Wayfair's former creative director founded a custom furniture company and the prices are surprisingly affordable

Get the Full StoryThe Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

"Direct-to-consumer" and "custom furniture" sound like two ideas that shouldn't mix, but new furniture company The Inside is executing it well, with fun and fashionable style.

It offers dozens of fabric options per piece, from solid colors to more adventurous florals and stripes.

Each affordable piece is made-to-order and shipped to you for free within two weeks, significantly cutting down the barriers of access to quality furniture that truly feels like your own.

Christiane Lemieux, the founder of modern home furnishings brand DwellStudio, former executive creative director of Wayfair, and now, founder of new direct-to-consumer custom furniture company The Inside, is well-acquainted with the importance of design.

In The Inside's blog, she writes, " Design matters because it shapes how we live, feel and learn." Her philosophy is that even though we should take interior design seriously because of its impact on our happiness, that doesn't mean the furniture itself, nor the process of shopping for furniture, should necessarily be serious.

That's right — it's okay to have fun when you buy furniture, and The Inside hopes to infuse some more personality and delight into the process through its customizable product options. When you have more control over what you're buying, it's more likely that you'll enjoy the final product.

With this tuxedo chair, for example, you have over 50 fabric options, including soft velvets, bright florals, and woven solids. Then, add tufting or leave it plain. Finish it off by deciding the shape and finish of the legs. If you want to play around with unexpected combinations that you probably wouldn't have thought of yourself, just click "Mix It Up" to generate a new look.

Each product is made in the US to your exact preferences and will be shipped anywhere in the country for free. Within two weeks, you'll receive the custom piece at your door, ready to be assembled and incorporated into your home. Custom furniture traditionally takes a couple months to complete, so this fast turnaround is impressive.

The Inside doesn't only reference tastemakers and fashion to serve as inspiration for its furniture designs. It also directly collaborates with these influencers to create distinctive pieces and keep its product line fresh. Current collaborations include bold, geometric prints with fashion designer Peter Som and basic but versatile neutrals with women's media brand The Everygirl. These partnerships prove the worlds of art, clothing, and home work best when intertwined, not closed off in their own universes.

The Inside is direct-to-consumer, but if you do want to see and feel some of the pieces firsthand, it has a showroom in New York City that you can visit. After stopping by myself, I saw that the quality and durability were impressive, which wasn't all too surprising because these pieces aren't mass-produced which, while efficient, doesn't always do wonders for quality construction . Because The Inside holds no inventory, it can concentrate on making each and every piece individually.

The prices are quite affordable for everything you're getting: custom features, modern, fashionable aesthetic, and a quick, painless delivery. Headboards start at 199 and chairs at 299.

Other available products include benches and ottomans, pillows, and kids' furniture — all in at relatively accessible price points.

Shop custom furniture at The Inside here

Keep scrolling to see some of The Inside's best-sellers. Once you click through, you'll be able to see all the fabric and finish options. Square Back Headboard

The Inside

Square Back Headboard Queen , 299, available at The Inside

Hexagonal Ottoman

The Inside

Hexagonal Ottoman, 199, available at The Inside

Modern Platform Bed

The Inside

Modern Platform Bed, 899, available at The Inside

See the rest of the story at Business InsiderSee Also:The best products for getting rid of dark under-eye circlesCult-favorite sock startup Bombas is ending the plague of missing socks by promising to send a replacement pair if one gets lostThe best men's undershirts you can buy

Share: