Walls
Walls are the background and can be changed
almost as quickly as mood. Walls are the largest surface area in a room; however,
wall finishes are also one of the most affordable decor components. Walls
provide a sense of unity in a room, and in a whole house. You can create
diversity with colour, pattern and texture without disrupting this sense of
unity. Modern homes tend to start with walls covered with gypsum board which
has been taped and sanded to create a smooth surface. There are several options
for the finishing material but the following are the most affordable and least
invasive.
Ceilings
Modern ceilings tend to be vast empty
wastelands just waiting for some creative attention. Like walls, most ceilings
start life as smooth gypsum board slabs. In recent years the trend has been to
spray them with a white textured material that can be textured in a variety of
ways. The only way to rejuvenate this ceiling finish is to spray paint it,
scrape it off and start again or cover it up. Ceilings should be in harmony
with the architectural design of the house/room. Traditional and historic homes
look best with smooth painted ceilings finished with crown moulding and
decorative moulding around the light fixtures. Modern or contemporary homes are
best suited to smooth paint or wood panel ceilings with no moulding
embellishments.
The most affordable finish for ceilings is
paint and its variations. White is the most common colour because it gives the
illusion of height. However, if the ceiling is already too high to feel cozy, a
darker colour will make it appear lower. Some people like a shade of blue for a
sky-like feeling. Stencils and murals can take the paint finish to a whole new
level. An unattractive ceiling can also be disguised with wallpaper, fabric or
even lattice. If noise is an issue the ceiling can be covered with acoustic
tiles.
Window
Treatments
“Treatments” is the decorating term with what
is done to windows. If privacy and sun are not an issue, one can leave them
uncovered. If privacy or sun is an issue you have several options. In covering
your windows, all windows in a room should have the same treatment. Blinds or shades
are the most affordable option, and ready-made is much cheaper than custom
made. Both are available in numerous styles and colours. Drapes are the most
suited to traditional or historic decor and again, ready-made is by far more
affordable if the window in question is a standard size. Drapes tend to be used
in one or more layers for the greatest flexibility and are floor-length. Fabric
for draperies is available in an almost infinite variety of colours, textures
and prices.
Curtains is a term often used for less formal
drapes, usually only falling to the bottom of the window casing, and usually
only one layer. These shorter window coverings tend to be reserved for less
formal rooms like kitchens, bathrooms and some bedrooms. Shutters have been
used for centuries to provide complete privacy but also block out all light so
tend to be used only at night in high traffic areas. Window coverings require
exact measurements especially for something like inside-mounted blinds. Measure
every window. Just because they look the same does not mean they actually are
the same.
With blinds decide if you want inside-mount or
outside-mount. Use inside if you want an uncluttered contemporary look and/or
you want the room as dark as possible when the blinds are closed. Use outside
if you want the window to look larger, if you want to hide an unattractive
window or casing, or if the window opening is too small to accommodate
inside-mount. Check with the supplier or manufacturer for special measuring
requirements. If window coverings are not needed for sun or privacy, but you
find your windows are too boring to be left plain, there are numerous options
for dressing them up. For instance, add a valance or ruffle to the top of the
window.
Paint the window casing/trim a contrasting/complementary
colour. Drape fabric, beads, artificial garland or even fishnet across the top
of the window and/or down the sides. Hang a stained-glass picture or crystals
in the window.
Furniture
Furniture, which includes chairs, tables,
cupboards, beds, sofas, and benches, is divided into domestic furniture (used
in dwellings) and civic furniture (for schools, nurseries and kindergartens,
offices, theaters, cafes). There are many subtypes of furniture: for instance,
there are dining, kitchen, writing, and other tables. Some pieces of furniture
feature elements from various types of furniture. The combination of several
functions in one piece of furniture is achieved by means of a structural change
or the consolidation of individual components into a unit. According to
structural and technical characteristics, there are free-standing, built-in,
hanging, and wall units. Some pieces are built as solid units, and others are
knockdown units. Furniture is further subdivided into hard, upholstered, and semi-upholstered
pieces.
