Furniture (from the Latin mobile - “movable”) is the collective name for movable and built-in room furnishings that are located in residential or public spaces. Furniture not only provides comfort to people's daily lives, but is also an important part of interior decoration. It is also often used to create a comfortable living environment in production, in the service sector and in various modes of transport.
Furniture has an ancient and rich history. It appeared more than 30,000 years ago, when our ancestors switched to a sedentary lifestyle and began to decorate their homes with the first household items. Over the course of many millennia, in parallel with the development of art and science, people have come up with new types of furniture. In different parts of the Earth, unique styles were created that combined the cultural characteristics of a particular civilization.
Differences between designer furniture
Designer furniture is products created according to an original author's plan. The creator is not limited by any boundaries and can create something creative and unusual. Most often, such furniture exists in a single copy or is produced in limited editions.
Most designers prefer to work with safe, eco-friendly materials.
The main features of designer furniture include several properties:
- Unusual shape and decor . Original colors and materials are often combined. Unusual decoration techniques are used: carving, decoupage, painting in noble shades - gold, silver, metals. Some products are decorated with mosaics, stencil patterns, artificial aging, metal and glass inserts.
. Designer furniture is not produced off the assembly line. Usually these are limited editions or even exclusive models in a single copy. At the same time, manual labor is often used in production.
Limited production- Quality . It is customary to produce designer furniture only from high-quality materials. The main raw material in production is natural wood. The fittings are also distinguished by their reliability and high performance characteristics, which means the furniture is durable.
- Uniqueness . All designer items are unique and original. Such products can become a truly bright accent in the interior, make the atmosphere cozy and emphasize the taste preferences of the owners.
- Safety . Often, in the production of mass quantities of furniture, chipboard and MDF are used, however, such materials can be unsafe for health, since adhesives containing formaldehyde are used in their production. When they evaporate, toxic substances are released into the air, which leads to frequent headaches and respiratory problems. Designer furniture is made only from environmentally friendly materials, which maintain a comfortable microclimate in the room. You can use such interior items in bedrooms, and even in children's rooms.
What is laminated chipboard
First, what is chipboard? Chipboard - particle board. It is made by pressing wood shavings under high temperature with the addition of special adhesives and resins.
Chipboard serves as the basis for laminated chipboard (LDSP). The laminated surface of laminated chipboard is obtained by heating to high temperatures of 200°C and under high pressure. The molten resin spreads in an even layer over the substrate, securely gluing the decorative paper-resin film. After drying, the surface of the slab becomes durable and resistant to physical damage.
It is laminated chipboard that is used for frame elements of any furniture (even Italian kitchens made of solid wood): side and middle racks, shelves, stiffening ribs. Sometimes facades are made from it for budget furniture, which is used in dry rooms.
The shades and texture of the laminated chipboard surface depend only on the technology and color of the film being coated, which can be either plain or imitate wood texture.
Laminated chipboard is also moisture resistant. It is based on moisture-resistant chipboard, which is obtained by introducing special additives during production. When cut, moisture-resistant laminated chipboard has a greenish tint.
A wide variety of decors, relatively low price, beautiful appearance, no need for further processing and good mechanical properties make laminated chipboard the best material for the production of cabinet furniture for any purpose.
Be careful when ordering or purchasing furniture. Not all slabs are the same! Some manufacturers reduce the cost of the product by using low-quality, low-density chipboard. In this case, mechanical destruction of the slab occurs, the furniture becomes loose and fails.
Minuses
Despite the obvious advantages, designer furniture also has several disadvantages. The main ones:
. Compared to mass-produced factory furniture, designer options are always more expensive and may not be affordable for everyone. That is why such furniture rarely becomes a guest of interiors.
Impressive value- Difficulty in repair . In the event of a breakdown, mass-produced furniture can sometimes be repaired even with your own hands, while designer furniture requires more delicate handling, and in the event of a malfunction, it is better to repair it only in the workshop where it was produced. Accordingly, this will also most likely result in additional costs.
- Difficulty in care . In order to keep such furniture in perfect condition, you will also have to spend money on special detergents for natural materials. Conventional chemicals or rough brushes can easily damage the surface of products.
- Difficulties in choosing a master . Not all designer furniture is high quality. There is a risk of choosing the wrong option. Therefore, it is very important to choose companies with a good reputation and employ proven professionals.
How to choose yourself
When choosing designer furniture yourself, you need to take into account some nuances.
The following tips will help you make a successful purchase:
- An additional advantage may be visiting specialized furniture exhibitions. Usually at such events you can get acquainted with the latest offers and get contacts of reliable suppliers with favorable conditions.
- Furniture should be chosen only in specialized showrooms with excellent lighting. Some materials, such as leather and textiles, can change colors depending on the intensity of light.
- Do not blindly follow the advice of sales consultants. Unfortunately, most of them aim to sell the product at a higher price than to really help with a practical recommendation.
- Before purchasing, it would be a good idea to read the catalogs and carefully study how the furniture will look in the finished interior.
- It is better to purchase furniture directly from manufacturers. Often, dealers do not skimp on markups when selling. Buying directly from the authors can save a decent amount of money.
