This site is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox browser.

Home Furnishings

2009-11-01 15:55:00

Types of furniture - series

Answer: What a great question! I did some research and have found a wonderful site that provides lots of information, www.furniturefromhome.com. Here are a few things that may assist. For the first part of the answer, see last month’s issue. Last month we talked about furniture styles throughout history. Here are some of today’s furniture styles: Traditional Furniture Traditional is the most formal of furniture styles today. Rich, elegant and refined, traditional furnishings incorporate rich fabrics with darker furniture woods like mahogany and cherry. Traditional style gets its influences from some of the great eras in furniture history, including Victorian, Queen Anne and Chippendale and may incorporate design elements from different American and English historical eras. Casual Furniture Today’s casual styles are a reflection of the more laid-back, less formal lifestyle that many Americans embrace today. Casual furniture styles include overstuffed sofas constructed of a variety of lush, easy-to-clean fabric covers. A variety of furniture woods are used, including maple, oak and pine, often with matte finishes. Colors are often neutral or earth-toned. Casual décor is cozy, comfortable and warm as well as designed for easy and unpretentious living. Casual furniture styles may be further classified into Country Casual, Casual Contemporary, and Casual Traditional categories. Country Furniture Home and hearth, that’s what Country furniture is all about. Country gets its influences from American, European and even Mexican furniture. Country style is versatile - it may be rustic, like the décor of a log cabin, homey like a lakeside cottage, or it may use softer designs like those of America’s first settlers where ruffled skirts were popular on upholstered pieces. Most frequently used furniture woods include pine, oak, maple and ash. Finishes may be intentionally distressed to add “character” or they may be painted; fabrics can run the gamut from soft denim, flowery chintz or linen and often include gingham checks or subtle plaids. Décor accessories may also evoke comfort, like oval braided rugs over hardwood stained or painted floors, needlework and beautiful quilts or antique bottles and American flags. Country style may also be labeled as Country Casual, although as a rule, Country style is inherently casual. Contemporary Furniture With Contemporary style, function is the primary focus. Designs are typically simple, without much ornamentation, sleek and streamlined. The simpler lines of the Shaker, Mission and Scandinavian may be incorporated into the furniture. The look is modern, fabrics may be bright and bold without much patterning. Contemporary furniture is usually mated with larger accessories and artwork to create a crisp, uncomplicated interior décor. Additional classifications of this style include Casual Contemporary and Modern Contemporary. Modern Furniture Sharp and linear, clean and crisp, the Modern style goes one or more steps beyond Contemporary and may even include retro or Art Deco elements. Wood, chrome, steel and glass may all play a role in the decor of the Modern home. Upholstery fabrics are mostly simple but may be textured or tightly woven. Splashes of bold color work or blacks and grays work well with the Modern style, as does the timeless look of leather. Mixed Furniture Styles Not all of today’s furniture or home décor fits neatly into one style category. A hybrid of mixed styles will often grace American homes to meet the wide variety of consumer style preferences. Casual Contemporary Contemporary style with a casual flair can make for a comfortable home in which the furnishings are functional and relaxed, yet up to date in appearance. Furniture wood and finishes may be light like maple or birch, mid-range in Oak, or darkly stained in coffee or espresso shades. The Arts and Craft influence of Mission furniture, leather or microfiber-covered sofas and chairs all fit in the Casual Contemporary home. Casual Traditional A blend of Casual and Traditional styles in the home may feature handsomely carved but comfortable furniture for a lived-in look with touches of style elegance. Fabrics may be softly neutral but with a trim, tailored look. Many of today’s furniture for use in a home theater, like handsome leather recliners and sofas, along with solid wood entertainment centers work well with the Casual Traditional style. Eclectic Interiors that mix compatible or complementary styles in order to achieve a unique and individual look are said to be Eclectic – in that they strive to use the best of what may be several styles. Eclectic décor often includes collectors’ items from across the globe or unique works of art and pottery. Furniture woods and upholstery fabrics may run the full range of available choices, textures and colors. In fact, color is often used to create harmony in the design of a room.