It's a question we often hear - and ask ourselves!
Are you weighing up whether to go for built-in or freestanding furniture for your next investment? It’s a decision that can significantly impact your property’s appeal, durability, and total cost. We’ll be weighing up the pros and cons of each (with some bias to what we think’s best!). However, we know that every investment and the goals that come with it are different, so read on below to find out what option suits you best…
Built-in Furniture
A must for high-end HMOs, SA’s and high-end BTL.
When it comes to durability, built-in furniture takes the lead. Whether it's custom-made or professionally installed, built-in furniture tends to be more durable than its freestanding counterparts as it’s physically fixed to the property (no wobbles in sight). Although usually a higher upfront cost, investing in built-in features can save you money down the line on repairs and replacements.
If you’re also looking for that high-end feel, built-in furniture comes out top trumps. Seamlessly integrating with the property's architecture, built-ins enhance aesthetic appeal and perceived value, providing a polished and cohesive look.
In properties with limited square footage, built-in furniture can be tailored to maximise space. Customised shelving units, cabinets, and benches optimise every nook and cranny, making the property feel more spacious and functional...plus keeps more mess at bay!
Tml top tip - if you have the budget for some built-in pieces, go for shelves. Built-in shelves will deter tenants from drilling their own (probably badly drilled) holes in your walls!
Built-in Ideas
If you have a large open space with only one place the dining table could go, consider building a built-in dining bench for that custom look. Better yet, allow the lid to come off your bench for added storage in smaller spaces. Sophie L created a whole dining nook in her recent property by being clever with space. The property previously had no dining area at all, so this increased the appeal of her property ten fold.
Bed shelves are a must if there's no space for bedside tables. You could bring this out as a half wall or simply just build in a shelf above the bed. If you can, go for the wall, because then if their headboard goes higher than the start of the ledge it won't cause as much of an issue than if it was just a shelf.
If you have a chimney breast, don’t spend thousands knocking it out, utilise each nook with shelving, a simple desk or cupboards. All tenants will appreciate additional storage, but especially families for hiding the kids toys away once they've gone to sleep! Ahhh mess be gone!...until tomorrow.
Freestanding Furniture
Suited to HMOs and BTLs.
Freestanding furniture tends to be more budget-friendly (upfront) than custom-built options. However, as mentioned, they tend to be less durable so you could be looking at replacing more often, thus overall potentially costing the same long term.
The only other thing free-standing furniture really offers besides a cost saving is the freedom it gives to tenants to personalise their space, moving pieces around to suit their needs. Embrace versatile pieces that can easily adapt to different tenant preferences and lifestyles and always go high quality.
Choosing the right supplier is key to getting free-standing furniture right. If you choose a standard supplier, you run into real danger of looking like every other property investment on the market. Worse yet, choosing the wrong supplier means you could be looking at replacing your freestanding furniture frequently - a false cost-saving economy.
Tml top tip - don't go all matching, it makes it look like you've chosen it right out the catalogue with no real thought, cheapening the look. Mix and match styles, colours and even suppliers for a hand picked curated feel.
The Hybrid Option
Why not go for a hybrid option and do both? We’ve all seen the Ikea hacks online where people use Ikea carcass but then trim them out with mdf. This gives the illusion of high-end built in furniture, but without the price tag...would you believe this is IKEA?!
Built in furniture is a clear winner for us for many reasons - durability, high end look and space maximisation. However, the decision between built-in and freestanding furniture ultimately depends on your investment strategy, budget, and target market.
What are you going to choose for your next investment? Let us know via Instagram or email us your thoughts!