The main parameters that are important to consider when purchasing are:
- Attractive appearance.
- Comfort.
- Functionality.
- Price.
It is also worth taking into account such a parameter as the number of people in the house. If the owner lives alone, he probably won't need a massive living room. Maybe a smaller section and a chair or two.
If a large family lives in the room, the right choice is a full-size sectional and several chairs. This is also important to consider when choosing a kitchen table and chairs, as well as furniture for almost every room in the house.
Expert opinion
Zhukova Ekaterina Dmitrievna
Interior designer
Before purchasing, you should decide in advance about the design of the house. It is advisable to think about what colors and tones will be used. It is also important to stick to your budget.
When starting to select furniture, it is worth calculating how much the owner can spend on the purchase and setting a limit. Understanding how much he can spend and sticking to a budget will help you make the right decision about new furniture. Once you have set your limits, you can simply focus on furniture design, quality of materials and layout.
Content
- 1 What is important for a buyer to know when choosing cabinet furniture 1.1 Cabinet furniture
- 1.2 Types of cabinet furniture
- 1.3 What is important for a buyer to choose cabinet furniture
- 1.4 The key to quality is the materials from which the furniture is made. 1.4.1 Wood
- 1.4.2 Veneer
- 1.4.3 Lucky
- 1.4.4 Chipboard, MDF
- 1.4.5
- 1.4.6
- 1.4.7 Laminates
- 1.4.8 Metal
- 1.4.9 Glass and mirror
- 1.4.10 Synthetic materials
- 1.4.11 Finishing plastic
- 1.4.12 Fake diamond
- 1.4.13 Furniture edge
(Manufacturers of cabinet furniture - this information is for you too)
How to fit into the interior
Factors that need to be taken into account when decorating the interior with designer furniture are the following:
- Individuality . Furniture must first of all meet individual decorative needs. Of course, coming up with creative and innovative solutions is not always easy. You need to think carefully about the space you are decorating, your style, and explore different options for arranging furniture. You can find great ideas online by visiting interior design websites.
- Topic . Designer furniture purchased for your home must match the theme of the interior. It is important to make sure that when purchasing new items, your existing furnishings are also taken into account. Of course, the best way is to hire a professional interior designer. However, if it's out of budget, browsing through interior design websites can be a great way to find ideas.
- Arrangement . When arranging designer furniture, it is not creative ideas that play the main role. Here it is necessary to find a balance between functionality, comfort and appearance of the room. You may even have to make a few rearrangements.
What problems may arise when choosing
The main problem that owners face is whether designer furniture matches the overall style of the room.
It can be quite difficult to choose the right option for an already decorated interior. It often happens that in the pursuit of exclusivity, the appearance of the apartment is not taken into account and, as a result, pretentious items do not fit in with the rest of the decor.
Another unpleasant situation could be purchasing a fake. Therefore, when purchasing, it is important to pay attention to what materials were used. True professionals choose only natural solids, high-quality fabrics, etc. Each designer product should have nameplates with the name of the craftsman or brand that created the furniture.
Do you have designer furniture in your home?
Of course! I want to buy
It is also important to choose furniture based on its purpose. Of course, appearance plays a fundamental role, but some nuances must be taken into account. For example, designer bathroom furniture should be made of moisture-resistant materials. Then its appearance will not suffer even with high humidity.
Questions and answers
Is it possible to assemble designer furniture on your own?
It all depends on the product purchased. The assembly of very complex structures is best left to professionals.
Is it possible to order a designer to change the size or shape of the furniture you like?
This mainly depends on the company's policy and form. Complex products are not easy to adjust to other sizes. It is also worth considering that any work of this nature will usually be paid additionally.
Does designer furniture require special care?
The rules for caring for designer furniture are the same as for regular furniture. Do not use abrasive cleaning products, place furniture in direct sunlight, or use hard brushes for cleaning.
What is the service life of designer furniture?
The lifespan of high-quality designer furniture is usually 10-20 years, depending on the product.
What to do if a defect is discovered when purchasing a designer product?
If the defect occurs due to the fault of the manufacturer, designer furniture, just like regular furniture, can usually be returned or exchanged.
Layout plan
Even if made by hand, but taking into account the actual dimensions of the rooms and furniture, it will greatly simplify the development of a design project.
Such a plan can be drawn up in different ways:
- Stand in the middle of each room and imagine what, where and how it should be, is it convenient for all family members. To do this, use a tape measure - it’s easier to determine the size of cabinets, beds or sofas.
- You can draw a scale diagram of each room, taking into account the location of all openings. Draw the furnishings to the same scale and cut them out along the outline with scissors. And then just move it around the room, choosing the optimal position.
- You can mark the height of cabinets, sofas, and armchairs directly on the wall by drawing their outlines.
- To work “in plan” you can use masking tape. They “circle” the space occupied by furniture on the floor. This makes it easier to determine the dimensions of tables, chairs, and carpets. Remember that the room should be easy to move around, so leave passages of sufficient width.
- There are computer programs online that help you select and arrange furniture. They give a clear idea of how the model will look in the interior.
- Engage a professional who will create a detailed home furnishing design. It's expensive, but effective.
