A. The Challenge

Custom furniture has a visualisation problem. When a customer wants a 220×100cm Danish Oval Dining table in herringbone oak, 4cm thick, on X-frame steel legs with a natural lacquer finish, how do they see that before it's built? The answer, for most furniture brands, is that they don't. They browse a gallery of past projects, find something close to what they want, and hope the final product matches what they imagined. For a €1,500+ dining table that takes 6–8 weeks to produce and can't be returned because it's made to order, that's a lot of trust to ask for.

B. What We Built

We built three separate 3D configurators, rolled out over time as MrTafel's product range expanded:

1. Dining table configurator — the flagship, launched first
2. Coffee table configurator — added as the range expanded
3. Chair configurator — the most recent addition, covering fabric, colour, and frame options

All three are integrated into MrTafel's WordPress and WooCommerce site, using Expivi for the 3D rendering layer. The same architecture powers each configurator, which made adding new product categories efficient.

Table Configuration: Dining and Coffee Tables

The table configurators are the deepest in terms of customisation options. Customers step through:

• Shape — each shape is a distinct 3D model that responds differently to dimension inputs
• Material — solid oak, herringbone (visgraat) oak, or lived-in oak with raw finish
• Dimensions — a wide range of length and width combinations, from compact 160×90cm dining tables to large 300×150cm centrepieces. The 3D model scales proportionally.
• Tabletop thickness — 3cm, 4cm, or 6cm
• Leg and base style — A-frame, U-frame, X-frame, V-frame, trapezium, and centre supports, all in steel. Each is a separate 3D component that swaps into the scene.

Every selection updates the 3D model in real time. The customer can rotate the table, zoom in on the grain, and examine how their chosen leg style looks from different angles.

Chair Configuration

The chair configurator takes a different approach. Instead of dimensions and shapes, the key decisions are:

• Fabric and colour — upholstery options that define the chair's visual character
• Frame style — the structural base of the chair, in solid oak to match MrTafel's table range

The configurator lets customers design chairs that complement the table they've already configured. This cross-product coherence is a significant selling point for a brand that specialises in complete dining sets.

Live Pricing

All three configurators display live pricing that updates with every selection. Choosing a larger dimension increases the price. Selecting herringbone oak over solid oak adjusts the cost. Upgrading to a thicker tabletop is reflected immediately.

Augmented Reality (AR)

The table configurators include an AR feature that lets customers view their configured table in their own home, at actual size, through their phone's camera. For furniture, AR solves a problem that even the best 3D configurator can't fully address on its own: scale. A 240×110cm dining table looks proportional on screen. But will it fit the room? Will it leave enough space for chairs? Will it overwhelm a small dining area or look lost in a large one? AR answers those questions by placing the configured table directly into the customer's space.