Having anything custom-made will always be pricier than buying the same item off the shelf. But the truth is that custom items—like clothing or furniture—can be a savvy investment of money. If you’re thinking about going with custom furniture, here are a few factors to consider:

• Quality of materials – A lot of mass furniture producers use poor quality materials (such as particle board) to build their furniture. If you want high quality items built to last, you’ll definitely want to go with custom furniture built with durable materials.

• Appearance – Instead of that “stock furniture” look, custom furniture can give your home a beautiful “one of a kind” appearance. Not only can you get furniture that’s built exactly the way you want it, but you can find items made using reclaimed wood—giving your furniture an authentic appearance.

• Sustainability – Mass furniture producers tend to favor low costs over quality, and they rarely take the environment into account. They tend to go for the cheapest material, which often misuses available resources. Custom furniture, on the other hand, can be made using sustainable wood, recycled material, or reclaimed wood. You have more control over just how eco-friendly your furniture is.

• Better quality build – Instead of trying to put together the furniture as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible, custom furniture is built with a quality design and hours invested into ensuring it is durable.

• Better joinery work – Joinery is the name given to the practice of joining the pieces of furniture together. Custom furniture is built with quality joinery, meaning the joints of the furniture will last longer.

• Your design – When buying stock furniture, you can only pick from among the options presented in the furniture store. With custom furniture, you can present a design and have it built the way you want it.

• Fit – Are you trying to fit a certain amount of furniture into a specific room in your house? Stock furniture may not offer the dimensions you want, meaning you end up with a less-than-ideal furnishing. With custom furniture, you can have it built to the precise fit.

• Expertise – What will look better: a piece of furniture built in a factory, or a piece assembled by an expert craftsman? The former will definitely be cheaper, but the latter will last longer and look better.

In the end, custom furniture is worth every penny extra you’ll pay. You get durability, reliability, and sustainability at a higher price point, but the short-term increase in price is well worth it in the long run!