Furniture

Furniture being a very important element of interiors, its form and detailing become more significant in encapsulating the desired thematic context within the spaces. Rapid changes in lifestyles are bound to reflect in design too. There are three important questions that arise when we discuss current trends while designing the furniture.

• What kind of furniture should be installed?
• What kind of designs to choose for different rooms?
• What are the mechanisms that used to be created to satisfy the above two?

According to one of the great designer, the need for design is "to be innovative highly creative, cross disciplinary tool responsive to the true needs of men". Unfortunately the present trends in design are on the aesthetics and association, use and methods come on a secondary priority.

Path from design to designer

Design has not only to do with beauty; it has to do with the wit and charm, the humor or playfulness that animates an idea. If we take a quick look at the history and development of modern furniture, a parallel with modern architecture and technology can be observed. In the first half of 19th century, the technical progresses came in and then in second half, the movement for artistic quality.

These two paths finally converged in the early 20th century and it destroyed the traditional boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces. Then a new approach to design the furniture and interior spaces, emerged. This approach remained a strong influence throughout the development of art and architecture.

Personalization of furnishings

Nowadays furniture is more ‘designed’ then ever before. Innovative designs are now the order of the day because the nuclear family needs more utilitarian furniture, more dual-use stuff, the ‘this way day and this by night’ furniture.

In keeping with current spaces, furniture has become more minimalist, simpler, more functional and less ostentatious than before. Gone are the heavily carved and gilt finished sofas and dining sets of yesterdays, this is the time of modular and sleek furniture.

Current trends for furniture

Now if we see the furniture over the ages and furniture today, it really reflects the real ‘generation gap’. Period furniture had an over abundance of decorative carvings, rich upholstery and brocades, paintings, inlay work, gliding and applied ornamentation.

In contrast, Modern furniture depicts a conscious effort to break away from the historical styles to create an impression of lightness and clarity, with insistence on forms that have no reference to the past styles. Living in style carries its own individual meaning for each person. Some consider style as a luxury while for others it is current fashion trend. But a good design is more fundamental and permanent in nature, not merely influenced by short term fashion trends. Good furniture is meant to afford comfort and operational ease for a specific purpose.

Trend of Antiquated furniture

Nowadays another craze is of “antiques”. ‘Antique’ furniture has become so fashionable and attractive, that it’s lucrative for dealers to duplicate and difficult for buyers to judge whether they have bought an original or not. The term antique is very loosely used nowadays.

According to Webster’s dictionary “An antique is an object having special value because of its age, especially a work of art or handicraft more than 100 years old.” One should develop the right attitude if they are genuinely keen on collecting furniture. One should be educated, cautious, patient buyer and should read about different styles of furniture and furniture makings. One should be able to differentiate between different qualities of wood, design and production.

Changing perspective

Ours is a living culture of traditions, crafts, styles and philosophy that highlights work as a way of inner fulfillment, of wholesome attitudes and a distinctive, sensible way of life. Perhaps there is a way to combine good ideas from both: use hand skills and technology in the right proportions and create a fusion. New styles may be born, with new perspectives and fresh way of thinking.

Thus, in brief, from the traditional Indian style of squatting on the floor and performing various activities with the aid of low furniture pieces to imbibe western patterns of furniture design, we have now reached a stage where consciousness to furniture oriented to functionality and creativity is gradually surfacing. Thus furniture should always follow the simple lines and best in functionality. Design has begun to manifest itself in the form (shape) of the product, rather than on embellishments (carving, inlay, moldings

etc.)