Furniture Designs New
Furniture isn’t just a functional accessory in your home, but also an artistic statement. Whether you’re searching for a sofa with sleek lines or a credenza that elevates your entryway, there are many new designs to consider. From bold geometric shapes to curved upholstery and a new material that looks like tight knots of fabric, these furniture pieces are sure to add personality to your space.
The pandemic may have inspired some of these furniture trends, but their creators are bringing more to the table than just practicality. Their pieces are meant to be a conversation starter or a place where you can escape to read a book and relax. From a luxe lounge to a modern sideboard, these furniture designs new are reshaping how we live and spend our time at home.
Designers are embracing curves, and it’s Italian makers that are leading the pack. Bontempi Casa, Edra and Arflex are all releasing seating designs with soft textures and rounded frames. It’s a trend that’s easy to fall for, especially since these seats and sofas offer both comfort and style.
You’ve probably heard of the Nelson Platform Bench, designed by George Nelson in 1946, as a piece that represented the start of a new era of design. It was a pivotal moment that led to the modernist movement of the 1950s and ‘60s, with designers such as husband-and-wife team Charles and Ray Eames and Florence Knoll Basset launching their own companies and enlisting the help of Mies van der Rohe, Herman Miller and other top talent. If you love modernist furniture, try seeking out vintage versions from these designers or look for quality reproductions.
A furniture designer to watch is Dean Norton, a graduate of CCA’s Wood/Furniture program. His new LM stool balances a respect for traditional craftsmanship, as in the use of solid African mahogany, with an exploration of modern manufacturing capabilities. “I wanted to push the structural capacities of sheet metal construction,” he says.
Similarly, designer Kickie Chudikova has created the LM Chair for Knoll to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company’s tubular steel furniture collection. Her design uses a patented system of joints that creates the swooping curves and is more versatile than typical chair bases.
While some people conflate contemporary with modern, the two styles are actually quite different. Modern, which first emerged in about 1925, focuses on form and function. Its progression continued into transitional modern, which combined contemporary with past elements and designs. After 1945, commercial modern became a popular style that blended the best of both contemporary and modern styles.
Today, you can still see hints of this in commercial office furniture and other commercial furniture, where designers mix a variety of influences. However, the most important thing to remember is that great furniture has always been rooted in human needs and wants. So whatever you decide to bring into your home, remember that your furniture is the foundation of your home’s design.