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Fashion of modern Furniture
by Kathryn Whittaker
Fashion trends no longer dictate the way we dress or decorate
our homes. Eclecticism and contrasting style directions reign
in home design. More and more people develop a taste of mixing
contradictory furniture trends in their home decor, combining
contemporary furniture with vintage finds and exotic art
pieces.
Uncertain economy, the rise of natural disasters, persistent
war conflicts and terrorist threats has resulted in the further
insulation of people within their home cocoons. This cocoon
lifestyle has given a boom to houseware and furniture industry,
since more and more people turn to home entertainment and dinner
parties instead of “going out.”
The “cocoon boom,” which originally started after September 11,
2001, transformed the modern home into a family sanctuary and
hideaway. Casual living remains as the major theme with
contemporary furniture today, with an emphasis on home
entertaining and informal dining.
From modern furniture to accessories and dinnerware, people
look for items that possess a strong sense of personal style.
The casual living trend in modern furniture translates into
multi-functional furniture with clear non-cluttered design and
extended seating furniture pieces such as extra-long and curved
couches and sofas.
Modern furniture today encourages family values, promotes
quality family entertainment, supports traditional values and
generally helps people connect. Another noticeable trend in
home decor is a return to ‘formal’ for special occasions.
People tend to make a greater effort preparing for special
occasions or dinner parties and spend more time selecting
dinnerware, candles, photo albums, seasonal decorations and
table linen. Another important modern furniture trend is
sensuality which means luscious fabrics, soft warm colors and
simple shapes.
Many furniture items are adjusted for use for the targeted
group of single men. This means sleek minimalist design and an
emphasis on the use of multi-media applications. Flat screen
TV’s are accommodated in hi-tech entertainment centers, and
flat loudspeakers are incorporated into lean, spacious sofas,
covered with dark trendy upholstery fabrics. This trend is also
reflected in one-of-a-kind furniture items, such as art pieces
having a functional meaning. Wide use of LED lighting
technology helps transform a coffee table into a futuristic
object that will change colors depending on a situation.
Speaking of materials used in modern furniture today, light
woods still dominate. Oak, cherry, and birch are the most
popular woods, with rattan and bamboo on the rise. Many woods
are artificially stained to resemble exquisite tropical woods,
for example, zebrano, mahogany, or palisander. A varnished
solid front is often combined with a veneered body. Stainless
steel, polished or brushed, and aluminum are used widely, often
combined with innovative satin glass and boldly colored
fiberglass.
In the upholstery, modern furniture designers favor refined
large abstract patterns or sophisticated monochrome surfaces.
Stripes and checks, as well as floral patterns are slightly out
of fashion. The most popular materials are wool, cotton and
leather, with wool felt gaining popularity.
The main characteristic feature of modern furniture is its
understatement. Giorgio Armani, a couturier turned furniture
designer says, that a subtle richness, not an obvious beauty,
is most important in contemporary furniture design. Like a
beautiful woman, furniture today reveals itself over time.
Kathryn Whittaker writes articles on a number
of different topics. http://www.contemporaryfurnitureguide.com/
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