Furniture & Interior Design
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the relationship between furniture and interior design. You’ll be learning about:
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- How furniture fits into the larger concept of a well-designed interior
- How furniture can serve a multitude of purposes within a space
- Why custom furniture is often the first choice of professional interior designers
Although the importance of furniture in interior design can never be underestimated, putting it all into perspective can be a valuable learning experience. Think of furniture as the paint an artist would use to craft their next masterpiece: it is essential, but only one of the many elements within the concept.
With a better understanding of the way in which furnishings fit into interior design, you can take a more informed approach to create beautiful spaces throughout your home.
The Basics of Interior Design
For those that are not a part of the creative world of design, it may seem that an interior designer is merely a “decorator.” In fact, there are many people that believe that an interior designer is hired to design or decorate the interior of a home or commercial space. And while that’s not entirely inaccurate, it’s also just a minuscule piece of a very large (and complex) puzzle.
At the heart of interior design is the way that we interact with a specific space. An interior designer is a trained and skilled professional that ensures that a space is optimized for work, play, resting, healing, or whatever its purpose may be. With a balance of functionality and aesthetics, they devise beautiful solutions to make the most of space.
Often, interior design and architecture are two concurrent processes. In other words, architects and designers often collaborate throughout the planning, building, and finalizing a space so that it can achieve its particular purpose for the people that will be using it.
Furniture: Form and Function
Much like an effectively designed room, an exceptional piece of furniture is both attractive and useful.
Even in the earliest versions of our homes, at the beginning of humanity, furniture was built and used in many ways. At its most basic definition, furniture is a moveable object that is specifically built for human use. Pieces may be based in practicality (like a simple chair for sitting) or intended to improve the aesthetics of a space. Still, others are used for storage and for showcasing significant objects.
If you look to the past, history tells us that a single piece of furniture can speak volumes about the cultures, religions, and daily lives of the people that used it. When you consider the pieces you love most in your home, you can imagine the stories they could tell about your family, life, and memories.
The Role of Furniture in Interior Design
So, exactly how are furniture and interior design connected? As a designer works to make a room functional, furniture is their tool of choice.
There are so many types of furniture in interior design, with a virtually endless amount of options to choose from. As a result, it is up to the designer to determine exactly which pieces will work best for their client. Both style and purpose must be considered to achieve the desired look and feel for a room.
Here are the primary purposes of furniture in design:
1. It transforms a house into a home.
If you’ve ever explored the empty shell of a newly-built or uninhabited residential property, you’ve experienced the effect that an absence of furniture can have. Without furniture, a house is simply a structure. But once it’s infused with the color, texture, style, and sense of life tied to furniture, it turns into a place that a family can call home.
2. It dictates the “look” of a space.
From traditional to ultra-modern, there are many different styles that can define the look and feel of a room. Even if you aren’t a design devotee, you likely have a certain idea of how you want a room to look. Translating that concept into a liveable reality requires furniture; specifically, furniture pieces that align with your desired result. For example, if you’re hoping for a minimalist, contemporary living room, you probably wouldn’t select overstuffed couches in a vintage-inspired floral fabric.
3. It affects the flow of movement, focal point, arrangement, and functionality of a room.
Furniture can impact all aspects of a space, which is one of the numerous reasons it is so important. The placement and size of furniture often structures how people move around in a room, and how easily they are able to access key features. Furniture may or may not be a room’s focal point, and specific pieces often define the arrangement of a space. For example, an extra-large sectional can significantly limit your options for arranging other elements within a small family room.
Finally, furniture must be functional: a chair to sit, a table to eat on, and so on and so forth. Of course, how a piece works (or doesn’t work) in a space depends largely on the individuals that live there.
Ultimately, your furniture should be purposeful and decorative, comfortable and attractive. Choose every element with great care, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting a home you truly love.
Why Interior Experts are Turning to Custom Furniture Designs
There’s no question that when it comes to design importance, furniture matters. When you consider the impact that furnishings can have on the style, layout, balance, and even the visual aesthetics of a space, it makes sense that experienced designers invest a considerable amount of effort into finding the perfect pieces.
However, it’s virtually impossible to curate an authentic and personalized space when you’re limited to “out-of-the-box” furniture pieces. Whether an interior designer is facing unique challenges in a specific room or simply wants to infuse a space with elements of the exquisite, custom furniture has become a preferred solution.
Here are just a few of the many benefits of custom-designed furniture – and the reasons that experienced professionals so frequently choose custom:
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- A broad range of luxury fabrics, including a variety of colors, textures, and fabric types to suit every space, style, and occasion
- The ability to tailor a piece to fit a specific space, including small rooms, unusual floor plans, and other design dilemmas
- Premium quality, both in the construction and the aesthetic design of a piece
- A final look that’s as distinct as the homeowner
Create a Superior Space with Custom Furniture in Scottsdale and Gilbert
With two locations in Gilbert and Scottsdale, Interior Essentials has become a preferred source for Valley designers and homeowners alike. Our award-winning team takes pride in serving as experienced partners for our clients, providing valuable input and guidance whenever needed. From the most talented interior designers in Scottsdale to stylish homeowners who simply expect more from a home decor store, our clients come to us for the best in luxury furnishings, home decor accessories, window coverings, bedding and bath, and so much more.
Uncertain about how to select the right furnishings for your space? Interior Essentials provides home design consulting in Gilbert and Scottsdale for clients from all over the Phoenix area.
Discover a new level of luxury in custom furnishings and home decor when you visit Interior Essentials. Contact our team for more information about our products and services today.
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