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Custom Furniture

Custom Furniture near you

Made-to-order tables, benches and other wood furniture. Tell us about your custom furniture project and we’ll help you find local furniture makers who serve your area.

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Custom furniture is made to order for one client: a dining table sized for the room and the family, a bed with storage in its base, a desk that fits an awkward alcove, a bench for the front hall or a dresser in a wood that matches the rest of the house. A furniture maker designs the piece with you, builds it in a workshop and delivers it finished, usually in solid wood with joinery that can be repaired rather than thrown away.

Unlike built-ins, which are fastened to the walls and become part of the house, a custom piece stands on its own and moves with you. That shapes the questions worth asking: how the wood will behave through dry heated winters and humid summers, which finish suits daily use, how a tall piece is kept from tipping, and how deposits and delivery dates work when nothing is built until you approve the design.

For bookcases, window seats and media walls built into a room, see our built-ins page. Here we cover the pieces makers build, design and approval, wood species and panels, finishes, tip-over safety, seasonal care and the terms of a custom order.

Custom furniture pieces: dining tables, beds, dressers, desks and benches

  • Dining and kitchen tables sized to the room and the seating you need, with a base that leaves space for legs and chairs.
  • Beds and headboards, including platform and storage beds and frames that suit an attic bedroom with sloped ceilings.
  • Dressers, sideboards and cabinets, where drawer construction and runners decide how the piece feels every day.
  • Desks and home office furniture with cable routing and a working height that suits the person using it.
  • Reproductions and matching pieces, such as a chair added to an existing set or a copy of a family heirloom.

Designing custom furniture: sketches, drawings, samples and approval

A good maker starts with how the piece will be used and where it will stand, not just a photo you liked. Expect to discuss dimensions, species, finish and hardware, then approve the design in writing before any wood is cut.

  • Measure the delivery route, including doorways, stair turns and elevators, since a large piece may need to be built to come apart.
  • Sketches or renderings come first, followed by dimensioned drawings showing the size, joinery, drawer layout and hardware.
  • Ask to see the actual species and finish on an offcut, because colour shifts with the finish and with the light in your room.
  • Sign off on the drawings, finish sample and price together, and confirm any later change in writing.
  • A shop visit or photos before finishing is the last easy moment to adjust details.

Hardwood species, plywood and formaldehyde in custom furniture

Each species brings its own colour, grain and hardness. Maple is pale, hard and smooth; oak is strong with an open, pronounced grain; cherry starts pinkish and darkens noticeably with light; walnut is a rich brown that machines and carves well; ash has a bold grain much like oak. Pine and other softwoods dent easily, which suits a rustic look but not a busy dining table. Some makers can also source locally milled or reclaimed lumber.

Not every part is solid wood. Drawer bottoms, backs and wide panels are often plywood or MDF, which stay flat, sometimes veneered to match. Health Canada counts composite wood such as particleboard and MDF among indoor sources of formaldehyde. Federal regulations cap formaldehyde emissions from these panels, including when they're built into finished furniture, and require compliance labels, so ask the maker which panels they use.

Oil, lacquer or varnish: choosing a finish for custom wood furniture

The finish decides how the piece looks, how it wears and how it gets repaired. Choose it for how the piece will be used, and see it on a sample of your chosen species.

  • Penetrating oils soak into the wood for a natural, low-sheen look and are easy to refresh, but resist water rings and heat less well.
  • Hardwax oils add wax for better water resistance while keeping a matte surface you can repair in spots.
  • Lacquer, usually sprayed in the shop, dries into a smooth, crisp film that is harder to spot-repair once worn through.
  • Varnish and other hard film finishes resist water and wear best, suiting tables and desks, though damage often means refinishing the whole top.
  • Paint over a proper primer suits painted pieces, with a tough clear topcoat on surfaces that take daily wear.

Anchoring tall custom furniture to prevent tip-overs

A freestanding dresser, bookcase or wardrobe can pitch forward when a child climbs open drawers or several heavy drawers are pulled out at once. Health Canada advises anchoring furniture to the wall with anti-tip devices such as angle braces or safety straps, fastened to a stud or with heavy-duty drywall anchors made for that type of furniture, and keeping heavier things in the lowest drawers. With a custom piece, you can plan for this from the first drawing.

