BUYER GUIDES

How to Check a Custom Furniture Drawing Before Approval

2026-09-22 · TY Furniture Factory

Before approving a custom furniture drawing, check the overall size, usable dimensions, orientation and material references against your requirements. A beautiful reference photo starts the conversation; the approved production drawing records what the factory is being asked to build.

Start with the correct item and drawing version

Match the drawing to the product code or project item you requested. Check that the quantity and revision are clear, especially if several similar sofas, chairs or cabinets are being discussed. Keep one final version rather than leaving the factory to interpret changes scattered across separate messages.

If you request a change, ask for it to appear on the revised drawing or its accompanying specification. A message saying “make the arms lower” is incomplete unless the new height and the affected item are identified. Approve the updated version, not an earlier attachment.

Separate overall size from usable space

For a sofa, overall depth and usable seat depth describe different things. Ask which measurements include the back, cushions and arms. For a cabinet, check whether an internal opening will accommodate the item you plan to store. For a bed, confirm the actual mattress dimensions and how the frame relates to them.

Use one measurement unit throughout the review. If the factory has proposed a dimension, check it against the room and your intended use rather than assuming it came directly from the reference image. Photos alone do not establish exact scale.

Confirm left and right with a marked diagram

A chaise on the left when viewed from the front is on the opposite side when you sit on the sofa. Avoid approving an L-shaped sofa using the words “left-hand” alone. Mark the chaise on a top-view drawing and show where the sofa faces in the room.

The same approach helps with cabinet door openings, asymmetrical bases and any furniture that needs to sit against a particular wall. Add the room orientation if it helps explain your intention.

Review the details that matter to your design

Compare the front and side views with your reference. Look at arm height, back shape, base proportions, cushion divisions and visible seams. If a feature is important to you, ask for it to be shown or described explicitly. Do not assume an unseen detail will be reproduced exactly from a single photograph.

Where access is restricted, discuss whether the piece is delivered assembled or in sections. Confirm the proposed arrangement against your doorway, lift and stair measurements. The factory needs those access details before the design is finalized.

Connect the drawing to the material approval

A CAD drawing does not tell you how a fabric feels or establish an exact colour. Link the drawing to the approved material codes, finish references and any agreed samples. If different parts use different finishes, identify each part separately.

Our guide to choosing materials from overseas explains how to keep that record clear. Ask which details remain open before giving production approval.

What approval means at TY Furniture Factory

Our customization process includes a production design for the customer's approval before manufacturing. For a single piece, the design approval uses a CAD drawing. For a bulk order, a sample can be arranged according to the agreed requirements before mass production. Confirm the approval stages for your particular order.

A useful final message identifies the item, drawing version and material references, then states whether anything is still pending. If the dimensions or design change afterwards, ask the factory to confirm any effect on the quotation and production schedule before proceeding.

Before you send your approval

Check: correct item and revision; overall and usable dimensions; measurement units; left/right orientation; visible design details; materials; delivery access; and any remaining questions. Keep the approved drawing with your order documents.

Still preparing your first enquiry? Use our quotation checklist, or see the complete custom furniture process.