One of the most important principles of
furniture design is the creation of sets for use in rooms with special
purposes, such as dining rooms, bedrooms, playrooms, and kitchens. Furniture
plays an active role in the artistic organization of an interior, constituting
a separate branch of decorative applied art and a field of artistic structural
design. The basic elements in the artistic language of furniture are
architectonics, proportion, and scale (the relation of a piece and its individual
parts to a human being). The artistic elements of furniture also include the
finish, texture, and color of the surface, the variety of which is achieved by
different finishing techniques, such as painting or lacquering. Painting,
sculpture, and ornamental designs are used in the decoration of furniture.
History - The emergence of furniture dates back to
the time of transition from primitive communities to a settled way of life.
Furniture developed most rapidly among those tribes which, because of climatic
conditions, were most compelled to live indoors. Another important prerequisite
for the development of furniture was the availability of material having the
necessary strength, and comparatively lightweight, as well as sufficient
pliability to allow it to be worked and finished. Wood was the most important
material used in furniture-making. Initially those pieces of material that
conformed to the desired shape were used.
As the socio-economic structure and way of
life changed, new types of furniture evolved. The development of furniture was
also closely linked to the development of styles in other artistic media.
Individual styles gave rise not only to individual furniture types and designs
but also to new concepts concerning compositional principles. In addition, a
notable influence on the decorative and, to some degree, the compositional
features of furniture have been exercised by the national traditions of art and
everyday life.
Factors
Influencing the Selection of Furniture
A house is considered to be well-furnished
only when it is suitably arranged with appropriate furniture and furnishings.
All rooms which are equipped with a large number of furniture need not
necessarily be called functional. Some families may find them sufficient and
others, either over-furnished or under furnished. In addition to being
functional and in required numbers, the furniture items should also meet the
aesthetic needs of the family members.
Comfort: The most important consideration while
selecting a piece of furniture is the comfort. The livability of a home depends
largely on its comfortable furniture items and furnishings. The ready-made
furniture available in the market is according to certain standard measurement.
Thus a standard easy chair has a seat depth of 22 to 24 inches and it should be
17 inches high in front and a little lower at the back. An occasional chair is
19 inches deep and 18 inches high. Armrests are above 7 inches above the seat.
Seat backs are 17 to 19 inches high.
However, furniture that does not conform to standard measurements is also procurable and can be made-to-order. While procuring such items, one should always keep in mind certain feature of comfort. For instance, a chair should be deep enough to reach the back of the knees of the seated person. The chair back must have a comfortable slant height, and should support the shoulder blades well, or even the head, if that is desired. Children’s furniture must suit their measurements and must not have any sharp edges or corners at all. Some furniture is made with the adjustable legs that can be lengthened as the child grows. This type of flexibility makes the furniture usable in the long run.
Weight: The weight of furniture and its mobility are
the other features that also affect comfort of the seated person. Some very
light chairs or stools that can be moved easily are needed in living rooms. The
most mobile and useful lawn and porch chairs and tables have locking wheels in
place of back legs. Thus it is not necessary that furniture be costly to be
comfortable, but it must be designed to fit the body, and make the user to feel
comfortable.
Expressiveness: The theme of the room limits the choice of
furniture. For instance, a cottage style expresses informality, comfort and
simplicity and calls for furniture of the same characteristics. The kind of
wood, the shape of the article, the style and the colour, all are the elements
that help to create the mood or expressiveness desired.
Some of the ideas that expressed in homes
consciously or unconsciously are naturalness, sophistication, intimacy,
formality, coolness, delicacy, strength, freshness, antiquity etc. for
instance, a room having glass-topped furniture indicates delicacy whereas heavy
furniture items make a room to appear strong and sturdy. An informal
drawing-room may include a rocking chair and a few other furniture items while
a formal room may confine itself just with a sitting area near a window. A room
with potted plants and large natural flower arrangements may express freshness
and a room in the absence of these may look barren and dry.
Style: Style plays a very important role in
selection of furniture. Sometime one piece of furniture is brought as it
represents certain style. Style can be further divided into various group
including
Ø Beauty: While selecting one furniture piece it is the beauty of the piece
which influences the final choice as every individual is born with some kind of
taste for beauty. Any item placed in a house must possess some aesthetic value.
