Since the beginning of time and human civilization, people have used different objects from nature to make furniture. From sticks and stones to even leaves and moss, various natural materials have been used to make chairs, tables, sofas, beds, and all kinds of objects that you can imagine. As we know very well, furniture is there to accommodate human activities, such as sitting, sleeping, dining, and without it, our life wouldn’t be the same.
When was furniture invented?
A little over 30.000 years ago, people started to make their own furniture, using mud, clay, stone, wood, and archeological research shows that even animal bones have been used. There are various museums globally, the most popular being the one in Scotland (Neolithic stone settlement, called Skara Brae), where you can find dressers, beds, and tables constructed from stone.
The famous “Venus figurines” representing a goddess sitting on a throne have been displayed in Russia as artwork. Even in Egypt, the ancient civilizations have shown very complex and advanced techniques for constructing these objects. Furniture can represent many things, from functional items for everyday life to decorative art or even symbolic objects built to serve religious purposes.
The history of furniture has been mainly classified into several periods dating back from prehistory to antiquity (ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome), going through the middle ages, renaissance, baroque, modernism, and contemporary design. If you want to read more about this, check the following link https://www.onlinedesignteacher.com/2016/02/furniture-design-history.html.
What kinds of materials are used to make furniture?
Each material used plays a crucial role in how we perceive and how much we enjoy different kinds of furniture. Every material has its own benefits and faults. They differ in durability, portability, color, and, most importantly, in aesthetic design. Wood, stainless steel, cane, plastic, fabric, MDF, and glossy MDF (budget-friendly material that looks like wood and is much cheaper), glass, acryl, and leather are some of the many materials used.
Wood is a prevalent choice and for a good reason. There isn’t anything better than feeling the touch and smell of nature in your home. Wooden products never cease to disappoint you because they are always aesthetically pleasing.
Beech, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, pine, walnut, cedar, chestnut, elm, fir, teak, and spruce are some of the many types that you can find. Each one brings its own touch and can satisfy the taste of every customer. It is the highest demanded material in the world for its natural look, durability (long lifespan) and is very easy to clean and maintain. Find out more by clicking here.
Epoxy resin is the new material that everyone talks about these days. Although pricy, “River tables” have become very popular in the last years, especially for their aesthetically pleasing look that catches your attention.
Stainless steel is another popular choice for its anti-corrosive properties (rusting is prevented) as opposed to standard steel. Water jet cutting is a popular technology for producing stainless-steel furniture and is used to obtain all kinds of different shapes and sizes. With proper maintenance, these products are very durable.
Cane is a natural material that can bend in many shapes and sizes. It allows obtaining stylish and versatile design. Its advantages are that it’s very lightweight, sturdy, eco-friendly, durable, and easy to maintain.
If you are on a budget, plastic furniture can satisfy your needs. It’s suitable for indoor and outdoor areas and comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors. The advantage is that it is lightweight, but the downside is that over time, its strength is reduced (susceptible to bending), and fading or discoloration may happen after several years. You can always opt for higher grades plastic materials which generally cost more but are much durable. You can check indoor furniture for sale if you want to save some money.
Fabric is considered to be luxury and sophisticated material that is used to make upholstered furniture such as sofas, beds, and chairs. Linen, cotton, jute, velvet, polyester, leather, olefin, rayon, wool, acetate, acrylic, and silk are among the many materials used during production. Each one has its pros and cons, and your decision should always be based on price, comfort, and your personal taste.
I found reading about the history of furniture to be very interesting. I still prefer wood for my furniture with different choices for upholstery.
“River tables” I have saw on tv home shows and on utub them making the table. Would love ot have something like that. I never thought about the history of furniture very interesting.