What to look for, ordering furniture according to individual sizes during renovation
When does a kitchen renovation begin in an apartment?, sooner or later the question arises: buy ready-made kitchen furniture or order custom-made furniture. If the kitchen is non-standard - uneven corners, niches under pipes, low window sill - a ready-made set almost never fits perfectly, and cabinets from the showroom leave gaps or don’t fit at all. Ordering furniture according to individual sizes is justified then, when precise adjustment to the technology and shape of the room is important. Next - what to look for when ordering kitchen furniture, what cabinets and materials to choose, so that the result does not disappoint. One of the tested options is custom-made furniture according to individual sizes from a manufacturer with its own workshop, where measurements and design are collected for a specific room, rather than fitting into an average template.
Why custom-made furniture is a growing trend
Demand for furniture, which fits exactly into the parameters of the room, it doesn't grow by accident. According to industry associations with reference to Rosstat, furniture production in Russia in 2025 year grew by about one percent, and demand has shifted towards non-standard solutions for specific premises. Market experts note: buyers are increasingly choosing furniture, “perfectly suited to the parameters of the room” - custom-made kitchens and cabinets, modular systems for small spaces. According to some estimates, sales of such furniture from Russian manufacturers increased by 24-40 percent per year. Ordering furniture according to individual sizes is not a marketing ploy of one factory, and the response to a real shift in demand.
Why are individual sizes important when renovating a kitchen?
The kitchen is the most precision-demanding room in the house: communication projections, asymmetrical corners, non-standard arrangement of sockets for equipment. Finished furniture is designed for average parameters, therefore, in a real kitchen there are often gaps or the furniture simply does not fit. Having a surveyor visit before ordering furniture solves this problem.: a specialist records the exact dimensions of the kitchen, and furniture calculations are based on these numbers, and not from average standards. This is especially important, if you plan to have built-in appliances in the kitchen - a refrigerator, oven, Dishwasher: Each device has its own ventilation tolerances, and the cabinet for it will not fit without exact measurements, or disrupt the temperature regime of the equipment. The layout also dictates the requirements for furniture: A U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen requires precise calculation of angles, and the kitchen with an island is a separate project for a work area in the middle of the room, which ready-made furniture does not provide in principle. For non-standard solutions, radius facades are sometimes used - rounded elements, which smooth out the sharp corners of a small kitchen. A good custom furniture project always takes into account three things at once: precise room layout, design wishes and final functionality - if you miss one of these points, the kitchen can look impressive in visualization, but be inconvenient in everyday use.
Facade material: what to choose based on kitchen conditions
Kitchen - humidity zone, temperature changes and contact with steam, therefore, the material of kitchen furniture facades is chosen not only by color.
| Material | Resistance to moisture and steam | Care | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDF | High with high-quality coverage | Easy care | The quality of the edges of cabinet fronts is a factor in durability |
| LDRI | Average | Easy care | The tightness of the edges of the sink and stove is important |
| Plastic | High | easy care | Fewer shades with the effect of natural materials |
| Enamel | High | No abrasives | Scratches are noticeable on the dark cabinet fronts |
| Acrylic | High | Without hard sponges | Holds the color of facades well |
| Veneer | Average | Like behind a tree | Not the best choice for a sink |
If the kitchen is small and actively used, It’s more practical to choose plastic for cabinets, enamel or MDF with a secure edge. It is better to leave veneer for furniture areas, not in contact with water. In any case, the material of the cabinet fronts should be discussed with the designer at the stage of ordering furniture., not after production. In addition to basic materials, There are usually decorative options to choose from: glossy or matte finish, PVC film, facades with glass inserts, imitation stone or artificial stone for countertops, combined materials and textures - from smooth to embossed, different shades - from light to black and gray, additional decor and lighting. Countertops and wall panels in the kitchen are selected separately, taking into account the combination of finishing with cabinet fronts. Small kitchens usually benefit from light colors and glossy surfaces, that visually expand the space, and larger ones allow the use of darker and more textured solutions.
These details determine, Will the kitchen look like a modern interior?, classic, neoklassyka, Scandinavian minimalism, Provence, country or, eg, modern and loft - style is a matter of taste, not production restrictions. Suppliers of façade canvases with varnish and supermatte coatings are, in particular, ALVIC (Spain) and FunderMax (Austria) - such facades are used, eg, in the “Arma” and “Integra” collections. The enamel facades of the “Bohemia” and “Asti” models are painted according to RAL decor catalogs, NCS and WCP - this makes it possible to choose almost any matte shade for a specific interior. Countertops are a separate category, not to be confused with facades: eg, EGGER worktops (Chipboard with HPL coating) match the façade, but are an independent element of the project.
