Buying Handmade Wood Decor: Your Guide to Unique Options
Updated: Oct 13
Buying handmade wood decor is a unique experience. Unlike mass-produced items, each piece is crafted with care. You can choose how much customization you want, how soon you need the item, and whether you’d like to finish it yourself.
At Rustic & Renewed Decor, we offer four different ways to shop: Made to Order, Custom, Ready to Ship, and Ready to Finish. Each option provides a different balance of choice, turnaround time, and hands-on involvement.
Here’s how they differ—and how to decide which option is right for you.
Made to Order: Choose the Details of an Existing Design
Made-to-order products start with one of our existing designs. You can select from various options shown on the product page. These may include wood species, dimensions, stain, paint colour, edge profile, handles, or other finishing details.
Once you place your order, we build the piece specifically for you. This option is ideal if you like one of our designs but want to customize it to fit your space. For example, you might choose a walnut charcuterie board instead of maple, select a stain that matches your kitchen, or order a tray in the perfect size for your table.
Made-to-order products can include:
Charcuterie and serving boards
Wooden trays and risers
Wine racks and beer caddies
Shelves and organizers
Lanterns and centrepieces
Pet accessories
Rustic home décor
Since each piece is made after it is ordered, our usual production time is up to three weeks before shipping, depending on current orders. We will keep in touch with you from the moment you order through the building process and let you know when it has shipped.
The product page will show the choices available for that particular design.
Made to Order is best if:
You like an existing Rustic & Renewed design.
You want to choose from available woods, sizes, or finishes.
You do not need the item immediately.
You want something made for you without developing an entirely new design.
Custom: Created for Your Particular Idea or Space
A custom order starts with your idea rather than an existing product configuration. Perhaps you need a shelf built to fit a specific wall, a wine rack designed for an unusual space, or a wooden shape based on an animal or object. You can send measurements, photographs, sketches, or inspiration images to help explain your vision.
We will discuss the size, type of wood, construction, finish, and other important details before providing a quote. When appropriate, we may supply a mockup or drawing for your approval before work begins. Progress photographs are also provided during many custom projects.
Custom work is priced individually because the materials, design, and amount of work vary from one project to another. A 50% deposit is required before work begins, with the remaining balance due upon project completion.
Most of our work is made with wood sourced and grown in Ontario. If a custom design requires a wood species we are not currently using or that is not native to Canada, we can discuss sourcing it from alternative vendors during the quoting process.
A Custom Order is best if:
You need specific dimensions.
You want a design that is not currently offered.
You have a photograph, drawing, or outline for us to work from.
You need an item adapted for a particular purpose or location from one of our products or something you have previously seen.
You want greater choice in materials, construction, or finishing details.
Ready to Ship: Purchase the Exact Finished Piece Shown
Ready-to-ship products are already completed and available for purchase. The photographs show the actual item you will receive, including its wood grain, colour, knots, and other natural characteristics.
This option is especially helpful if you fall in love with a particular piece of wood or need a gift sooner than our regular made-to-order timeline allows. Ready-to-ship items leave our workshop within three to five business days. If it’s a cutting board or charcuterie board, we will re-oil it before shipping.
Availability is limited because most pieces are individually made rather than produced in large quantities. Once a one-of-a-kind item is sold, another piece may be similar, but its natural wood grain will never be the same. These items are often made for shows or as demonstration products for our site, and we may discount them depending on the product, up to 25%.
Ready to Ship is best if:
You need an item sooner.
You want to see the exact piece before purchasing.
You do not need changes to the size, wood, or finish.
You are shopping for a gift with a closer deadline.
You appreciate the individual character of a particular piece of wood.
Ready to Finish: Add Your Own Creative Touch
Ready-to-finish products are constructed and sanded but not stained, painted, or sealed. Select items are sanded to 240 grit, so they arrive prepared for you to apply your preferred finish.
This option gives you a well-made wooden piece without requiring you to cut, assemble, and sand it yourself. You can paint it to match a room, apply your favourite stain, add a stencil, or decorate it for a seasonal project.
It is also a practical choice for those who enjoy the finishing process but would prefer to skip the building and sanding.
Because unfinished wood still requires protection, selecting the appropriate final finish is essential based on how the item will be used. Indoor décor, food-contact items, and outdoor pieces require different types of finishes.
Ready to Finish is best if:
You enjoy painting, staining, or decorating.
You want to match a specific colour in your home.
You would like a head start on a DIY project.
You want to add your own stencil, design, or creative details.
You are comfortable applying the appropriate protective finish.
Buying Handmade Wood Decor: A Quick Comparison
Choose Made to Order when you like an existing design and want to select from its available options.
Choose Custom when you need a different size, new design, or piece created for a specific purpose.
Choose Ready to Ship when you want the exact finished item shown and would like it sent sooner.
Choose Ready to Finish when you want us to build and sand the piece, but you would like to paint, stain, or decorate it yourself.
Handmade Means Every Piece Will Be Different
Whichever option you select, natural variations are part of what makes handmade wood products special. Grain patterns, knots, markings, and colour will vary from one board to another, even when the same species and finish are used.
Reclaimed wood may also contain nail holes, saw marks, colour variation, and other evidence of its previous life. These characteristics are not flaws; they are part of the history and rustic character of the material.
We work with both new and reclaimed wood, sourcing our materials from Ontario mills, farmers, and suppliers whenever possible. We also donate 3% of every sale to Tree Canada.
Still Not Sure Which Option to Choose?
If you have found a product you like but are unsure whether the change you want would be considered Made to Order or Custom, please contact us. Include the product name or SKU, the changes you are considering, and any measurements that may be important.
We can let you know whether your request fits within the available product options or whether a custom quote would be more appropriate.
Every piece is made in Sarnia, Ontario, and we ship across Canada. Contact Rustic & Renewed Decor
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