There are currently so many furniture styles and design options available on the market. It can be overwhelming to understand and differentiate among them, especially when it comes to selecting furnishing styles for designing your own space. In this article we’ll define and discuss the differences when it comes to furniture styles and designs. We’ll have a look at furniture style trends of the past and the movement of furniture design into the twenty-first century. Gaining a better understanding of the different styles of furnishings and noticing the characteristics that differentiate them, is sure to help you decide how to fill your furniture store, decorate your home or office space as well as the best ways to combine or use different styles to compliment one another.
Timeless Furniture Designs
In this chapter we will distinguish between antique and vintage eras of furniture design, characterising among classic, French country/provincial, art deco, retro, mid-century modern, and shabby chic and art deco furniture styles. The origins of these styles are of course varied and some even with overlapping periods in time where they were most common. One commonality that all these styles share is that they are still admired, used as well as recreated in contemporary society today.
Antique Furniture
Antique meaning old, refers to items (in this case furniture) that predates 100 years. Antique is not as much an exact style as it is the umbrella term for all furniture styles that were popular in the early 20th century and before. Any piece of furniture that was produced before the 1920’s is considered an antique piece, for example, classical, predating the 18th century and French country furniture styles produced in the 18th century are considered antique. What make’s antique furniture so attractive? “Antique furniture is valued for its historical or aesthetic significance.” Antique furniture pieces can easily be dated to the exact area and time they were created, based on the wooden carving designs. The intricate engravings were inspired by different motifs, dependent on the time of production.
Many furniture items available on the market today, although not manufactured more than 100 years ago, are original reproductions of antique furniture pieces, to give your home or work space the perfect antique and modern fusion style. The best part is that recreations of antique furnishings appear very similar to the original pieces (the same wood designs, line work and carvings), the only difference being the price is that much more affordable. As antique furniture items are limited in supply, it’s no wonder they are very pricey to buy original pieces.
Below we will describe and characterize three furniture styles that originated over 100 years ago (in the antique time period) and are still widely popular and used in households and businesses today.
Classic Furniture (predating 18th century)
As the name suggests, one of the original furniture design styles is classical, characterised by curved lines and solid wooden formations. classicism can be defined as a style that draws on the styles of ancient Greece and Rome, especially fifth- and fourth-century b.c.e. Athens and late Republican Augustan Rome. The term can be confusing, because it has taken on many other meanings. It can refer to a general aesthetic characterized by clarity, elegance, and symmetry, or to a style that is generally thought of as exemplifying greatness or perfection.
Read here how the French Classic furniture style came about during the Renaissance, and was affected by its Kings
Classic furnishings are typically crafted from exquisite wood and refined textiles, inspired by symmetry and balance while still portraying inventive beauty. Typical to the classic style is its ability to enhance the aesthetics of a room, as a single piece, as well as blend nicely with other furniture styles. All furnishings manufactured in the classical style period give a feeling of simplicity and utility as well as a symbol of class and elegance (a representation of wealth and social standing of the home owners- particularly in the 17th century). A distinguishing characteristic of these timeless furniture pieces is the attention to detail of extremities, intricate detailed paneling on chair arms and table legs as well as delicate finishings and smooth rounded edging.
- Elements incorporating symmetry, harmony and balance
- Detailed line work, finishings and edges (refined columns)
- Light and neutral color schemes
- Marble used in designs enhancing natural lighting
French provincial/country furniture (18th century)
French provincial style or more commonly referred to as French country style is distinguishable in it’s design due to the earthy hues and continuous curving lines demonstrating functionality as well as sophistication and elegance. French country style originated in the 18th century around the time in France, where a middle wealth class was prevalent. French country furniture developed as furnishing corporations noticed the trend of middle class citizens aspiring towards the luxury furnishing of the parisian monarchy. In line with this trend they started producing more affordable recreations of elaborate furniture pieces. The name ‘French provincial/country’ was established as most of the upper middle class resided in provincial areas or in the French countryside.
French country furniture although inspired by Parisian furnishings is less elaborate and more rustic in it’s design. Typically crafted from different shades of wood (specific to the region the craftsmen sourced their materials from). French Country furniture pieces are sturdy and strong, designed to withstand long term use. Inspired by the countryside, intricate flower and ornate motifs are often engraved on headboards, as well as the arm and leg pieces of furniture. Other aspects of nature, such as insects, vines and leaves are often seen in the upholstery of furnishings. Characterised by smooth flowing lines and elegant silhouettes, French country design creates a welcoming and sophisticated space.
Read here more about design elements to consider when decorating your work or living space in a French country style.
