As with all aspects of design from art to architecture to fashion, furniture style has a long and rich history of change, sometimes for the better and others for a more debatable degree of improvement. Tracing back to the beginning, furniture was simply about reliability and function. A stool or a chair was a place to sit down, and as long as it held your weight, it didn't matter what it looked like. However, humans are craftsmen, and our brains are developed to the point that we are able to appreciate design and handiwork. Therefore, as decades and centuries have passed, different individuals' stylistic preferences have influenced the furniture design throughout the world.



For example, you've probably heard terms like “King George era” or “Victorian style” furniture. Such pieces are dubbed this way because the monarchs of England heavily influenced the design of furniture, architecture, and style during their reigns. Queen Victoria preferred stately furniture, large and imposing but with sharp angles, long lines, and high vaulted ceilings. On the other hand, King George had similar tastes but with more rounded edges, obtuse angles, and ornate and intricate carvings and designs.

Outside of Europe and the United States, the styles didn't change as much over time. Especially in Asia and the rest of the Eastern world, cultures have held on to traditional values. While many cities have modernized – for example, Shanghai and Tokyo – much of the countryside is as it was hundreds and thousands of years ago. This means that minimalist furnishings still grace the small, delicate homes of the Asian people. They still eat at low slung tables, kneeling on pillows or sitting lotus style, and mattresses still rest on the floors. What chairs they have are straight backed and not well padded, being functional but not decorative.

As time goes on, Western cultures are turning away from decadence. Over the past few decades, there has been a decline in the interest in antiques and other such elements that are reminiscent of large, ornate designs. Instead, many individuals are opting to decorate with cleaner lines, sharper angles, and brighter colors as opposed to the typical earth tones and pastels that have been popular in the past. Just a few year ago, retro design brought to light the use of sharp colors like red, orange, and green to brighten up a room with little regard to matching the rest of the room. Now, these are commonly used for furniture, painting walls, and even media centers.

There will always be changes to the preferred style and theme of design, with new and budding designers arriving on the scene all the time and influencing society. Studying the history of furniture style can give you a clue into the future, as you look at the change of preference over time. As mankind looks to new leaders and innovative designers to lead the way, styles will continue to change and evolve at the same time. It's just a matter of determining to whom you wish to look for ideas.