It has been a large number of centuries since the first chair. In all those centuries the chair has changed from one form to another but has kept its calling. It is a piece of furniture to sit on. That is the part of the equation that will never change. So what exactly is bringing about all these changes?



A great role player in the way chairs have been changing is our lifestyles. We all know our lifestyles are constantly changing. The chair in turn has to keep up with what we do and what we are comfortable with. When the population of yuppies (young professionals) increased the chairs became pullout beds.

Technology is another defining factor in the manufacture of the chairs we use. It has evolved so fast and its benefits can be felt everywhere. Chairs can now be sculpted professionally into highly refined pieces of art. It is allowing them to remain chairs seats but to have more and more functions than ever. Some of these multi-functions may be a bit extreme too. I am talking about the electric chair down in Texas.

The metamorphosis of chairs is also influenced by money. When the global economy took a dive, the chairs sold had to be affordable. The chairs were therefore adjusted in certain ways to make this goal achievable. They would be made of cheaper materials. They would also receive less craftsmanship.

The materials that are used in the fabrication of chairs directly affect the chairs we sit on. Through the decades the availability of these materials has always shifted. For example when iron ore was in plenty then a lot of chairs would have iron components. Currently there are a lot of new concept materials that were previously inexistent. This is what is really shaking the market.

Let us check out the chairs we can find in our modern households. The old arm chair that grandpa used to sit on has now developed into something more sophisticated. It has a smoothly popping out foot and headrest that can even allow you to sleep there.

We can also scrutinize the chair in a barbershop. It has gone from the old normal chair into a massive piece of furniture. It is mechanical genius. Just by stepping on a small pedal the chair lifts up to a suitable height to let the barber sharpen you up.

The chairs in the hair salon have not been left far behind either. They have blow dryers and switches inbuilt to them that I would know about if I was a woman. They are being designed for comfort and practicality. No wonder women spend so much time at the salons.

An interesting chair is the wheelchair. Even in just the last few years it has had massive improvements. Now these chairs come with electric motors. They even have a joy stick. No more muscle has to be used by the handicapped to get it from point A to B.