Furniture Design Ideas

Workability is the quality of a material’s response to being cut, drilled, sanded, planed, folded, or shaped. For wood, the classifications applied to the resistance in cutting and the blunting effects on tools are based on kiln-dried wood of 12 percent moisture content. Mahogany is easy to cut and carve and is an ideal choice […]

In the processes of fabricating furniture, materials are often bonded or laminated, surfaces are primed and painted, and edges are seamed and sealed. The adhesives, binders, paints, sealants, solvents, thinners, and varnishes used in these fabrication processes can release a substantial amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment. As a goal, low or […]

Historically, societies have placed a high value on the surface and finish of all things made. Beyond furniture’s visual appeal, surfaces are felt; they absorb and emit odor; they need to be cleaned and maintained; and most surfaces will wear, scratch, and fade. Many common materials such as wood, stone, and natural fabrics are porous […]

Stable materials remain inert, with little or no dimensional change, when changes occur in moisture, temperature, or applied force. MDF is one of the most dimensionally stable wood composite materials and is used as a substrate for veneers. Marine-grade plywood is excel­lent for outside or wet conditions. It is able to withstand submergence in boiling […]

Haptic sensations are the physical, senso­rial, and phenomenological experiences of touching and interacting with furniture (Figure 7.24). Aluminum feels cool to the touch, even in temperate and controlled conditions. Glass is also cold to the touch, and oils from the hand and fingers can leave marks if the glass is not treated. Vinyl does not […]

A material’s ductility is its ability to be molded or shaped without breaking. Copper is a ductile metal. It folds, bends, and can be hammered or formed, as shown in Figure 7.19. Aluminum is far less ductile and is best when forged, cast, extruded, or rolled into shape (Figure 7.20). Polypropylene is a ductile polymer […]

All wood species shrink upon drying and expand when the cells hydrate. Wood does not begin to shrink until all "free water" is removed and "bound water" loss begins. Hardwood lumber must have a moisture content of 6 to 12 percent to meet the standard of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grades. Some woods […]

The compressive and tensile strengths of materials are related but distinct in their perfor­mance capabilities. Compressive strength is the ability of material to resist compressive forces (pushing), while tensile strength is the material’s ability to resist tensile forces (pull­ing). Wood performs well in both compression and tension parallel to the grain, but when pulled at […]

Climatic and environmental conditions of humidity, moisture, air quality, and daylight all have a significant influence on materials and furniture. Aging processes are evident in a material’s decay, illustrating the temporal quality of furniture. Copper, wood, and leather will develop a patina over time. Patina is a term used to describe a surface condition pro­duced […]

A material’s absorptive quality is its ability to absorb moisture, oils, and odors. Fabric and unfinished wood will absorb all three. Ring porous/semi-ring porous, open-grained woods, such as mahogany, can take a stain better than diffuse porous, closed-grained wood, such as hard maple; however, both woods can receive a deep-looking finish, but the processes may […]