Bespoke: custom made, unique, and designed to meet one person’s every desire. Bespoke furniture is naturally an interior designer’s dream. Decorating a house with custom made furniture is one of the best possible ways to create an individual environment tailored specifically to one person. Designer coffee tables, desks, couches and dining tables will give the room a sense of coherency and personality that is unmatched by the mass produced furniture found in chain stores. Australians have always preferred handmade goods whenever possible, and Melbourne in particular is known for its vibrant furniture scene.

There are a huge number of incredible furniture makers, designers, and manufacturers based in Melbourne. High quality, Australian made goods are deeply entrenched in Melbourne’s design culture – there’s a likelihood that a simple google search of “furniture makers near me” will yield the address of some of Australia’s best furniture manufactures within just a few minutes’ drive.

Though made to order furniture often does not come cheap, it is a staple of quality design that many Melbournians take great pride in. Whether you are looking for a statement piece, furniture to perform a specific function, or a whole suite of matching furniture, finding a Melbourne furniture manufacturer to handcraft your furniture will give it the extra personal touch to bring your décor together.

Contemporary furniture practices have become twisted over the years, prioritizing profit and quantity over quality. Machine-made furniture and mass production practices may have streamlined the availability of furniture in modern times, but it comes at the sacrifice of high quality materials and innovative design. For those who can, handmade furniture is always a better option; hardwood timber has longevity and durability the likes of which mass produced plywood furniture cannot replicate.  

If high end furniture appeals to you, consider purchasing some of the designer furniture handmade in Melbourne. This is the best way to ensure that your furniture pieces will stay with you for life, enduring scratches and wear without needing replacement. If you decide to order something custom made, the aesthetic and sentimental value of a piece is sure to make your home feel like an extension of yourself. To help inspire your choices, here is a list of the best furniture manufacturers Melbourne, their strengths, and their specialties.

Furniture maker Melbourne: The most inspiring figures in furniture design Melbourne

5. JR Bespoke Designs

JR Bespoke Designs is a family owned business based in Melbourne which undertakes projects Australia wide. Their motto, “made to order, made to last,” encapsulates the care and quality which goes into each custom designed piece.

Every single piece of furniture created by JR Bespoke Designs is hand crafted and individually designed. JR Bespoke Designs has a commitment to creating elegant furniture that will compliment and elevate the style of any room. Their product ranges include custom dining tables, entertainment units, coffee tables, timber beds and beside tables, vanities and seating. For more information about JR Bespoke Designs, browse their website here.

4. Cenzo

Cenzo is a Melbourne-based furniture manufacturing company run by the passionate Vince Conboy. Cenzo designs have a timeless, thoughtful minimalism that make them the perfect pieces for any home era and style. All of Cenzo’s products are handmade and produced in house, including the seat weaving and hand shaped components.

Cenzo also has a commitment to ethical production, sourcing only sustainable materials, so you can rest assured that a Cenzo product has been made of and by ethical means. Cenzo products are available to browse here. They have a range of product types, but primarily focus on bench-seats, dining chairs, side tables, stools, and dining tables. You can recognise a Cenzo design for its natural palate and warm tones, often accented with complimentary natural shades of orange or blue.

3. Josh Carmody Studio

Josh Carmody Studio is a multi award-winning furniture and product design practice with works displayed around the world, from New Zealand to New York, Milan and Amsterdam. Debuting at Milan Design Week in 2017, Josh Carmody has won the respect of the global design community just as he has in Melbourne. A trusted figure in Melbourne’s furniture sphere, Josh Carmody designs are intelligent, cutting-edge and extremely beautiful.

2. Made by Morgan

Made by Morgan is one of Melbourne’s most sought-after bespoke furniture manufacturers. Founder Nicholas McDonald trained in the art of furniture making for years in Berlin and London before returning to Melbourne and settling in Brunswick. Made by Morgan designs are distinct and stylish, taking influence from mid-century Scandinavian minimalist design principles with a bold Australian twist.

Made by Morgan furniture celebrates the ability of furniture to tell stories, and to become stories themselves over time. Refined yet boundless, Made by Morgan designs are refreshing, unique and tailored to the people, places and spaces that they are created for. Made by Morgan manufacture all types of furniture including beds, dining tables, wardrobes, chairs, shelving, coffee tables, couches and more. To browse the Made by Morgan online catalogue, see here.

1. Manapan

Manapan is a self-sufficient and self-funded business owned and operated by the Yolngu people, whose ancestors have inhabited Arnhem Land on Milingimbi Island for over 65,000 years. Manapan has its home on Milingimbi Island, a remote island in the Crocodile Island Group 500kms east of Darwin.

Their Melbourne showroom is located at 18 Wilson Street, South Yarra, and features some of the most beautiful furniture designs in Australia. Manapan furniture is a testament to the union between modern and traditional thoughts, creating distinctly Australian furniture imbued with the Milingimbi story and a rich sense of community. For more information about Manapan and to browse their portfolio of pieces, see here.