Interesting Design Origins Of Furniture

Every house has furniture, and it is so commonplace that we don’t really think about it too much. But some furniture design has really interesting origins. Here are just a few for you to think about. 

Gothic interior design

Named after a Germanic group that fought against the Romans in the late 300s and early 400s, the origin of Gothic design can be attributed about 1,000 years later to the Middle Ages and was intended to open up buildings and bring in more sunlight, which is a stark contrast to the modern connotations of Gothic culture.

Although many Gothic features originated in architecture, interior designers have been taking influence from it too. Gothic-style furniture pieces tend to be very ornate and decorative and contain dark but rich colours such as burgundy and navy. 

Similar to the use of arches in Gothic architecture, interior designers think of vertical motifs to elongate and heighten a room. When it comes to lighting, the more natural light the better, and if you can incorporate a stained glass window then you are really achieving that Gothic design. 

Shaker furniture

Originating in New England, Shaker-style furniture was first designed by Quakers. This group of people were known for their simple living, and their furniture style reflects this. 

Shaker-style furniture is recognised by its clean lines, slim or tapered legs and minimalism. It is these characteristics that have entrenched Shaker furniture as an elegant and timeless staple for interior designers. 

If you are looking to add some elegance to your bedroom, you could consider installing a Shaker-style fitted wardrobe. The sharp look of these wardrobes can help to complement a range of different design styles. 

Furniture as art

It may come as a surprise, but Salvador Dali, who is best known for his surrealist paintings, also experimented with furniture as a medium of art as well as an object of practicality. 

In the 1930s, Dali started translating some of his surrealist paintings into real-life objects. The first was a painting which was based on the face of actress Mae West. It features her lips as a sofa which he actually manufactured in 1936 with the fabric being Schiaparelli Pink as it was Mae West’s preferred lipstick shade. 

Many of Dali’s pieces have been mass-produced now and make great accent pieces in any room. 

Scandinavian design

Scandinavian design began to emerge in the 1950s in Europe and America. It can be defined by affordable and sleek furniture which has been influenced by the cold winter days of the Nordic region. 

This design style has a fondness for light colours and open spaces which are designed to maximise the light as natural light would have been limited in the colder climes. 

If you are looking to add this scheme to your home, Scandinavian designs do complement any existing schemes as the light colours pair well with bold designs and more muted accents.