Not just the kitchen: custom sizes for other rooms
The principle of ordering furniture according to individual sizes works not only for the kitchen. Same approach - precise measurement, design project, calculation for a specific room - applicable for the living room, bedrooms, nursery and hallway. Wardrobe cabinets, walls and shelves in the living room, nightstands and chests of drawers for the bedroom, custom beds for non-standard room geometry, interior and cabinet doors, mirrors and storage systems in the hallway - all this is assembled according to the same principles, same as kitchen furniture. Coffee tables and small tables for the living room can also be ordered in the same style as the rest of the furniture in the house, to make the interior look seamless, and not collected from different sources.
Storage systems and filling of kitchen cabinets
The convenience of a kitchen is determined not only by facades, but also by filling the cabinets inside - it depends on it, how well the storage areas are organized and how efficiently the kitchen space is used. When ordering custom-made furniture, you should discuss it with the designer in advance.:
- pull-out systems in lower cabinets instead of blank shelves;
- corner cabinets with mechanisms, using complex corner geometry;
- vertical cabinets for baking trays and boards;
- hinged cabinets with adjustable shelves for non-standard dishes;
- built-in cabinets under the sink, taking into account communications.
The configuration of kitchen cabinets is narrow, wide, floor-mounted, wall and top - for a specific layout and dimensions of the room. Built-in modules are calculated separately for equipment, so that the body and facade exactly match in height and width. The contents usually include drawers, rods or holders inside cabinets for lids and baking trays, as well as lifting facades with soft closing for upper cabinets - this is more convenient, than swing doors, if there is not enough space above the work area. Two-door and three-door cabinets are selected depending on the width of the opening: the wider the section, the more sense there is in several narrow doors instead of one massive one.
Good filling of cabinets and fittings - then, what makes kitchen furniture comfortable for years to come, and not just aesthetic at the time of installation. It is not only the body that is usually responsible for the smoothness and durability of opening, but also accessories: eg, hinges with SilentSystem shock absorber and Tip-on push-opening mechanism (without handles) by Hettich, or AVENTOS HK-top lifting mechanisms, HF and HL from BLUM for upper cabinets - each model has its own restrictions on the height and width of the cabinet, therefore, the selection of a mechanism is also part of an individual project, not a small detail. Drawer guides with Silent System closers eliminate sudden slamming and extend the service life of the filling. When discussing ordering furniture, you should immediately discuss, what appliances will be built into the kitchen cabinets?, so that the furniture body and filling are designed for it in advance, rather than adjusting them to ready-made cabinets after the fact.
Stages of ordering furniture: from measurement to installation
The sequence of stages of ordering furniture helps to plan a kitchen renovation without surprises.
| Stage | What's happening | What is required from the client |
|---|---|---|
| Room measurement | The measurer comes out and records the dimensions of the kitchen., communications, sockets | Access to the premises, technical data |
| Design project | Based on the measurements, a kitchen furniture project is assembled - facades, cabinets, filling | Visualization approval, colors, materials |
| Cost calculation | The price per linear meter is determined taking into account materials and cabinet filling | Budget approval |
| Production | Furniture is manufactured at the factory according to an approved design | Clarify details if necessary |
| Delivery and assembly | Ready-made kitchen furniture is delivered and assembled on site | Readiness of the premises for installation |
What should be in the contract: guarantee, deadlines, cost of
Before signing a contract for ordering kitchen furniture, it is worth checking several points. There must be a warranty for the product - furniture frame, cabinet fronts, accessories. It is important to record, What is included in the final cost of ordering furniture?: design project, delivery, cabinet assembly, or this is paid separately. Furniture production times should be specified specifically., and not in general terms - this reduces the risk of delaying kitchen renovations. Please check the terms and conditions of the installment plan separately., if payment for furniture is not made in a one-time payment, and the procedure for filing a complaint after installing cabinets.
Typical mistakes when ordering kitchen furniture
- Ordering furniture without exact measurements. Relying on approximate dimensions almost always leads to inconsistencies between cabinets and the actual geometry of the kitchen.
- Unspecified warranty conditions for furniture. No specifics on the warranty on the case, it is more difficult to defend the rights of facades and fittings in the event of a breakdown.
