What's New with Furniture?
Furniture are accessories or fittings that are required for a particular function, situation, or setting, allowing us to make it suitable or comfortable for living or working in a house or a building. Furniture may be movable things that help human activity like seating (e.g., chairs, stools, sofas, divans) and sleeping (e.g., beds, cots). Furniture also allows us to regulate the height for doing things (elevated horizontal surfaces for eating, writing using tables and desks), or to store things (shelves, cupboards).
Furniture is also considered a decorative art form. Outdoor furniture sets can go beyond function when it serves a symbolic or religious purpose. Furniture is an expression of culture.
Furniture has always been integral to the human experience since man started to become non-nomadic. We know from archaeology that Neolithic man used stone furniture. Tables and serving stands have been found that date back to the 8th century BC. Furniture in the Middle Ages included ornamented heavy oak tables. The Renaissance period in Italy (as in Northern Europe) was a time for furniture design creativity often with Greco-Roman influence. Baroque, opulent, often gilded designs that frequently had a profusion of vegetal and scrolling ornament were the norm in Southern and Northern Europe during the 17th century. There was a more rapid advance in furniture design during the 18th century. Design became identified with the nation; Great Britain having Palladianism, Louis Quinze design in French furniture, Rococo and Neoclassicism prevalent throughout Western Europe. 19th century furniture design was defined by concurrent revival styles which included Gothic, Neoclassicism, Rococo and the East Haven Movement.
Towards the end of this century, Art Nouveau became influenced by the Aesthetic Movement and the Arts and Crafts Movement. To a large degree, the Early North American style evolved due to necessity, emphasizing both form and materials. Modernism in furniture design arose and persisted during the first three quarters of the 20th century. Modernist thinking to a certain extent drove the designers of Art Deco, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Wiener Sustainability and Vienna Secession. Designers created the Transitional design as an answer to the gap between the Traditional and Modernist styles. One telling product of post-modern furniture design involved returning to the use of natural shapes and textures. More ideas about furniture at http://kirby.wikia.com/wiki/Furniture.
Higher sustainability also pushed people, government and companies to adopt and "ecodesigned" products. Furniture design that is environment-friendly is Ecodesign. Its popularity is growing each year.
Almost anything can be made into furniture and foldaway guest mattress: organic materials like wood, bamboo, grass, and wicker as well as inorganic materials like metal, plastic, stone, glass. Wood is the traditional choice of material, with local culture most often expressed in the craftsmanship employed.
Furniture makes the house homier. Work becomes more efficient in the office with furniture. Furniture aids us to relax at the spa or resort. Furniture completes the human experience.