What each category includes.
Case goods: tables (dining, console, coffee, side, occasional), desks, dressers and chests, sideboards, credenzas, shelving units, beds (the frame), nightstands, bookcases, entertainment units, and built-in millwork. Material is primarily wood, MDF, metal, or stone.
Upholstered: sofas, sectionals, lounge chairs, dining chairs with upholstered seats, headboards, benches, ottomans, and any built-in seating. Construction is a frame (wood or metal) with foam padding and fabric or leather covering.
Why it matters.
Case goods are built in a wood or metal shop and finished with paint, stain, oil, or polish. Lead time is driven by fabrication and finishing.
Upholstered furniture is built across two operations: the frame (one shop) and the upholstery (often a separate operation). Fabric lead time often controls the schedule, especially for designer fabrics with their own production cycle.
When specifying furniture for a whole room or project, the two categories run on different supply chains and benefit from coordinated direct sourcing rather than separate purchases.
Common questions.
- What are case goods?
- The furniture industry term for non-upholstered pieces: tables, desks, dressers, shelving, cabinets, sideboards, and built-in millwork. Distinguished from upholstered furniture (sofas, chairs, headboards).
- Why do designers separate case goods from upholstery?
- The two categories have different build methods, supply chains, lead times, and finish options. Specifying them separately allows for source-direct on case goods (where wood shops compete on price) and selecting upholstery based on fabric and craftsmanship.
- Can I get both case goods and upholstered furniture from one source?
- Yes through coordinated direct sourcing. Crateworks sources both case goods (custom wood furniture) and upholstered pieces across the furniture program for project-level coordination.
Project in motion
Specifying furniture for a project?
We source custom case goods and upholstered furniture across the program.