Custom, Simplified: How to Order Western Furniture Without the Overwhelm

Design consultation table with western furniture sketches, leather and hide swatches, and wood finish samples laid out together

Custom shouldn’t feel like a pop quiz.

You see a bar stool and think, I love that—but I wish it had a different leather.
You see a bed and think, Could this be a platform? Could it work with our mechanical base?
You see a sofa and think, If only it were a little longer…

Most people stop right there.

Not because the custom options don’t exist—but because the process feels fuzzy, complicated, and risky. They’re afraid they’ll say the wrong thing, ask for the wrong change, or get lost in a maze of terms and decisions.

So they close the tab.
Or they settle for “almost right” instead of “this is ours.”

This article is here to change that.

Custom western furniture doesn’t have to be chaos. At its best, it’s just a guided conversation about:

What you love
What your room needs
How you actually live

…and translating that into the right leather, right size, right details.

We’ll walk you through how we handle custom western furniture—from “I like this piece, but…” all the way to “it’s in our home”—in clear steps, with real examples, and zero jargon.

Why Custom Feels Overwhelming (And Why It Doesn’t Have To)

Let’s name the monsters under the bed.

Most people feel overwhelmed by custom because:

Too many choices, no guide. They’re handed a wall of leathers, fabrics, and finishes with no roadmap.
Unclear process. They don’t know what comes first: the piece, the room, the leather, the size, the quote, the deposit?
Fear of making an expensive mistake. They worry they’ll end up with something that doesn’t fit, doesn’t match, or doesn’t feel like “them.”
Silence from other retailers. Some places make it hard to reach a real human, or they treat custom like an inconvenience.

Our philosophy is the opposite.

Custom should feel like sitting down with someone who knows the terrain—not like taking out your own appendix.

Across the top of our website, you’ll see this line:

Call or text us anytime at (817) 888-4890. Yes — anytime.

Real people. Real guidance. No call centers.

That’s the heartbeat of how we handle custom.

You don’t need the right vocabulary.
You don’t need a detailed sketch.
You just need a starting point and a willingness to talk.

Three Simple Ways to Start a Custom Project

Before we get into step-by-step, here’s the first simplification:

You don’t have to “invent” a piece from nothing.

Almost all of our custom conversations start in one of these three ways.

1. “I love this piece—can we tweak it?”

This is the most common and the easiest.

You find a product on our site—say:

A western bar stool you love, but you’d prefer it in a different leather or hide
A bed that’s perfect, but you want it as a platform, headboard-only, or compatible with a mechanical base
A sofa whose silhouette you love, but you want a different length or arm style

From there, we can adjust:

Leather or fabric
Hair-on hide panels vs. all leather
Arm vs. no arms (for stools and chairs)
Counter vs. bar height
Length, depth, and configuration (for sofas and sectionals)
Platform base vs. traditional bed rails
Wood finishes, carvings, and iron details

You point at a piece and say, “I like this—can we do it in X instead?” That’s enough to begin.

2. “I want to combine elements from these pieces.”

Sometimes you love the back of one bar stool, the arms of another, and the base of a third.

Or you like the Cathedral Range ironwork, but you want a different nightstand configuration.
Or you love a particular sofa arm and cushion style, but want the scale of another model.

That’s normal. We do this all the time.

You can say:

“I like the back style of this chair with the base of this one.”
“Can we do this bed’s headboard with simpler footboard posts?”
“Can I get this sofa silhouette at 108" instead of 96"?”

Our job is to keep the proportions right and the structure sound while we blend your favorite elements.

3. “Here’s my room—what do you recommend?”

This is for the people who don’t want to start with a product at all.

You send us:

Room photos or videos, (Facetiming is also an excellent option)
A quick sketch or simple measurements
A note about how the room is used (daily family hangout vs. guests, etc.)

Then we help you choose:

Which category makes sense (sofa + chairs vs. sectional, bar stools vs. counter stools, etc.)
Approximate dimensions that fit the space
A few leather/hide combinations that make sense for your light, traffic, and taste

You’re not expected to walk in with a fully formed idea. That’s what we’re here for.

Need guidance? Booking a Design Consultation can be a great first step.

What Can You Actually Customize? (Almost Everything That Matters)

Let’s make the scope crystal clear.

For all the major categories below, we can normally customize:

Size (length, width, height in many cases)
Leather and/or fabric
Hair-on hide placement
Arms or no arms (where applicable)
Wood species and finish options (where available)
Carvings, panel details, and ironwork (within the maker’s capabilities)

Bar Stools & Dining Chairs

You can adjust:

Counter height vs. bar height
Arms vs. armless
Back style (higher, lower, shaped differently)
Leather vs. hide vs. leather/hide combo
Nailhead details and finish color
Wood stain and base shape (where options exist)

Beds & Headboards

You can adjust:

Platform vs. standard rail setup
Headboard-only vs. full bed
Compatibility with a mechanical/adjustable base
Overall height of the headboard
Carving patterns, panel layout, and iron accents
Wood finish and distress level

If you see a bed and think, I wish this worked with my adjustable base, the answer is usually yes—we just need to plan for it.

Sofas, Sectionals & Recliners

You can adjust:

Overall length (common custom request)
Seat depth (more lounge-y vs. more upright)
Arm style and height
Cushion configuration (bench seat vs. split)
Leather choice, including the exact leather we use on some of your signature pieces
Nailhead trim, feet/leg style, and contrast stitching

Sectionals can be:

Reconfigured for your room layout
Adjusted for overall width and length
Built with specific components (chaise, cuddler, armless seats, etc.)