  • Ask the maker to supply anti-tip hardware and leave a solid rail at the back to fasten it to.
  • Health Canada also suggests locking devices on drawers so young children can't use them as steps.
  • A television on a dresser or media unit should be secured to it, and to the wall where possible.
  • Reinstall the anchors after every move, because the hardware comes off when the furniture travels.

Caring for solid wood furniture through dry winters and humid summers

Wood swells as it takes in moisture and shrinks as it dries, mostly across its width. Indoor air in Canada is dry through the heating season and humid in summer, so a solid tabletop moves with the seasons. Skilled makers allow for it: tabletops are attached with fasteners that let them slide slightly, and door panels float in their frames instead of being glued tight.

  • Keep pieces away from heating vents, baseboard heaters, wood stoves and strong direct sun, which dry and fade wood unevenly.
  • Use coasters, trivets and pads, since heat and standing water mark most finishes.
  • Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth and skip silicone polishes, which complicate refinishing later.
  • Small gaps that open between boards in winter and close in summer are normal movement, not a defect.

Deposits, lead times and what belongs in a custom furniture agreement

Because nothing is built until you commit, most makers take a deposit to reserve shop time and buy the wood, with the balance due around delivery. Lead times depend on the maker's backlog, the size of the piece, wood availability and the finish, which may need time to cure before the piece can go out.

  • Attach the approved drawings, species, finish sample and hardware to the agreement.
  • Set out the deposit, the payment schedule and what happens to the deposit if you cancel after the wood is cut.
  • Include an estimated completion window and how you'll be told about delays.
  • Cover delivery, carrying in, anchoring and damage in transit, plus what the workmanship guarantee covers and excludes.

Custom Furniture: frequently asked questions

What's the difference between custom furniture and built-ins?

Custom furniture is freestanding and moves with you, while built-ins are fastened to the walls and scribed to the room, so they stay with the house. Our built-ins page covers bookcases, window seats and media walls.

Which wood is best for a custom dining table?

Hard, stable species such as maple, oak and walnut are common choices, paired with a durable finish for daily meals. Cherry is prized for the way it darkens. Ask to see samples finished exactly as your table will be.

Why do gaps appear in my solid wood table in winter?

Dry winter air makes wood shrink across its width. Small seasonal gaps between boards are normal; a split running into a board or joints working loose is worth showing to the maker.

Does custom furniture give off formaldehyde?

Plywood, particleboard and MDF parts can release some, according to Health Canada. Federal regulations limit emissions from those panels, including when they're built into furniture, so ask the maker which panels they use and whether they comply.

How much of a deposit does a furniture maker ask for?

It varies by maker and project. Expect a deposit to reserve shop time and buy materials, with the amount, payment schedule and cancellation terms spelled out in writing.

Sources

  1. Health Canada: Formaldehyde in your home
  2. Justice Laws: Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (SOR/2021-148)
  3. Health Canada: Furniture, appliance and television tip-overs

Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Last reviewed September 10, 2026.

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What affects the cost of custom furniture

Prices depend on the details of your project. We only publish price ranges when they’re backed by real LokalMatch quote data or reliable sources. Until then, here’s what usually changes the price:

  • Size and complexity of the piece or structure
  • Wood species or material
  • Custom design compared with standard sizes
  • Hardware, railings and finishing
  • Removal of what's there now
  • Permits and drawings, where needed

How to compare furniture makers before you hire

  • Choose a carpenter whose past work matches your project, whether that's framing, trim, built-ins, stairs or a deck.
  • Ask for drawings or a clear description of what will be built, including materials and finishes.
  • For decks, stairs and railings, ask whether a permit is needed, since these are safety items.
  • Get a written quote that says who supplies materials and whether finishing, such as painting or staining, is included.
  • Ask how they'll handle surprises like rot or uneven walls and floors.

Questions to ask furniture makers before you hire

  • Can you show me photos of similar work you've done?
  • What materials will you use, and why?
  • Does this project need a permit, and will you get it?
  • Is finishing, such as sanding, painting or staining, included?
  • How will you attach the work to the existing structure?
  • What warranty do you offer on your workmanship?

Custom furniture permits and local rules

Some custom furniture work needs a permit or has to meet local bylaws. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your pro whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it — and check with your city or town if you’re unsure.

Permits and licensing

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