Furniture Design

There are many universities and colleges that teach furniture design and plenty of interesting and exciting careers can be forged from these. The huge demand for furniture design in commercial, industrial and domestic settings keeps the design industry growing and developing.

Skills that are needed are a firm grasp of methodologies within 3D design and furniture construction. Also proficiency in the methods, terminology, conceptual framework and current trends within the furniture and product related industries.

Throughout history many styles have evolved and changed so that presently we have an overwhelming choice of designs. There is always a demand for new and exciting styles to be pioneered in furniture design. Many fashions seek influence in the old and reinvent it with modern adaptations; this has been done for centuries, examples include Neoclassicism or Gothic Revival.

What is different today is that there is a lack of coherency within design periods; it cannot be as easily defined as in the past when there were more easily recognisable movements like Modernism, Bauhaus, Classicism, Rococo, Baroque, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and the Renaissance.

Modern furniture refers to styles after the nineteenth century; this period was greatly influenced by Modernism. There was a huge contrast in the design that proceeded, it moved directly away from traditional styles to favour simplicity and originality and it also took advantage of new materials and processes.

Materials such as moulded plastics were used, this enabled experimentation with new shapes and colours. Asian and African cultures also influenced this design period; Japanese design was noted for introducing simplicity, large planes of colour and contrasting use of pattern.

Current trends in middle market, affordable home design are for oak furniture, this is because it is hardwearing, it’s a wood which can be used for different styles including modern and traditional and it’s a warm beautiful colour. Oak has been popular for a long time, now similar woods are being used which are more readily available such as ash, Indian hardwood and pine.

You can read about about the history of furniture in brief, about 17th Century Furniture design or 18th Century design. For help buying furniture online you can read our furniture buying guide.

Shop by style | Shop by room | Shop by wood | Furniture | Best Sellers | New Ranges | Exclusive Furniture | Contemporary Furniture | Traditional Furniture