When decking out your living space, it quickly becomes clear that one size does not fit all.
It’s why many opt for a custom sofa — a made-to-order piece of furniture tailored to your specific needs, style, and space.
For some of us, designing and customising an entire sofa might seem daunting.
However, you can use it as a chance to be inspired by interior design trends.
Take the iconic bubble sofa — a unique piece which in our opinion looks like giant marshmallows stuck together.
What could be more inviting?
Some say this soft furnishing gained traction because of former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, whose light grey sofa became popular on Instagram.
In fact, hers is a custom sofa designed to resemble the famed Elysee sofa by Pierre Paulin — a famous designer who is known for their French designs.
The bubble sofa design has been spotted in many celebrity homes, including Robert Downey Jr and Hailey Bieber.
If rounded furniture forms are simply not your thing, you can take inspiration from elsewhere.
Hop on the whimsigoth trend and look at antique furniture, or explore interesting pieces by luxury sofa experts such as King Living.
Don’t let your fears with design hold you back as there are many benefits to a custom sofa.
The good: Custom sofa benefits
It’s not a common couch that everyone has, it is made for you.
Custom options let you choose the dimensions, fabric, colour, cushion firmness, and design details, giving you full control over how it looks and feels.
This flexibility means a custom sofa can be crafted to fit snugly into a tricky nook, coordinate perfectly with your decor, or provide just the right level of comfort.
You would essentially be creating a sofa that is a true reflection of your personal style, tailored precisely to fit your lifestyle and living space.
Want a velvet couch in a brilliant teal with low arms and deep seats? Done.
Prefer a modern silhouette in eco-friendly linen? Yours.
A custom sofa lets you bring your interior design dreams to life, ensuring a one-of-a-kind piece that suits your exact vision.
You know that feeling of sitting on a sofa that’s a bit too soft or way too firm?
A custom option would allow you to curate cushion firmness, the seat depth, and even the angle of the backrest.
From organic cotton to recycled fabrics and low-VOC finishes, a custom sofa can also be a sustainable choice.
You’ll find more eco-conscious options available than with ready-made sofas, so you can rest easy on your ethical masterpiece.
While we can certainly laud the many benefits of this bespoke furniture option, there are a few downsides.
The bad: Custom sofa drawbacks
It’s not all sunshine and seamless seating. Custom sofas come with their share of challenges.
High cost and budget constraints
Custom doesn’t come cheap. From design fees to premium materials, the costs can add up fast.
According to the Business Insider, a custom two-seater can cost more than US $1,500, while a sectional is over US $4,000.
You’re not just buying a piece of furniture; you’re paying for a little piece of art. It’s a big investment.
Make sure your wallet is ready for the commitment.
Longer wait times
Patience, grasshopper.
Custom sofas can take weeks — or even months — to arrive.
Every inch of fabric, every seam, and every cushion gets its due care, which means lead times can stretch far longer than your average delivery window.
It’s a double edged sword — you get all the elements you dream of but it will take a while to get to you.
On the other hand, this sofa will be with you for decades. Only you can decide if it is worth the wait.
Post delivery problems
Brace yourself for this one: custom sofas are often non-returnable. There’s no take-backs.
So if your one-of-a-kind masterpiece arrives with a colour that’s slightly off or the seat’s a little firmer than expected, there’s no refund.
It’s a serious commitment, so make sure you’re absolutely certain before placing that order.
Custom fabrics or unique finishes may also require specific cleaning methods.
That beautiful linen could stain easily, or that luxe velvet might require special care.
And if you’ve got kids or pets, it’s worth double-checking whether the fabric is as resilient as it is beautiful.
The ugly: Common custom sofa pitfalls
Now, here’s where it can get a bit dicey. Even with the best intentions, custom sofas can sometimes fall short of our dream furniture fantasies.
The first thing to remember is that there is a difference between custom and personalised sofas.
San Francisco–based designer Maria Khouri certainly thinks so.
“When you order custom furniture, you can choose the dimensions, materials, colours, finishes, and even specific design elements to match your vision,” she says.
“The emphasis here is on creating something that’s tailored to your exact needs and desires.”
Whereas a personalised sofa is one where you don’t have to start from scratch.
Ever heard the saying measure twice, cut once?
Follow this advice and make sure that all your measurements are accurate.
It totally defeats the purpose if your custom sofa does not fit correctly in your space.
Architectural Digest also emphasises that you should not choose form over function.
There is nothing worse than coming home after a hard day at work, and sitting down on an uncomfortable or badly designed sofa.
To combat this issue and ensure that your sofa is exactly as you hope, keep in touch with your vendors.
Request for photos and videos at every step of the way. This way you can track its progress and adjust for changes.
“You may think it drives some vendors mad, but many understand,” says Brooklyn-based designer Isy Runsewe.
“They also want to be sure they’ve created something the clients will truly love.”
If you find yourself in a scenario where your custom sofa material is not up to scruff, you can always purchase a custom sofa cover that fits your lifestyle.
Another common pitfall is with choosing the right vendor to bring your vision to life. So we thought we would help with that one.
5 online furniture stores for a custom sofa
1. BenchMade Modern
This furniture store aims to redefine custom.
BenchMade Modern is a US based company that ensures your furniture is carefully crafted with the finest materials.
They work with world leading tanneries and textile mills, and focus on hand-selected leather and fabric collections so their products last for years to come.
After flipping through their extensive collection, you can choose the size and fabric choice for your new custom sofa.
Their orders can take as little as two weeks to arrive and you can enjoy a worry free trial of 100 days.
2. Joybird
Embracing quality over quantity, Joybird offers customisation with a conscience.
Their sofas come in a range of eco-friendly fabrics and trendy styles, from mid-century modern to bohemian chic.
They also offer flexible payment plans, making that dream custom sofa a bit more accessible.
Joybird’s modular sofa builder is a highlight as it allows you to mix and match elements of a couch, loveseat, sectional sofa, or even a double-sided lounger.
You can then create the comfiest and most versatile sofa for your space.
3. King Living
With its roots in Australia, King Living offers a wide selection of furniture but specialises in the most comfortable and stylish sofas.
They are a muti-award-winning company that offers made to order furniture, making them a sustainable choice.
King Living works with premium fabrics and European leathers, and is known for its strong, self-named steel frames.
Their designs are catered to you, ensuring you get the most out of your experience and find the perfect piece of furniture for your home.
4. Homebody
This online store allows you to completely design your own couch.
One of Homebody’s main sofas is the Luxe couch, which is fully modular with customisable cushions.
It includes discreet USB and USB-C Chargers for all your devices and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certified performance fabrics which are spill-proof and easy to clean.
Perhaps their most impressive offering is the Luxe Recliner.
This wall-hugging recliner has three positions: Seated, relaxed and zero gravity wellness mode™.
5. Inside Weather
For the modular furniture fan, Inside Weather has you covered.
They specialise in modular custom sofas that can adapt to any space.
Inside Weather’s modular Bondi sectionals and sofas are a popular choice because of the sheer variety of configurations.
Built with sustainable practices, their sofas are designed to order with plenty of options for fabric, size, and configuration.
You can even decide on the wood finish and choose between the classic blend or memory foam blend cushions.
Any of these beauties can be paired with a Comfort Works slipcover to add extra versatility and longevity to your investment.