Swivel Chairs, Accent Chairs & Desk Chairs

You can adjust:

Swivel vs. stationary bases on some styles
Leather or hide combinations
Back height (on certain frames)
Nailhead patterns and arm styling
Casters and base finish on desk chairs

Dining Tables, Consoles, Buffets, Coffee & Accent Tables

You can adjust:

Length and width
Height (counter-height tables, for instance)
Edge profile and top style (plank, inlay, metal banding, etc.)
Base style and scale (within what the design structurally allows)
Wood species and finish tone
Level of distressing

Nightstands, desks, and buffets often allow:

Width and height adjustments
Drawer/door configurations
Hardware finishes
Wood stain and carvings

You don’t have to memorize what’s possible—that’s what our makers and team are here for. But it’s safe to assume:

If it’s wood, leather, or metal, there’s a strong chance we can adjust it to fit your room.

The Simple Step-by-Step: How Our Custom Process Actually Works

Let’s strip it down to what really happens from first contact to finished piece.

The entire grain layer, left intact. The surface may be lightly buffed but not sanded down to remove natural markings.

Step 1: Send Us a Starting Point

You can start any of three ways:

Product-first: “I love this piece: [Product Name / Link]. Can we change the leather and make it 6" longer?”
Room-first: “Here are photos and rough measurements of my room. What do you recommend for a sofa + chairs?”
Idea-first: “We entertain a lot and need a table for 10 in this general size. Can you help me design it?”

You can:

Fill out a Custom Furniture Inquiry form
Request a Free Design Consultation
Or simply call or text us at (817) 332-3100.

We’re not looking for a perfect brief. We’re looking for a conversation.

Step 2: We Ask You About the Space and the People

Before we talk finishes, we talk reality.

We’ll ask:

Where is this piece going? (Room type, position, sunlight)
How many people need to sit or sleep?
How tall are the people using it most often?
Are there kids, pets, or both?
Are there existing finishes (wood tone, flooring, beams, cabinetry) we should respect?

If it’s a bar stool or dining piece, we might point you to your Bar Stool Height Guide to help you dial in the details.

If it’s a sofa or sectional, we'll discuss traffic paths and doorways.

We do this so the piece fits your life, not just your Pinterest board.

Step 3: We Narrow the Options (Instead of Dumping Them on You)

This is where most people get overwhelmed elsewhere: a leather wall, a finish deck, a “good luck.”

Our approach is different.

Based on what you’ve told us, we’ll usually present:

A tight set of leather options that fit your lifestyle (for example: semi-aniline top-grain for a busy family, or rich aniline/pull-up for a quieter, dressier room)
Hide options that work with your color palette and tolerance for pattern
Wood finishes that play well with your existing floors and cabinetry

We might reference our Leather Buyer’s Guide for further reading if you like details, but we won’t make you do homework to move forward.

If you want, we can mail or send swatches so you can see and feel the options in your own light.

Step 4: We Translate Everything Into Clear Specs

Once we’ve landed on the direction, we turn it into a simple, plain-language spec:

Piece type and frame (e.g., “Cochise Tricolor Cowhide Bar Stool silhouette”)
Dimensions (overall width, depth, height, and seat specs where relevant)
Leather/hide combo and color
Wood finish and distress level
Nailhead trim, stitching, and special details
Any functional notes (platform base, mechanical bed compatible, etc.)

You don’t get a vague “custom stool.”
You get a clear description of your custom piece.

Step 5: We Share Pricing and Timeline Honestly

Next, we present:

Price for the custom configuration
Estimated lead time (production), based on the maker and current workload
An explanation of shipping and white-glove delivery options

We’ll often refer you to:

Our lead times guide (so you understand what’s happening between “ordered” and “ready to ship”)
Our white-glove delivery guide (so you know what happens on delivery day)
Our Customer Service & Delivery FAQ and The Western Hospitality Standard, if you want a deeper dive into how we handle communication and care

You’re not guessing. You know the investment, the timeline, and how the last mile is handled.

Step 6: You Say Yes, We Start Building

Once you approve:

We collect the deposit.
Your custom piece is entered into the production schedule.
Materials are ordered or reserved.
The build begins.

From there, we keep you in the loop with:

A confirmation of your order and specs
Realistic updates if lead times shift (up or down)
A heads-up when your piece moves to shipping and then to white-glove delivery scheduling

You’re never wondering, “Did they forget about us?”

Step 7: Delivery, Set-Up, and That First Moment

When your custom western furniture arrives at the local white-glove partner:

They’ll contact you to schedule an in-home delivery window.
On the scheduled day, the team will bring your piece inside, place it in the room, and handle basic assembly.
You’ll inspect the piece with them present, then sign once you’re satisfied.

We design this part of the process to match everything we promise in The Western Hospitality Standard—careful, calm, and clear about your role (inspection, noting any issues) and ours (getting it there safely and correctly).

Quick Answers to Common Fears About Custom

“Do I have to know exactly what I want?”
No. You just need a starting point: a piece you like, a room you’re furnishing, or a problem you’re trying to solve. We help with the rest.

“Is custom always dramatically more expensive?”
Not always. Some changes (like adjusting leather or height) are minor. Others (major size changes, complex carvings) do add cost. We’re upfront about where your ideas land on that spectrum.

“What if I choose the wrong leather?”
That’s why we ask about your lifestyle and walk you through options—and why we created our Leather Buyer’s Guide. You’re not picking blind from a chart.

“Will this take forever?”
Custom takes longer than in-stock, but it’s not endless. We give you a realistic range, explain what’s happening during that time, and keep you updated. If you have a firm date (holiday, event), tell us up front so we can steer you accordingly.

“What if I have questions at 9:30 at night?”
That’s exactly why you see this at the top of our site:
Call or text us anytime at (817) 888-4890. Yes — anytime.

We mean it.