Western bedroom furniture

When you think of America, the Wild West certainly is an aspect that comes to mind. With western theme furniture, you can incorporate that period into you home. You don’t have to live in the West to enjoy Western theme furniture in your home. Whether you decide to furnish an entire room in western furniture, or just use a few accent pieces, you will find that it can add a special sense of flare to any theme of décor. Western theme furniture is influenced by the “Old West” as well as the animals and nature available in the western areas of the United States. While it has always been present in homes in these areas, this theme of décor has quickly spread through the United States and even around the world, and is found in urban areas quite often.

Furniture has done in a western theme is largely made of natural materials. Wood, leather, rocks, and metal all feature prominently. Animal and nature motifs are often included. Bear, deer, fish, and moose all are incorporated in design elements. Antlers, both real and manufactured, are also used quite frequently. Western furniture is not ornate, and does not have a lot of carvings or frilly designs. The pieces are typically large and simple.

You won’t find any pastels in western furniture. The colors chosen are typically ones that can be found out west in nature; deep reds, forest greens, rock gray. You’ll also see dark blues and sometimes cream is used an accent color. The fabric used in most western pieces is textured. Old leather and suede are often found. When cloth is used, it is typically woven blankets or denim. This furniture is meant to be touched and used. It is a decorative item, but is built to stand up to every day use. Furniture that is vintage or has the appearance of age is prevalent in western furniture, as many times designers seek to mimic the way furniture appeared in the “Old West.”

While there are many people who chose to decorate their entire home in a Western motif, you don’t need to do that to use this theme. A couch or love seat has done in a western theme can be a great accent piece, and often can blend in well with other themes of furniture. Because of the rich, dark colors, this type of furniture often works well in a den or office. People who live in log theme homes often pick western furniture for their homes because the colors go so well together. It is a good way to use leather furniture in your home if you have children, because the pieces are so rugged and durable.

Scandinavian bedroom furniture

Scandinavian furniture is known for its modern approach to design and function. Beginning in the late 1950's with the introduction of modern manufacturing facilities and processing Scandinavia became the center for a movement in design that became synonymous contemporary looking furniture with clean lines and built in comforts that were engineered into the furniture. Scandinavian furniture gets its origins from of course Scandinavia. Scandinavia consists of the countries of Norway, Sweden & Finland. Denmark which is to the south of these countries on the northern most European mainland peninsula is also considered to be part of the Scandinavian region. Nordic furniture is also used unambiguously sometimes to refer to furniture made from the region

Scandinavian designs came into their own in the 1950's. The Lunning Prize which was awarded to outstanding Scandinavian designers 1951 through 1970 and recognized top Scandinavian furniture makers who defined the profile of Scandinavian made furniture. The Lunning Prize was named after Frederik Lunning and two recipients were chosen each year by a group of their peers from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland as recognition of establishing new Scandinavian furniture concepts both at home and abroad and led too many of the modern styling's associated with the creations of these top Scandinavian designers.

To define Scandinavian furniture requires us to look at what makes a piece of furniture fit into this specific category. Behind every piece of Scandinavian furniture is the belief that functional the day products should not only be affordable to the wealthy but to everyone. This movement in the 50's or the post World War 2 era took on the name of Social Democracy as many of the production techniques used during the war were starting to be applied to many industries including furniture. This is the primary theme found in Scandinavian designed furniture in that it offers both modern looking designs and provides function to the user. Much of Scandinavian designs make use of form pressed wood which is configured into smooth shapes and designs. Anodized enameled aluminum which can be formed together into unique and functional designs is used throughout Scandinavian furniture. Pressing steel which often provides an industrial look too many of the modern Scandinavian designs is also used to create these many contemporary pieces.

Today's Scandinavian furniture manufacturers carry on these traditions in furniture design by creating modern, contemporary designs. These stay true to the designs and ideas expressed in the 1950's but apply modern manufacturing and materials to create styles and designs for today's furniture consumer. This furniture also takes the ideas and beliefs that it must be functional and incorporates new designs and features the people today need. Homes are becoming more modern and furniture much also do the same by providing the consumer with features and benefits they need in a changing world. These qualities best express today's Scandinavian furniture and are the reasons that this furniture as a category continues strong today.

Antique furniture terms

If the appearance and styles of tools and materials have gradually changed and evolved over the years, so did the terms that were used to refer to such. For antique furniture, much of the terms that were used in the early ages are no longer used in today's everyday language. As such, many find it hard to understand the usual furniture terms that seemed so common decades before. However, if one needs to purchase antique furniture, it is therefore essential for him to be aware of the common terms that are used in the antique trade and industry. Some of which are as follow:

Chests of Drawers: The Highboy and the Chiffonier : Both actually forms of drawers that differ in length and appearance. The Highboys are those high chests of drawers which are higher than wide. Such also have bases which are legged. For the Chiffoniers, these are chests of drawers that are also high but definitely narrower than Highboys. Chiffoniers do not have legged bases and there is usually a swivel mirror that is attached on its top drawer. Such types of storage antique furniture were highly popular during the colonial periods where house designs and styles had little closet spaces.

Dish Storage: The Buffet and the Sideboard : Both refer to storage furniture which you can usually find in the home's dining area or kitchen. They are usually used to keep pieces of dishes and serving utensils. Apparently, the buffet is only smaller than the sideboard, but both basically have the same function and appearance. They have drawers were the dishes can be stored, as well as a flat surface above the storage space. The flat surface usually serves as an area where food can be prepared, displayed and served. Most buffets and sideboards also have display shelves and mirrors.

Classic Closets: The Armoires and the Wardrobes : Both appear to be huge closets or cabinets that add storage capacity of clothing. The main difference between the two furniture pieces lies in their original purposes or functions. Basically, the armoires refer to those free standing closets where armor is stored. Such were invented during the medieval times when war was almost an everyday routine. As for the wardrobe, it was basically designed to store clothes and other little personal tools. Aside from the functionalities, most armoires appear to have more well decorated features than wardrobes. Wardrobes also have more streamlined and more modern designs than those that appear on armoires.

The Hybrid Cabinet: Chifforobe : Chifforobes are considered as the prime example of furniture that has storage spaces but will fit small bedroom during the medieval times. Such pieces of furniture offer a combination of the features and the functionalities of the chiffonier and the wardrobe. A chifforobe is basically a two-door furniture item that contains a closet and a chest of drawers.