Bespoke joinery for your home

Bespoke joinery is ideal if you’re looking for high-quality furniture that fits your space perfectly and is built to last, albeit at a higher cost. IKEA flat-pack is great for affordable, stylish furniture with easy availability but offers less custom made options and durability. Your choice really depends on your priorities: budget vs. quality, customisation vs. convenience, and long-term investment vs. short-term solutions. Bespoke joinery services ensure precise, made-to-measure solutions for your home.

There is no denying, bespoke joinery is expensive and is an investment. There are ways to limit these costs, such as choosing more affordable materials like MDF. Keep the design simple and stick to standard sizes—this enables you to use companies like DIY Alcove Units to design and source materials for your project. If you’re looking for built-in wardrobes, sticking to standard specifications can also save you money.

Carpentry relates more to large-scale, structural building work, such as building stud walls. Bespoke joinery specialises in highly skilled, detailed, and high-end woodwork that requires precision craftsmanship and a focus on aesthetics. Bespoke joinery contractors tend to work in workshops with specific tools, whereas carpentry is very much onsite. For interior design elements like alcove units and built-in wardrobes, joinery provides precise specifications.

Absolutely. However, do not underestimate your importance! It’s your home and you should know roughly what you want, so spending time doing research and sketching some basic drawings is well worth it. The contractor will then be able to help you more with other bits such as any beading and detailing, the internal layout, and materials/finishes. Working with bespoke joinery services will ensure the designs meet custom-made and precise specifications.

For the iconic double alcove units either side of your fireplace, for mid-range bespoke design (more detailing, better finishes) it would be between £2.5k-£4k. This would include high-quality materials, adjustable shelving, and additional features such as moulding or more intricate joinery. A great example would be Charlie and Tom’s burnt orange alcove units, a fantastic project.

Speak to us on a quote comparison call! In addition to that, if you can go and see other projects completed by your preferred contractors, you get a great feel for the difference in quality. Also, clarify the materials being used—you should be aware of the difference in quality and durability. As always, you should check payment schedules, in bespoke joinery there are more upfront costs for materials so you may find yourself paying more towards the front end of the project.