- Choosing the material for cabinet fronts only based on color without taking into account moisture resistance is a typical reason for the loss of furniture’s appearance after just a year..
- The absence of fixed deadlines for furniture production in the contract is a common reason, why kitchen renovations are taking so long.
Where to see examples before ordering
Before ordering custom-made furniture, useful to see ready-made solutions live, and not just on visualization. Manufacturers with their own production usually have showrooms in Moscow and cities in the Moscow region, where you can evaluate the quality of the fittings, materials and assembly personally, and not just from the photo. Team, which professionally and competently assembles a design project - often with 3D visualization and preliminary cost calculation using a calculator - as a rule, ready to show portfolio - completed projects of kitchens and other furniture in different styles, from classics to modern solutions. It helps to understand, to what extent do the ergonomics and production technologies of a particular factory meet expectations?, before investing in an individual project.
Manufacturer, which sells furniture directly from the factory without intermediaries, can usually offer an honest price without unnecessary markups and overpayments - and quality control and experienced craftsmen at each stage of assembly directly influence the, How exactly do the stated dimensions match?, height, width and depth of cabinets so, what will arrive at the site. It’s also worth checking with the salon, are there any promotions now?, sales, discounts or seasonal offers - this may affect the final cost of ordering furniture.
What is important to remember
Custom-made furniture according to individual sizes is chosen, when the premises are non-standard and precise adjustment to the equipment and communications is important - this requires a surveyor’s visit, not approximate data. The material of kitchen facades is chosen taking into account moisture and steam., and not just in color - MDF is most practical, LDRI, plastic or enamel with a secure edge. Cabinet filling and fittings - for example, hinges with shock absorbers and lifting mechanisms for upper cabinets - thought through at the project stage, for specific equipment, rather than adjusting it after the fact. The contract for ordering furniture must contain a guarantee., production time and exact composition of the final cost. Manufacturer with own production, selling furniture directly without intermediaries, usually offers more transparent prices without extra markups.
Frequently asked questions about custom made furniture
Is it necessary to have a surveyor visit when ordering furniture??
Yes. Without accurate measurements, furniture calculations are based on averaged data, and not on the actual geometry of the kitchen - this is the main reason for gaps and inconsistencies, mentioned above. The surveyor’s visit records not only the dimensions, but also the location of communications and sockets for equipment.
What is included in a free kitchen furniture design project?
Usually this is a visualization of the future kitchen based on measurements, selection of materials and facades, calculation of cabinet filling for specific equipment and preliminary cost calculation. Check with the specific salon, Is 3D visualization and online calculator included in the basic package of services?.
Is it possible to order not the entire set?, but only part of the kitchen furniture, such as cabinets or cabinets?
Yes, ordering furniture according to individual sizes does not necessarily mean a complete set of kitchen furniture - you can order individual cabinets, cabinets or filling modules for an existing set.
What fittings are used in custom-made furniture??
High-quality kitchen furniture uses fittings from well-known manufacturers: eg, SilentSystem hinges and Tip-on mechanism from Hettich, AVENTOS lifting mechanisms from BLUM for upper cabinets. Each model of lifting mechanism has its own restrictions on the height and width of the body, therefore, the choice of fittings should be discussed with the designer at the project stage, not after production.
What warranty applies to kitchen furniture??
The warranty applies to factory products as a whole - body, cabinet fronts and fittings. The exact terms of the guarantee and the procedure for handling a complaint must be specified in the contract before it is signed., and not discussed after the fact.
Is installment available when ordering kitchen furniture??
Yes, installment plan is provided. The cost of the order is calculated individually after the project, payment is possible in a one-time payment or in installments - the conditions are clarified before signing the contract for the order.
About the author
Patimat Kurbanova - interior designer with 2008 of the year, specializes in designing kitchens and cabinet furniture for non-standard layouts. Over the years of practice, she has designed dozens of kitchens and living rooms - from Khrushchev-era apartments with uneven corners to studios with a combined kitchen-living room - and knows well, where standard solutions fail at the installation stage. In her work, not only aesthetics are important, but also, so that the project can withstand the actual dimensions of the room, loading of fittings and long service life of materials. The approach is based on a combination of design flair and engineering precision: checking passages, dimensions of modules and compatibility of mechanisms before, how the project goes into production. In his materials, Patimat shares practical observations from real projects, and not general advice from the Internet.