- Earthy tones and rustic appeal creating an inviting environment
- Elaborate and intricate wooden detail (motifs inspired by the countryside)
- Elegance meets functionality, designed to withstand wear
- Natural woods and other materials (cotton and linen)
Art deco furniture (1920-1939)
The period of art deco style furniture began in the early 20th century, inspired by the art nouveau and a movement towards modern design. Furniture pieces crafted from dark and often exotic woods variations, while also incorporating ornate contrasting details (metal, aluminium, chrome, mirror, ivory and marble). The development of art deco styled furnishing was around the same as that of machinery, hence the desire for a ‘futuristic-machine’ aesthetic. Even when these embellishments were not present, wood was polished to appear glossy and sleek, giving space a luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere. Materials used in sofas, cushions and chairs often carried the same smooth textures, for example silk, leather and velvet textiles. The development of art deco was distinguished by stylish and modern designs, focusing attention towards the simplistic, sleek and organic forms of furniture. Art deco is the perfect choice for someone wanting to incorporate both a vintage look and modern furnishings in their home. It does not come as a surprise that the Art Deco style is making its way back into the twenty-twenties, albeit with a more sustainable touch.
- Focus on elegance and stylish modernised appeal
- Elaborate shiny materials (saturated hues) and mirrored surfaces
- Bold and eye catchy furnishings, solid structures
- Sleek geometric and angle shapes featured
Vintage Furniture
The term vintage has come a long way from solely being used to date the year in which grapes were harvested for wine production (Old French: Vendage). It is now an umbrella term for describing objects, types of furniture, apparel, cars and is even used in the music industry to classify music. When most hear the term vintage, they know it’s referring to something originating in the past, but it’s often hard to know exactly what can be defined as a ‘vintage’ item and if the term is being misused. An item described as ‘vintage’ should speak of the era in which it was produced and should not be used in reference to objects less than 20 years old.
Today, many sellers of ‘vintage’ products are sometimes unaware of the borders of the style era and what constitutes an authentic vintage item. What is vintage furniture? When identifying whether a piece of furniture is considered vintage or antique officially requires knowing the year the furniture was manufactured. Vintage furniture postdates that of antique style. The term ‘vintage’ (refers to a time period in which an item is produced). Furniture pieces produced in the vintage era are those produced 30 to 100 years ago. Of course this is a time span of 70 years, there are some similarities among styles from the 1920’s and the 1980’s, however, as with anything in consumerism, demands change and organizations adjust, expanding or altering options to meet the needs of society.
Furniture and home decor corporations today offer a variety of unique vintage furniture recreations, that emphasize the special characteristics of different timeless styles of the past. Let’s have a look at some iconic furniture styles from the 20th century, in order to develop a better understanding of their design attributes.. These styles are still very prevalent in society today Retro, mid-century modern and shabby chic are all classified as vintage furnishing styles and each have their own unique aspects of aesthetic appeal .
Retro Furniture (1950-1980)
Retro furniture is the term used to classify furniture produced from the 1950’s until the 1980’s. The style category of ‘Retro’ furniture is considered to be vintage in design. Retro, not exclusively in relation to furniture, refers to styles, designs and trends that were popular in the past and have since come back into fashion. Retro furniture is by some critics referred to as the ‘opposite of classic furniture styles’. What differentiates retro from classic and other furniture styles?
Retro furniture initiated a movement towards appreciation of modern architecture and contemporary design. It is typically defined by more modern designs that imitate past fashion trends, that were deemed to be unfashionable after their time in the limelight. Structures became more simple in their design, more colors and variety of materials were used in production. Where previous furniture design styles were bordered in what was ‘allowed’, retro was more expressive and incorporated subjective forms of art. What can be considered retro furniture style is less restrictive than many of the predated styles. What inspired the rise of retro styled furniture? In the 1970’s retro furniture was inspired by nature, natural resources and textured fibres were used to create home furnishings and décor. Color palettes typically included earthy and rustic hues as well as bright and eye catching tones in a variety of geometric and floral designs. Retro furnishings are also often seen as commentary on popular culture and follow stylish trends of the past.
