Help & advice

What materials are best for custom made furniture

Planning your bedroom renovation and thinking about storage? Solid wood, MFC, MDF, plywood, glass and mirrors are the most common materials used in the making of custom built furniture. Time to get planning!

Consider using recycled or reclaimed materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled glass, this reduces the environmental impact. Shop around for sustainable sourcing practices, finding FSC-certified wood (ensures that the materials used come from responsibly managed forests) is easier now than ever.

Solid wood

Hardwoods like Oak and Walnut are extremely durable and will stand the test of time. They have a quality finish, whilst softwoods like Pine and Cedar offer a more affordable option.

Planks of solid wood

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)

This is an engineered wood product made from wood fibre, often a good choice for affordability while still offering strength and durability. It has a smooth flat surface great for painting.

Sheets of stacked MDF boards

MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboards)

Made from wood chips and bonded with a melamine resin surface. MFC comes in a variety of designs and colours and is affordable, lightweight and functional. It has a low resistance to water however, so although the surface is wipe-clean, it will have a shorter life-span if exposed to any significant amount of water or a damp/humid environment.

Sheets of stacked MFC boards

Plywood

Made from thin layers (plies) of wood veneers glued together with their grain rotated with each layer. This cross-graining enhances the strength and stability of the sheet. Plywood comes in various grades, thicknesses, and types and is commonly used for furniture due to its strength, durability, and resistance to warping.

Stack of plywood boards

Glass or mirror

Glass or mirror (on the doors of wardrobes or cabinets) can help a room look spacious and light.

Wardrobe in bedroom with mirror panel

It goes without saying that if you haven't already, you'll want to make sure there is enough space for your custom made furniture in the room. Planning a bedroom remodel? Read more on planning the best layout for your bedroom.

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The current Reno app

Reno, our home renovation app, is the missing link between Pinterest and Checkatrade.

Starting with kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, we've built our renovation design and planning tool to guide you through key decisions, from big ones like layout to little ones like how to edge your tiles. We turn this into a neat, sharable brief that homeowners and trades can use for more realistic quotes.

Best of all, you can try it for free for one room.

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The Reno wishlist

We've got big plans! You can see where we're going on our product roadmap, and see what's new on Instagram. Our top priorities:

Support for more room types

Full renovation process including payments and maintenance

Tools to discuss and track changes

Automatic estimates, shopping lists and invoices

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