NEURODIVERGENCE, KINK & A QUESTION WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH

Content note: This article discusses neurodivergence, kink and adult furniture.

Something a customer said to us recently stopped us in our tracks.

During a conversation, they mentioned an article they had read about the possible connection between neurodivergence and certain kink communities, particularly autism.

It was not something we had ever sat down and properly thought about before.

But the more we read, the more it made us think about conversations we have already had with our own customers.

Because the truth is, we had already started noticing something.

A noticeable number of people who buy our beds and adult furniture have openly told us that they are autistic, have ADHD or are otherwise neurodivergent.

We would never assume this about somebody and we would never place a label on a customer. These are conversations people have willingly chosen to have with us, and we appreciate the trust behind them.

The article talks about how clear communication, properly agreed boundaries, predictable roles, sensory choice and the freedom to say exactly what you do and do not want can make certain spaces feel more comfortable for some neurodivergent adults.

When we looked at it like that, parts of it made complete sense.

Our customers do not have to walk into an ordinary furniture shop and try to explain why they want something different.

They can come to us with an idea, a drawing, a photograph or sometimes a description that starts with, “This might sound strange, but…”

It rarely sounds strange to us.

We make it around the person buying it. The size. The finish. The features. The intended use. What they want included and what they absolutely do not want.

We do need to make one thing completely clear.

This does not mean every neurodivergent person is interested in kink, and it does not mean autism or ADHD makes somebody interested in kink.

Everyone is an individual.

We are not experts in neurodivergence and we are not trying to speak on behalf of anybody. We are sharing something we have noticed among our own customers and asking the people with real lived experience to help us understand it better.

You can read the article that started this conversation here: Exploring the Overlap Between Kink and Neurodivergence.

This also hit home with me personally because I have ADHD.

Some of you may have noticed that we can occasionally appear a little erratic.

My mind can move from one idea to another at a hundred miles an hour. I can become completely focused on one thing and then realise something else has not received the attention it deserved.

That can sometimes filter into the business, particularly with communication and how quickly ideas or plans change.

My ADHD may help explain some of that, but it is not an excuse for getting things wrong or letting anybody down.

It is something I recognise, and something we need to build better systems around.

So this is where we need your help.

We have noticed how many neurodivergent customers connect with our work, but noticing something is not the same as understanding what people actually need.

What could we do better?

Would clearer written information, exact measurements and visual guides make ordering easier?

Would more predictable progress updates help reduce the uncertainty while your furniture is being made?

Would choosing whether we contact you by telephone, message or email make the experience more comfortable?

Could we offer more choice around textures, smoother finishes, padding, quieter fittings or adjustable and removable features?

Is there a discreet or multifunctional piece of adult furniture you have always wanted, but nobody seems to make?

Could one of our current beds be adapted to make it more comfortable, practical or better suited to your own sensory needs?

Maybe the answer is a simple change to the way we communicate.

Maybe it is a feature we could add to one of our existing beds.

Or maybe there is an entirely new piece of furniture waiting to be built.

This is not about turning neurodivergence into a sales tactic.

It is about recognising the people who already buy from us and asking how we can give them a better experience.

We may know how to make furniture, but you are the expert when it comes to your own needs.

If you are neurodivergent and feel comfortable sharing your experience, we genuinely want to hear from you.

You can respond publicly or contact us privately. Tell us what would help, what we could change, what we could make and where we might be getting it wrong.

Nothing is too unusual to suggest, and nobody will be judged.

We make the furniture. You make the business.

Blood, Sweat & Wood.

Built Different.