- Following popular culture and societal trends
- Whimsical meets modernized design, sometimes ‘kitschy’
- Pieces generally incorporate rich, bright and earthy hues
- Incorporating floral and geometric patterns
Mid-century modern furniture (1930-1960)
As the name suggests, mid-century modern furniture design began in the 1930’s and continued until 1960’s. Since then it has continued to be a popular choice of design due to its stylish, modern and simplistic design merged with effective functionality. Famous art historian, Cara Greenberg composed the name for the design movement ‘Mid-century modern’ in 1984 to collectively group the style of furniture production in this era. What distinguishes mid-century modern from other furniture styles? Furniture in the mid-century is characterised by medium wood tones, straight lines, geometric shapes and splayed sofa and table legs. The color combinations of furniture pieces were simplistic and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, often no more than two shades. Mid-century modern furniture is simple, chic and stylish, a collection of clean cut functionally designed pieces to create open contemporary space for living, entertaining and working.
What colors are used in mid-century modern furnishing style? It is a common trend to compliment the neutral coloring of mid-century modern furniture with bright color palettes, geometric shapes and patterns, for example wall paintings, sofa cushions, indoor plants or designer rugs. Mid century modern furnishings are a great way to balance decorating a small area. The simplistic design creates a classy environment while still maintaining enough open space to effectively use the room.
- Simplistic linear and geometric design
- Stylish and sleek wooden compositions drawing attention to wood connections
- Focus on functionality (splayed furnishing legs)
- Wooden furnishing complimented by a rich variety of colored decor
Read here about mid-century modern designers and key points to consider when creating stylish and versatile mid-century modern appeal.
Shabby-chic furniture (1990’s)
What exactly is shabby-chic? In the 1990’s there was a strong desire for furnishing your own home in a way to show luxury and elegance. The term ‘shabby’ refers to something rugged and impaired, an old item of use that’s needing replacement. A furniture style designed to give the viewer and user a feeling of worn-out and well-used furnishings, while still aesthetically attractive, stylish, clean and trendy (‘chic’). Shabby chic furniture is characterized by smooth, gentle and flowing lines, contrasted with sandpapered textures to give furniture the worn/used aesthetic.
Why is it appealing to have used looking furniture? Well-used furniture creates a sense of comfort and familiarity, giving space natural and relaxed appeal, rather than stiff and rigid ‘modernized’ furniture. When compared to a modern interior or lifestyle theme that is bold and looks shiny, Shabby Chic lovers can save a lot by recycling or reprocessing existing furniture. Despite reusing materials with a used-vintage appeal, the soft and light pastel tones associated with shabby chic, enhance the clean and comforting environment. Furniture, accessories and lighting decor, are often wood painted or repainted in white or cream and textured in a well-worn vintage style. Light shades are prioritized in shabby chic design, however pale colored patterns, curtains, rugs and cushions are often used to bring additional contrast and textured style into a room. Pretty paintings and floral or patterned wallpapers are typical to shabby chic style, perfect for decorating cosy living or entertainment areas.
- Elegant furnishings designed to embrace a rustic and well-used feel
- Clean, smooth silhouettes and delicate materials (linen, cotton)
- Valuing the appeal of a comfortable and familiar environment
- Soft pastel coloring and neutral (white) paint work creating vintage aesthetics
- Pretty ashen floral decorated wallpapers or art pieces
Why is there still such desire for older antique, vintage and retro styles today? It’s no question that in the past, products and particularly furnishings were produced to withstand time and last longer than fast-paced consumerism today. As consumers we have the power to choose from styles and designs of the past and combine them with modern art and décor to achieve antique or vintage chic appeal in our homes and work space.
The Movement of Furniture Design in the Twenty-first Century
The future is somewhat unpredictable, however, based on the past centuries we can learn about how styles and periods of furniture design have changed and cycled with the times as well as consumer demands. This allows us to recognize current trends and anticipate the styles of furnishings we will see moving through the next decade and the twenty-first century.
With regard to furniture styles how will the 20’s compare to the 1920s? What kind of developments can we expect in the coming decade? In this section we will discuss how things are expected to play out in the furniture design world, with particular interest in future styles and how east meets west in furniture design.
Ethnic Furniture Style
A recent growing trend is that of ethnic style furniture designs, inspired by nature and unique tribal cultures in different parts of the world. Today’s Ethnic style is understood as integration of exotic country-typical characteristics, motifs, patterns and materials in one’s own interior. Ethnic style is characterised by incorporating and utilizing materials based on tribal patterns and floral motifs or materials sourced in different places. Ethnic style reminds of a particular country and the natural environment. When furnishing an area with ethic design one generally draws inspiration from one ethnic origin, for example, inspired furnishing from Africa would include natural materials from Africa as well as African tribal prints or wild animal printed patterns. Originally ethnic styles were those coming from southern and central parts of America as well as African countries. Today there is a much broader range of countries to draw ethnic inspiration from and a general movement towards combining ethnic design with modern furniture pieces, referred to by experts as ethno-chic style. For example there is an emerging trend for purchasing rattan infused furniture designed and sourced from Indonesia.