One general rule to follow as a guide in the selection of furniture is that the
simple and plain things, are the better choice in the long run. Simplicity must
be the thumb rule in the selection of beautiful furniture items. Simple
furniture items not only appear to be beautiful, but are also, functional, easy
to maintain and eligible to fit into any corner.
Ø Utility: All furniture pieces are bought with the main intention of having
some use. Therefore, unless an article is useful, it must not be given a space
in the home, regardless of its beauty or sentimental association. This aspect
becomes more important in the changing society where space is a limiting factor
and flats are made with the bare minimum area because of the cost factor.
Therefore, the furniture requirements of every room should be carefully studied
and planned. Before making the final purchase, their utility should be
calculated and analyzed in terms of the space available and the function of the
rooms. Sometimes double purposes make furniture more valuable, as table for
music system that is also an end side table, the low bookshelves to be used as
a seat when a large group is to be accommodated for a short time or a double
bed with a box underneath or a sofa-cum-bed that can be used when guests are to
be accommodated occasionally.
Balance
and scale: It is always unwise
to buy furniture and accessories simply because they are in fashion, without
paying attention to the need and their size, proportions and relationship to
each other and to the space in the room allotted to them. The actual dimensions
of a piece of furniture are basic in determining its scale and proportions, but
the way it is designed can sometimes have subtle effects. A long, open-back,
cane-seat settee, for instance, can occupy a great deal of space and still give
an impression of lightness – out of scale with a heavy, squat armchair
occupying less space.
Construction: A well-built furniture is always an asset
because it gives long and satisfactory service. Good furniture will give many
years of service and satisfaction and for that reason, should be bought
deliberately. Every piece of furniture must be studied from the point of view
of its construction. A complete examination of furniture and acquiring
information about it is a must for every consumer and decorator. The purchaser
must look at the back, bottom and inside of each piece as well as at the front.
Firmness
and rigidity: Furniture
must be tested for its firmness and rigidity by various methods the ways it was
used in the home. Firmness and rigidity under pressure are very important
features of good construction. Firmness depicts how the parts are joints
together. The joints used and the material used to make a joint are used such
as dovels, screws, steel clips, and corner metal plates. These joints should
not break or make noises when the furniture is in use.
Selection of home Furniture
As furniture is a lifetime investment, it must
be carefully selected. How to judge the quality? This is the question which
comes in mind at the time of purchasing furniture. It takes time and effort to
acquire the background knowledge that is essential if money is to be spent
wisely. The wide variety of furniture that is available – ranges in quality
from poor to very good. In upholstered furniture, it is very difficult for the
consumer to judge the quality because the materials fitted inside the framework
of the furniture, like the springs etc. are not seen from outside. Also, before
constructing the furniture, the wood should be properly seasoned or aged. This
is also impossible to say just by looking at a piece of furniture whether or
not this conditioning process has been properly done. Sometimes cheap wood is
covered with plywood of various grades and given an artificial grain with a
polisher. Some guidelines for the selection of furniture are given below:
Ø Needs of the family: Many people crowd their
homes with furniture collected at random just to impress their friends without
any regard to its fitness, comfort or even form. The number of furniture items
that a family should have will depend upon the activities carried out in
different areas of the house. It is wise to make a list of essential pieces of
furniture that are required by the family for different areas. Examine the
furniture that a family already has, and then prepare a final list of the
furniture that is to be purchased.
Ø Space: Before purchasing
furniture, space where the furniture is to be placed must be measured and these
figures on paper should be carried along with a measuring tape to the furniture
market. It should be kept in mind that the size of the furniture should relate
to the size of the room and the other furniture in the room. Furniture that is
to be placed against the wall should be in proportion to the wall.
Ø Utility: The most important factor in selection of furniture is its
utility. Unless an article is useful, it should not be given space in the home,
regardless of its beauty and design. Double purposed furniture are more
valuable e.g. the low book-shelves can be used as a seat when a large group is
to be accommodated or a dining table which can be used as a work table, a
sofa-cum-bed which can be used as a bed at night and as a sofa in the morning.
