The most interesting quality of furnishings is their enduring ability to impact the tone of a room. As tastes and styles change over time, furnishings can be chosen to match a variety of themes and design motifs.
Proper choice of furniture can change a room from casual to formal, traditional to modern, or even cold to welcoming. Modern design studios and showrooms, and the expert designers they use, can help any homeowner achieve a newer, fresher look consistent with their intentions. Trends in furniture design are seemingly in constant flux, though a skilled design professional can help one wading through the depths of choice confusion.
Trends for this season's furniture market are many. First off, in carrying on with the technology revolution, many modern furniture designs have made room for techno-products. Integrated charging ports and spaces designed for iPhones and iPads are making their way into desks, bureaus, accent tables, nightstand, and more. Another theme that appears to be catching on in a big way is furniture with a smaller profile. As housing continues to become more expensive and the lasting effects of the Great Recession still being felt, many home buyers are seeking to furnish smaller spaces. Smaller spaces call for smaller furniture, so look for classy furniture doing the job with a reduced footprint. In keeping with the less is more theme, multifunctional furniture has grown quite popular, with furnishings doubling as storage supporting a 'no wasted space' mantra. Tables doubling as dog crates and litter boxes, staircases full of useful storage, and transformer furniture (such as beds that become desks) are all useful additions for smaller housing.
Like many other industries, the modern furniture industry is going 'green.' The desire for furniture that does not release toxic chemicals from materials and coatings has caused designers to choose more earth-friendly combinations. Additionally, consumer demand for eco-conscious manufacturing practices, and less energy-intensive production and distribution has driven demand for locally produced 'artisan' furniture. Local furniture has several benefits, including being of the highest hand-made quality, as well as supporting local craft industry.
Custom made furniture and furniture with unique detail are all the rage for 2015. Expensive and beautiful is the name of the game with custom furniture - unique designs specially made as the perfect piece to tie a room together. Custom work can be made affordable, however, as even some mainstream manufacturers are joining the fray. The degree of customization can vary, with mainstream producers offering color, sizing, and functionality choices, whereas truly one-off furnishings contain a larger degree of customization. One of the most desirable traits of custom furniture is that it tends to spark conversation, so in addition to being a beautiful representation of one's style sense, it has the added benefit of being a conversation piece.
Vintage furniture has also become popular in recent years. Not only does the throw-back look typically elicit warm, nostalgic feelings, it also it regarded as being very eco-conscious. Recycling an older piece saves it from a landfill and typically has off-gassed any volatile chemicals long ago. Vintage furniture represents a nod to the cherished past, while also making a statement about the importance of the future.
