during measuring and design.
• Interior fittings. Shelves, rails, drawers and baskets are arranged for your belongings, not for an average buyer.

As a result, noticeably more fits into the same floor area, and the room looks neater.

Materials and service life

Some budget store models are made of thin board with edging only on the visible sides. Moisture gets into the open edges, and over time the board can swell, especially in a kitchen or bathroom.

With custom furniture you choose the materials. At MICASA the carcass is made of laminated chipboard, and the facades of Egger laminated chipboard, AGT Supramat MDF, painted MDF (including milled designs) or wood veneer. Edging is applied on all sides with PUR glue, which gives higher moisture resistance, and drilling is done at the factory. Hardware comes from Blum (Austria), FGV (Italy) and GTV (Poland). The furniture has a 3-year warranty, with the terms set out in the contract.

Price per metre: what to compare fairly

At first glance ready-made furniture is cheaper. But it is worth comparing not the price tag but what you get per running metre:

• how much storage space actually fits;
• what hardware is used, with soft-close or without;
• whether you need to buy extra filler panels, shelves or top cabinets;
• how long the furniture will last without repairs or replacing hinges.

As a guide: a straight 3 m custom kitchen with Blum hardware costs from 5,900 to 12,500 ₾ depending on the facades. The exact price is calculated after the design and fixed in the contract, so the total will not grow during the work without your consent.

Lead time

Ready-made furniture can be picked up immediately or within a few days. Custom furniture takes time: design, approval, production and installation. At MICASA production usually takes about two months after the design is approved and the final contract is signed; the exact lead time is written in the contract. Production stages and payments are visible in the personal client account.

When ready-made furniture makes sense

Ready-made furniture is a reasonable choice if:

• you are renting and will move soon;
• you need a freestanding piece, such as a chest of drawers, a bedside table or a shelving unit, and exact dimensions do not matter;
• you need furniture urgently, for the duration of a renovation;
• the room is standard and typical modules fit without gaps.

For a kitchen, a built-in wardrobe or a walk-in closet that you install for years, custom furniture usually pays off: it fills the space precisely and lasts longer.

See your option before you decide

It is easier to compare when you can see the result. Send us your dimensions and we will prepare a free 3D design and a 360° panorama before you sign a contract, remotely if needed. This way you will see in advance how the furniture fits your room and how much it will cost. Get a quote