When selecting furniture, one should think of its utility for particular
purpose. Too many unused furniture pieces clutter the house.
Ø Suitability to Purpose: Be clear of the purpose for which you are buying
the furniture. For example, if you are buying a chair for relaxing, then it
should be deep enough with high arms. A chair required for studying should have
a straight back and should allow for free elbow movements.
Ø Construction: Furniture should never be purchased without making a complete
examination of it. Purchaser should look at the back, bottom, inside and front
of each piece. Check that doors (if any) are easily opened and drawers easily
taken out. Also examine the surfaces, edges, joints etc. The legs of the
furniture should be checked in respect of its standing firmly on a level floor.
Hinges, handles and knobs should be checked for their proper fixing. Also
examine the surfaces, edges, joints etc. Firmness is another important feature
of good construction and depends on how the different parts are joined. The
legs and frame should be fastened together with glue and also with screws,
clips and/or metal plates.
Ø Finish: Furniture must also have a good finish. Finish used for wood
furniture should be such that it shows the natural quality of wood, its colour,
texture and grain. Some of the finishes used for wood furniture are spirit
polish, varnish, enamel paint and synthetic resin. Enamel polishes are also
available which are durable waterproof and also stain resistant.
Ø Comfort: Comfort in furniture means more to most people than any other
characteristic. The livability of a home depends upon its comfortable
furnishings. Most furniture is designed to fit a person of average height.
Furniture that does not conform to standard measurements is procurable.
However, a person, who is more or less than average in height, should select
his or her own pieces of furniture, particularly chairs. A chair to be
comfortable should have a sufficiently spacious seat and deep enough to reach
to the back of the knees of the seated person. The chair back should have a
comfortable slant and should support the back, shoulders or even the head, if
desired. Similarly, a bed should be comfortable which is necessary for complete
rest. It should not be very hard or sagging. Tables should be of proper height
to allow one to eat meals or study comfortably. Storage cupboards should have
the shelves made up of adequate size, the depth of shelves should be within
easy reach and allow the visibility of items stored. The dressing tables should
have proper dimensions to sit or stand comfortably for dressing up. Children’s
furniture should suit their measurements. Sometimes furniture is provided with
legs that can be lengthened as the child grows. In general, the furniture
should have smooth, finished surfaces and should provide proper comfort.
Ø Design: The design of the furniture should be such that it harmonizes with
the other furnishings of the room. The lines, colour and texture of furniture
should blend well with the mood of all the other furnishings in the room. Its
design should be dictated by common sense and good taste. The essence of modern
furniture is simplicity without ornament. Its shape is important with clear-cut
lines, outline, beautiful proportion and best functional utility.
Ø Maintenance: While selecting furniture, its maintenance problems should also
not be forgotten. Proper care of furniture in terms of dusting, polishing,
timely repairs of loose joints or screws etc. is essential. In order to be conducive
to sanitation, it should be free from any carving which does not add to the
comfort but only increases the cost and acts as a depository for dust and dirt.
So carving, short recesses etc. in which the dust collects, should be avoided.
Ø Mobility: The weight of furniture and its mobility are features that also
affect comfort and health. For requirements of health, every piece of furniture
should be so light so as to be easily removable; of if bulky, it should have
means to permit the floor below to be cleaned and washed; should be supported
on castors (wheels) which allow it to be moved aside so that floor and wall
behind may be cleaned. Some furniture items like tables have wheels which are
mobile and quite useful.
Ø The reputation of the dealer: Generally, furniture buying involves an
expenditure of a fairly large sum of money, so it is essential to buy it
cautiously from a well-established firm even if costs are somewhat higher. The
price labels, guarantee cards and quality should be compared from different
shops. The furniture item purchased should be carefully inspected by the
consumer in the showroom itself.
Material for Furniture
Furniture items are made from a wide range of
base materials and accessories or fittings.
