Built-in furniture often looks nicer than the standalone furniture that homeowners buy from stores. If you prefer a regal aesthetic, then you’ll want built-in furniture for your home. If you need more than good looks to choose built-in furniture, consider how the functionality of these three types compare to their standalone designs.
Bookcases and Entertainment Centers
People have been building bookcases into walls for centuries. Today, of course, homeowners want full entertainment centers that can hold their televisions, stereos, and similar devices. When professionals install built-in entertainment centers, they plan ahead for cables that connect devices. They may also install lights to make media devices easier to operate.
Built-in Bars
Adding a bar makes any room a great place to socialize with friends and colleagues. When you think about how people use bars, though, it quickly becomes obvious that built-in options work better than standalone designs. People often lean against bars when talking to others. If several people lean against a small bar, it could slip out of position. A built-in bar remains firmly in place.
Built-in bars can also include useful features such as sinks, refrigerators, and shelves. A fully customized bar meets your specific needs so you can keep everything organized and clean.
Fireplace Mantels
Most homes with fireplaces include built-in mantels. In recent years, though, standalone fireplaces have become more popular among homeowners who don’t want to pay for a full installation.
Standalone fireplaces don’t always come with mantels. Even when they do, the mantels are often installed using little more than screws and drywall anchors. That kind of mantel may not have enough strength to support the weight of a TV screen or heavy vase. The mantel’s strength also depends on how well you install it. Built-in fireplace mantels don’t present this problem.
Built-in furniture can offer several advantages, even for homeowners who are more concerned about functionality than appearance.