Furniture - Introduction
With makeover mania sweeping the country, is it any wonder that we’re all looking at furniture as having the power to transform our homes and patios? We want to believe that with a little imagination and a few changes in furniture we can convert our ordinary rooms into a rustic Tuscan getaway or a serene Asian retreat!
Furniture is the collective term used to describe the movable items in a room necessary or convenient for living or working. Furniture may also enhance the room decoratively. Lighting and accessories are often included in describing a room’s furnishings.
The basic uses for furniture are:
- Storage which could include a bookcase, cabinet, chest, cupboard, curio cabinet, china cabinet, dresser, chest of drawers, filing cabinet, hall tree, hat stand, sideboard, armoire and wardrobe.
- Sitting or reclining which could include a bed, chair, bench, couch/sofa, love seat, settee, footstool/ottoman and stool.
- To provide flat surfaces on which to dine, write, etc. which could include a table, coffee table, desk, end table and folding table.
Probably the first pieces to be in demand historically were the chest, the stool (prototype of the chair), the table and the bed. Furniture can be made using many materials, including wood, metal, leather, plastic and fabric. Cabinetry and cabinet-making are terms for the skillset used in the building of furniture.
The function (practicality and use) of furniture is most important when you begin to consider certain furniture pieces. How will you use the family room? Are pets a consideration? How about lounging teenagers who will be playing video games for hours? Should a large-screen TV for all the sporting events be the focal point of the room? Leather upholstery…is that for you?
Think about the dining room, do you like to entertain and linger after dinner for conversation and fellowship? If so the dining chairs must be comfortable—don’t buy them if they are not.
There are many different styles of furniture. Decorating your living space is a personal expression of your personality—a statement about you. It is recommended that you know what YOU like, what woods and colors please YOU, what best expresses YOUR individuality. If you like a neutral, quiet, uncluttered contemporary feeling for your home, you will probably not be comfortable in a casual, colorful country-cluttered environment.
From ancient times to the contemporary era, furniture design and manufacturing has been an expression of culture and civilization bringing furniture above and beyond the merely functional aspect. Resources