Wood
Wood is used for the construction of most of our
furniture. It is popular because it is flexible, has natural beauty, is not
hard or cold to touch and is not noisy under impact. It comes in variety of
types, hardwood, softwood, plywood, veneer solid wood, inlays and carvings. In
Ghana, the commonly used woods are teak, mahogany, rosewood, and walnut. Of
these teak, cedar, mahogany and rosewood are the most expensive. Softer woods
from pine and other coniferous trees are also sometimes used. There is now a focus
on the naturalness, the pleasing colour and the texture of the wood. In modern
style, the designers show up the beautiful natural grain in wood and do not
cover the natural colour with thick varnishes or paints. Some woods can be made
much stronger by impregnating them with resins. Furniture is finished by
polishing, varnishing etc. to protect it from vermin, dirt and wear, to
facilitate cleaning, to add pleasing lustre and to change colour.
Metals
Metal furniture is highly utilitarian because it
is fireproof, durable, lightweight. Besides it is not affected by humidity and
change in temperature. Various metals and their combinations (alloys) are
suitable for furniture. Some of these are steel, aluminum, chromium-plated
metals (iron and brass) wrought iron etc.
Plastics
The most recent innovation in furniture
materials is plastics. It is dent-proof, unbreakable, scratchproof, easily
cleaned and light in weight. It comes in a variety of colours and is also ideal
from the designer’s point of view as it can be moulded, cast or cut into any
desired shape. It is tough and can be made both rigid or flexible. Some
plastics are resistant to chemicals.
Glass
Apart from its use for windows, doors etc. it
has been used for furniture-making as well. Such items tend to be collectors’
pieces and are not commonly seen. Glass tops are often found on top of writing
tables and dining tables. The glass fibres can also be mixed with plastics to
make a very strong light material which is now commonly being used for the manufacture
of furniture. It is commonly seen as brightly coloured, moulded chairs,
especially in public places like restaurants, auditorium etc.
Willow, Rattan, Reed and
Cane
Furniture made from these materials is termed
wickerwork. Willow is the only native wood that can be woven. Rattan is a kind
of vine that does not take any colour but can be given a burnt effect by
scorching it with a blow torch. Reeds are the core left after the outer hard
rattan fibre is stripped away. It is woven into durable, good looking
furniture. Whole or split bamboo is made into screens, furniture, baskets and
mats. Reed furniture is seen in most Ghanaian homes like ‘moodas’ or garden
furniture. Now these are becoming popular because of the relatively low price
than other materials but it may not be as durable as solid wood furniture and
may need frequent repairs of broken weaves of seats or backs.
Upholstered Furniture
Generally wooden and other furniture is not very
comfortable to sit because of the hardness of these materials and hence it is
finished with cushioned surface. This is called ‘upholstering’. Many prefer to
use removable cushioning of foam rubber (e.g. Dunlop), rubberized coir instead
of permanent upholstery. This upholstering uses springs, fittings of fibre,
finished by beautiful fabrics. Permanently upholstered furniture should be
checked, for its springs, because many times, it sags at places if springs are
not properly fixed. Ordinary cotton stuffed or foam rubber is becoming more
popular.
Arrangement of Furniture:
Furniture in a house can be arranged and grouped
to look aesthetically satisfying and to give comfort by following guidelines:
v Functional
considerations of arrangement are more important than aesthetic considerations
in furniture arrangement e.g. sociability in living room, relaxing and privacy
in bedrooms. Hence grouping of pieces needed for an activity is important in
furniture arrangement.
v Furniture may be grouped
for various activities with consideration of space.
v Size and shape of the
furniture pieces should be in proportion to the wall area against which it is
being placed. Furniture against one wall balances doors, windows and also the
large pieces on the opposite wall. Each wall should also be balanced by placing
large pieces of furniture against big wall areas.
v All heavy furniture
should be arranged parallel to walls and small pieces can be placed at an
angle, to match the architecture of a room.
v Interesting groups may
be composed around important articles.
v Clearly defined and
sufficient space for passage and activities must be allowed.
v Approaches to doorways
should be kept clear.
v Scatter upholstered
furniture among wooden pieces of furniture.
v Avoid using too much of
furniture in a room.
Furniture in a house can be arranged and grouped
to look aesthetically satisfying and to give comfort by following certain
simple principles. Each family has first to study its own activities and needs
in order to arrange their furniture in a way that suits them best.