Indonesian Ethnic Furniture
What is Indonesian ethnic style? The Indonesian or Balinese ethic style is in high demand in western society. Natural materials sourced in Indonesia include teak wood, mahogany and a growing demand of the typical rattan wood. Along with its aesthetic appeal, rattan furniture design is flexible and sturdy in nature, making furniture constructed from rattan increasingly attractive due to the comfortability, functionality and durability of the products.
Read this guide how to buy furniture from Indonesia
- Ethnic motifs, tribal patterns and designs inspired from specific regions
- Earthy, natural tones (black, white, dark reds, brown shades, green, cream)
- Incorporating natural materials from around the world in furnishings
- Textured upholstery imitated from different animal prints
Contemporary Style (East Meets West)
The idea of ‘east meets west’ furniture style is a combination of traditional tribal patterns merged with modern and contemporary furniture design. Travellers inspired by eastern cultures and philosophy influence design trends in the western world. Ethnic decoration has been integrated with other past styles to create innovative fusions. A wide category of style, it’s contemporary design, meaning it’s routed in current trends and styles around the world. In the twenty-first century there is an increasing desire to personalise one’s style by combining elements from the east fused with westernised modern furniture design. Using ethnic traditional materials as well as new resources (such as recycled plastic) to create multicultural designs that create an atmosphere of comfortability and style. What makes this style so fresh and exciting is the application of these traditional colors and motifs onto modern-day western objects and shapes. Many handy local artisans, particularly in Asia, are drawing designs from traditional styles of furniture and combining them with natural locally sourced materials, woven macrame detailings. Chinese eastern style design is long admired and used.
- Valuing traditional asian culture and philosophy
- Innovative mix of westernised design and eastern motifs, florals and textures
- Aesthetically appealing intricate floral carvings and tribal patterns in furniture design
- A combination of ethnic traditional (shades of wood) and new materials (plastic)
- Hand crafted sculptured wooden or porcelain objects inspired by timeless asian cultures.
Other upcoming styles
Ethical and Sustainable
Moving through the twenty-first century we can expect to see an increase in demand for ethically sourced and sustainable products. Looking towards the future of furniture, more individuals are learning and becoming more concerned about the future of our environment and their role in preserving it. With technological advancements today it’s becoming more feasible for businesses to engage in sustainable production, for example, reducing general and toxic waste, reusing recycled materials- particularly those non-biodegradables like plastics and metal materials. Effectively using these materials in stylish recreations of furniture designs from past decades .
Earthy prints and textures
In line with ethnic style furnishing there is an increasing prevalence of earthy coloured patterns and textures, inspired by nature and animal skin prints. Earth colored tones (black, brown) are great for working with when styling any space as they work well together with most other colors. Earth tones and ethnic inspired rugs are more attractive in living spaces and are even being used as wall hangings as decorative art. Tortoise shell printed patterns and metallic shiny materials are used in furniture details and decor pieces. Elements of nature are being incorporated into furniture and interior design, as they were in French country style in the 18th century, however, allowing for a modern and realistic take on nature (giant leaf printed fabrics).
Contemporary Modern and Simplistic
Simpler is better! In the past many home and office designs seemed clustered and over crowded with too many pieces of furniture not being used efficiently. Along with the contemporary trend of furnishing in the next decade, simplicity is valued. Contemporary furniture and space design is characterised by geometric angles, open space and area for movement. The idea that piece of furniture should have functionality and be used accordingly, will be carried forward with furniture design in the twenty-first century. Along with that accessories and art decor also move towards a focus rather than too much detail, for example no longer walls will be cluttered with hanging paintings or pictures, a statement piece is more than enough to create the desired aesthetic appeal.
Read here about more glamorous furniture style trends of the past returning in the 20’s.
We hope that this article has expanded your knowledge and understanding of timeless furniture styles established in the antique and vintage era, that are still trendy in the twenty-first century. Design styles available in the furniture industry today are not limited to these, however, we found these to be some of the most widely used furniture styles still admired. These furnishing styles continue to inspire furniture design in the twenty-first century.
We are a furniture manufacturer from Jepara, Indonesia, and we create quality handicraft furniture with affordable pricing. At Pijar Sukma, we have created a wide range of furniture collections that cover most of the furniture styles mentioned in this article. Classically schooled with the famous French designs, Pijar continues to emulate Classic designs while staying on top of emerging trends.
Our manufacturing includes production with sustainable materials, like recycled plastic. By maintaining certificates with audits we focus on having sustainable products that are also accepted world-wide.
