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Living Room With Blue Couches

Recently I came across an Instagram story posted by a DIY influencer that I follow, and I was compelled to send her a quick message. Let me start by saying I’m not usually that type of person; however, this individual has over 1 million followers, and I wanted to clarify something that she said. “How horrible was it?” you may be asking yourself. Not horrible. But being in the design industry, it was something I needed to comment on.

Said influencer was sofa shopping for her new home. She was strolling through Crate & Barrel and had settled on a sofa. It was only $2,049.00, AND it was custom. “Yeah? And?” you might be thinking. Let me explain…

It does feel custom to the everyday buyer who walks into these types of stores (i.e., Crate & Barrel, Urban Barn, Pottery Barn, etc.), where you can pick your fabric and sofa size. But this is semi-custom, and yes, there is a difference. To give you an analogy, it would be like saying you completed a marathon when you did a half marathon. It’s only partially true.

Bedroom With Mirror

“So, what’s the difference?”

Semi-custom allows you to pick certain basic features to help create the look you want. There are generally only a few characteristics you are allowed to change (or customize). You can still get a great sofa that will look different from the same sofa Joe Smith purchased at the same store at a relatively reasonable price point. A semi-custom sofa is an excellent option if you want something a bit different than the floor model but still need it relatively quickly, at a reasonable price.

White Sofa
Grey Sofa

Gather Deep Sofa: Semi-customizable at Crate & Barrel

Custom (aka Made to Order) allows you to control what the piece will look and feel like.

Do you want a teal green sofa with a patterned back? Sure. Do you want down-filled back cushions with standard fill seat cushions? No problem. Take away the nail heads on the perimeter of the sofa and put them on the front of the arms? You bet. Custom is limited to your imagination. If you are truly starting from scratch and building from the ground up (so to speak), the price tag will reflect that.

However, you can also get a custom piece where the frame has already been mapped out at a very reasonable price from a design trade showroom through a decorator or a designer. In my experience with clients, custom is not as pricey as one might think … especially if it’s that elusive piece you can’t find anywhere.

At the end of the day, one is not necessarily better than the other. What matters is that you are getting a piece you love, whether semi-custom or custom. I will only ask one thing of you. Please don’t call it custom if it’s semi-custom … ok?

Alex Rose Interiors

www.alexroseinteriors.com/home