Trends come and go. The “hot” new décor of today is the forgotten furniture of tomorrow, discarded for the next big trendy wave. Some styles, though, have more lasting power. Industrial furniture is one of those styles.
Because of its elegant simplicity and the ability to blend in with any larger interior decorating scheme, industrial furniture is the best investment for people who want a simple yet sophisticated look, free of any odd frills or questionable choices.
What Are the Characteristics of Commercial Furniture?
When you look around at the customized furniture Bangkok’s offices and homes often have, you might wonder why the owner spent so much hard-earned money on this table or that sofa when there are other simpler options available that actually add to the stylistic value of a home in a subtle way rather than detract from it.
The overwhelming, primary characteristic of industrial furniture is simplicity. The age-old expression of “less is more” perfectly encapsulates the aesthetic appeal of industrial furniture. Industrial furniture, then, is the antithesis of fleeting design flings that the more opulent designers fall in and out of love with by the month.
Additionally, industrial furniture is often described as “minimalist” in reference to the popular aesthetic movement that spans the arts, including interior design. Minimalism is characterized in design by simple lighting, simple planes for geometrical shapes, and leaving open space where possible to allow the room to “breathe”.
There are social and psychological reasons that explain the appeal of industrial furniture. Bangkok is a busy hive of activity – its streets are chaotic, messy, and there often seems to be little room to simply live. Philosophers have pointed to the aesthetic of minimalism as the counterbalance to chaos, with a focus on de-cluttering and opening up rooms to develop their own character rather than forcing ones through unnecessarily elaborate furniture and lighting designs.
Another important aspect of industrial furniture, apart from its minimalist tendencies, is the merger of materials to create metal and wood furniture. Bangkok’s nightlife scene, bars in particular, is teeming with these kinds of industrial designs. For example, stools are often made using wood for the foundation (legs) with a metal seat on top. Designers who specialize in industrial furniture craft have noted the attractiveness of this wood-metal blend because of the contrast drawn between the “warm” wood and the “cool” metal, creating a sense of balance that is also one of the hallmarks of industrial design.
What Are Other Benefits of Industrial Furniture Beyond Design?
Industrial furniture is, generally speaking, much sturdier than its esoteric cousins. It’s built to last, as any bar or restaurant owner will tell you. Customer after customer, year after year, cannot break a piece of quality-crafted industrial furniture. If you own a business where customers will be regularly using your furniture or simply have a large number of guests or residents in your home, going with quality industrial furniture will end up saving you money in the long run because you won’t have to continuously replace shoddily-constructed furniture that’s built for effect rather than for utility. The beauty of industrial furniture’s design, its utility, is also the greatest financial incentive to go with these simple concepts rather than anything flashier.
What Materials Are Used in Industrial Furniture?
The standard, time-tested materials of industrial furniture are typically wood, metal, and concrete. The industrial aesthetic typically does not go well with “softer” materials because the whole idea is to emphasize functionality over frivolous overconcern for appearance. There are, however, notable exceptions to this rule. The simple designs of Chester sofas, for example, which feature cloth covers, go well with industrial designs.
Recap: Why Go with Industrial Furniture?
Industrial furniture is generally more affordable than its flashy counterparts. Designers spend a lot of effort to create furniture that dazzles the eyes but often overlook “bang for the buck” in their plans. Industrial furniture is usually free of the costly markups seen in designer furniture that loses a huge chunk of its value as soon as it’s delivered to your home.
In addition to being affordable compared to designer furniture, industrial furniture is built to last. The very character of industrial furniture is that it emphasizes function over form, so you’ll get many more years of use out of it than other alternatives.
Most of all, industrial furniture stands the test of time. It never goes out of style and implies a sense of classic taste in its owner. Consider industrial furniture, Bangkok’s new “trend” that’s here to stay.