We combine modern with traditional Indonesian and Balinese ethnic style identity in furniture design. There are so many unique and elegant ways to decorate your living, entertaining or working space, whether focusing on one particular style to incorporate or combining your favourite aspects of a few different furniture styles.
Contact us directly to access our furniture collections and receive a free quotation.
References
https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/decoration-design-ideas/french-country-design/https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/age-defining-an-130615
http://hqdesigns.de/en/interior-guide/vintage-furniture-style/
https://chicantique.dk/eur_eng/about_chic/
https://www.elledecor.com/it/best-of/a29401643/ethnic-style-design-trend-2019/
http://hqdesigns.de/en/interior-guide/ethnic-furniture-style/
https://blog.realtyhive.com/20-trends-from-the-1920s-to-watch-in-2020/
https://www.homemakers.com/styles
https://medium.com/@bastores/furniture-styles-the-most-popular-types-5bde68cf10e2
https://blog.luxury-italianfurniture.com/difference-classic-traditional-style
https://blog.luxury-italianfurniture.com/5-reasons-to-love-a-classic-interior-design-style
https://www.britannica.com/art/Art-Deco
http://artdecostyle.ca/art-deco-style-blog/art-deco-furniture
https://www.decoist.com/shabby-chic-style/
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-living/ethical-sustainable-furniture/
https://www.casaone.com/blog/guide-to-furniture-styles-of-the-century/
Frequently Asked Questions
Antique meaning old, refers to items (in this case furniture) that predates 100 years. Antique is not as much an exact style as it is the umbrella term for all furniture styles that were popular in the early 20th century and before. Any piece of furniture that was produced before the 1920’s is considered an antique piece, for example, classical, predating the 18th century and French country furniture styles produced in the 18th century are considered antique.
As the name suggests, one of the original furniture design styles is classical, characterised by curved lines and solid wooden formations. classicism can be defined as a style that draws on the styles of ancient Greece and Rome,
French provincial style or more commonly referred to as French country style is distinguishable in it’s design due to the earthy hues and continuous curving lines demonstrating functionality as well as sophistication and elegance. French country style originated in the 18th century around the time in France, where a middle wealth class was prevalent.
The period of art deco style furniture began in the early 20th century, inspired by the art nouveau and a movement towards modern design. Furniture pieces crafted from dark and often exotic woods variations, while also incorporating ornate contrasting details (metal, aluminium, chrome, mirror, ivory and marble). The development of art deco styled furnishing was around the same as that of machinery, hence the desire for a ‘futuristic-machine’ aesthetic.
The term vintage has come a long way from solely being used to date the year in which grapes were harvested for wine production (Old French: Vendage). It is now an umbrella term for describing objects, types of furniture, apparel, cars and is even used in the music industry to classify music. When most hear the term vintage, they know it’s referring to something originating in the past, but it’s often hard to know exactly what can be defined as a ‘vintage’ item and if the term is being misused.
Retro furniture is the term used to classify furniture produced from the 1950’s until the 1980’s. The style category of ‘Retro’ furniture is considered to be vintage in design. Retro, not exclusively in relation to furniture, refers to styles, designs and trends that were popular in the past and have since come back into fashion. Retro furniture is by some critics referred to as the ‘opposite of classic furniture styles’. What differentiates retro from classic and other furniture styles?
As the name suggests, mid-century modern furniture design began in the 1930’s and continued until 1960’s. Since then it has continued to be a popular choice of design due to its stylish, modern and simplistic design merged with effective functionality. Famous art historian, Cara Greenberg composed the name for the design movement ‘Mid-century modern’ in 1984 to collectively group the style of furniture production in this era. What distinguishes mid-century modern from other furniture styles?
In the 1990’s there was a strong desire for furnishing your own home in a way to show luxury and elegance. The term ‘shabby’ refers to something rugged and impaired, an old item of use that’s needing replacement. A furniture style designed to give the viewer and user a feeling of worn-out and well-used furnishings, while still aesthetically attractive, stylish, clean and trendy (‘chic’). Shabby chic furniture is characterized by smooth, gentle and flowing lines, contrasted with sandpapered textures to give furniture the worn/used aesthetic.
A recent growing trend is that of ethnic style furniture designs, inspired by nature and unique tribal cultures in different parts of the world. Today’s Ethnic style is understood as integration of exotic country-typical characteristics, motifs, patterns and materials in one’s own interior. Ethnic style is characterised by incorporating and utilizing materials based on tribal patterns and floral motifs or materials sourced in different places. Ethnic style reminds of a particular country and the natural environment.
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