Interior design blog | House tours, guides & expert interviews

Maximise space with bespoke and multi-functional furniture

Written by Lydia Tobin | Sep 22, 2023 2:47:16 PM

If we had a pound for every time someone asked us about bespoke fitted furniture, then we would design all your homes, free of charge. But for now, let's start with answering your questions about all things bespoke and how we can save you space in your home.

Our interior designers are passionate about beautiful home furnishings but what really excites them is finding new and creative multipurpose furniture that solves problems for our customers. After all, furniture should be both practical and aesthetically pleasing, and in recent years we are seeing some ingenious space-saving furniture designed to make your home work better for you. 

 

Learn more about how we can help you with bespoke furniture design. Book a free call here:

 

What is bespoke furniture?

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Unlike mass-produced pieces, bespoke furniture is meticulously tailored to your home's unique style and space.

Whether it's a luxurious sofa, a custom-made dining table, or a bespoke bookshelf, every aspect is carefully considered, from the choice of materials and finishes to the dimensions and intricate design details.

Bespoke furniture is designed to fit perfectly into all the nooks and crannies that your home has to offer, meaning that space and storage can be maximised!

 

Common places to fit bespoke furniture

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Whilst the professionals find that there are no two jobs the same, the majority of projects begin with awkward openings, widths and heights; for example, under-stair storage cupboards with pull-out drawers are becoming increasingly popular.

A classic space to fit bespoke furniture is often the two alcoves at either side of a chimney. This is where bespoke units really come into their own as each individual item is made to measure according to the allocated space. Alcove shelving is a great space for the avid reader to display their books, or can even be made into a tucked away desk area!

We talked to the experts at DIY Alcove Cabinets who create alcove cabinets (shocker!) and wardrobes 'supplied as a kit for you to fit.' So basically, they do the tricky bit (building the shelves and cabinets to exact dimensions) and then just send it across to you in a simple, flat pack package. You can then fit this yourself, or alternatively, hire a handyman to do the final leg.     

Alcove cabinets are one of our favourite ways to fill the space between your chimney and the wall, check out some of our favourite designs...

 

Start saving space in your home today and book a room design from £395:

 

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Often our clients struggle to fill the space around their chimney and this bespoke shelving is a perfect example, store books, family photos and mementoes around the chimney to build a beautiful wall space, all while saving the clutter in other spots in the home!

Looking for some more clever storage solutions? Why not read our blog here on how to cut the clutter in your home.

 

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

This Victorian semi was a perfect fit for some bespoke furniture and alcove shelving. Older homes often have some weird and wonderful spots that can be effortlessly filled with some unique fittings. 

 

See our house tour of this Victorian semi here...

 

Everything you need to know about bespoke wardrobes

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Getting a bespoke wardrobe fitted is a fabulous way to optimise storage while adding a touch of luxury to your space.

A lot of our clients fear that they may not have enough space for a bespoke wardrobe, the recommended depth of wardrobes is roughly 60cm. The depth is super important so all larger clothing can sit comfortably on the hangers on a standard rail without interfering with the closing of doors. The very minimum is 55cm if you are short on space.

Make sure you also envision your storage needs and communicate them to your designer. Do you need more hanging space, shelves, drawers, or shoe racks?

Remember that all aspects of interior design is a collaborative so it is crucial to discuss your needs and vision. 

 

Discuss your options for bespoke wardrobes today, book a free chat with a professional

 

How much can bespoke furniture cost?

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

A bespoke job will cost a bespoke price, because your house is as unique as you are. However, it does depend on which route you take. For example, DIY Alcove Cabinets prices start from just £400. On the other hand, you do have to consider budgeting for someone to complete the fitting process or taking the time out yourself to assemble the units. 

As every home is different, it can be hard to give a full estimate, but we're not going to keep you guessing and give you some approximate prices for the most popular bespoke jobs. Whether its a bespoke bookcase to showcase your favourite novels, a 4 door purpose made wardrobe or cabinets and shelves to fill those empty alcoves, you will be looking at anything from around £2000 for a full bespoke job.

 

Space saving furniture ideas

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Furniture doesn't always have to be bespoke and fitted to save you space. You can maximise space on a budget by thinking a little out of the box and finding pieces that are multifunctional. 

 

Struggling to maximise space in your home? Book a room design today from just £395!

 

Space saving hallway ideas

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

While many people understand the need for planning permission, building regulations can often get forgotten. These regulations set out all the safety If you are tired of falling over trainers and raincoats when you walk through your front door, then look at this clever peg board from Naken. Not only is it minimalist and sleek, but it’s also flexible as the pegs can be moved around for whatever functions you need. Whether it be hanging coats, placing keys or even putting some small decorative houseplants.

Looking for more tips to help you stay organised and make life a little easier? See our home organisation blog here.

 

Create more space in your living room

Image credit: Danetti

Want to have guests over but don’t have enough seats for everyone? Then you need a nesting stool set! 

The talented team over at Sofa.com have created the Woody Coffee Table. This multifunctional living room table features three stools that are ingeniously hidden under a stylish and contemporary, circular coffee table. 

The stylish furniture designers over at Danetti have also not missed this trick with their sleek and glamorous Thea Black Round Champagne Coffee Table Pouffe. Rest your cocktails and crunchy Wotsits on the top and simply pull out the pouffe underneath so your guests can rest easy. 

 

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

Some other great multifunctional furniture examples for living rooms are ottomans which can act as storage but also a comfortable seating option. Use an ottoman to store blankets for when the colder months come around.

 

Love the look of Ingmar's living room? Shop the look below:

 

Compact bedroom furniture

Image credit: Loaf

It shouldn’t be news to any of us that space-saving bedroom furniture often comes in the form of ottomans. However, have you seen Loaf’s bed in a bun? This squishy footstool comes in over 100 fab fabrics and has a handy sofa bed built inside! Perfect if you don’t have a spare bedroom or want to add to your kid's bedroom for when they have sleepovers. 

If you need a multifunctional bed to help you store everything you need in your bedroom then the IKEA, Brimnes bedframe is for you! It has so much storage, from the integrated storage in the headboard to the 4 large drawers built into the bed, perfect for storing all your big bedcovers. 

 

Multifunctional kid's bedroom furniture

Image Credit: My Bespoke Room

We love children's bedroom solutions! Our co-founder Diana is a big fan of multipurpose kids' furniture after purchasing a bunk bed with a built-in desk for her son. It’s the perfect space-saving piece that’s got the practical desk for cracking on with homework but also the fun and quirky element that a bunk bed must have. 

If your little one loves to have slumber parties and sleepovers then it may be a great investment to purchase a Stackable children's bed’s from IKEA. They’re easy to separate and when they are stacked it looks clean without feeling clunky like a lot of dual-function furniture can be. 

 

Want to discuss how our interior design services could help you maximise space? Book a free call now: