Furniture is portable objects that make a space fit for living or working. It may be made from wood, metal, plastics, marble, glass or textiles. Furniture is a key element of interior design, and it plays a role in exterior home and office design as well. Furniture can be both functional or decorative, and it is commonly used to express a particular style.
Furniture has long been a reflection of social, cultural, and technological trends. Furniture makers have adapted their craft to meet changing needs, using new materials and technologies, as well as experimenting with form and function. The art of furniture design is a complex endeavor that spans a broad range of disciplines, including architecture, industrial and interior design, history, art and commerce.
Modern furniture styles are often influenced by Classical, Modernist, or Post-Modern design and art movements. However, the proliferation of Maker culture has encouraged higher participation in the craft and resulted in a more diverse range of styles. One unique outgrowth of this trend is Live Edge furniture, which utilizes the natural surface of a tree as part of a piece of furniture, heralding a return to nature-inspired shapes and textures.
While many people may think that furniture is simply utilitarian, it is much more than that. The act of creating furniture is a highly technical process that requires a deep understanding of design principles, such as proportion, scale, rhythm, and unity. Furniture also plays a critical role in the context of interior design, as it can significantly affect the perception of balance and stability in a room.