Furniture Shopping – It’s Never Been More Fun!

Recent trends in department store furniture have been a clear reflection of the larger trends among furniture shoppers in general. A more environmentally conscious world of shoppers concerned about the future of the planet has willingly selected products that are green. Savvy shoppers have been more willing to invest in furniture choices that were produced locally, recycled or repurposed, do not affect the climate change or do not have toxic finishes that poison the air quality in their homes.

Discount retailers offer beautiful things at equally beautiful price points.

The modern feel of clean lines and sleek smallness has been popular themes in furniture choices. Oversized, bulky pieces seem more out of place than fit for an approved comfort zone. Smaller profiles and streamlined furniture is hip, and consumers are happy to make these choices and add more space to their living quarters.

Furniture has leaped into multifunctional mode, often provided storage, sleeping space for guests or rest areas for pets. Shoppers feel as if they get more bang for the buck with these items. The multifunctional angle has also included storage space for electronic gadgets like MP3 players, laptops, cell phones and other mobile devices.

Cultural influence has allowed furniture to move beyond its regional or national limitations. Zen pieces inspired by Buddhist philosophy and Asian decor have been popular for helping to promote a living space filled with tranquility. A desire to find furniture that is eye-catching and unique has broken down cultural borders for shoppers. It has also enabled them to seek furniture that is handmade or customized to fit their individual tastes.

Living room furniture found in department stores is bursting with personality and truly capitalizing on the multifunctional angle. Futons have become a major focus for both shoppers and manufacturers. These are not the futons of yesteryear that had simple wooden or iron frames and came in simple color choices or brown, beige or black. Contemporary futons are more sophisticated with fold down eating trays and cup storage. They are bold colors of micro suede, vinyl or leather, and the task to fold one up or let it down rests on being able to raise or lower the futon back through several clickable back levels. This beats the clumsiness of trying to figure out how to glide a frame down for sleeping or restore it to sitting position.

Armless chairs with upholstered fabric have been brilliant space savers. The slipper chair, which has a thick seat cushion for maximum comfort, has played the role of the chameleon among home owners. The ease it provides for slip covers and the simple lines it makes for upholstering have given it a change to have more personalities for more design tastes than imaginable.

Entertainment centers are sturdy, space-saving slabs of wood with glass or metal accents. Those who do not wish to mount a big-screen television on a wall or above a fireplace have many options that still preserve the space in their living rooms. Coffee tables are small multifunctional pieces of furniture with varied wood stains and clean lines. The trend is the purchase furniture that can convert for different needs. Foyer tables and entry benches can be pulled close to the rest of the living room furniture and serve as extra seating when there seem to be many more guests than visible seats available.

Dining furniture, too, has become a way to have a smaller footprint in living space. Bistro-style high tables with 29- or 30-inch high chairs give hosts more room to move around and serve food when they are entertaining. Bar and counter stools that swivel ensure guests and families will have a more relaxed time in the living space.

The pub table, which uses a mix of counter height chairs and long benches (backless or with a full back), is a popular choice for many people who need the seating space but not all the clutter. A long-time choice of local restaurants and neighborhood grills, pub table sets are an attractive way to go casual without anyone really noticing. The sets are cleverly designed for conversation, with several seating comfort choices being satisfied. Counter chair lovers who enjoy the elevation with a solid foot rest can dine at the same table with bench lovers. The design of the pub table fosters the notion of people staying around the table — even when the eating is done.

An abundance of bars, wine racks, and buffets and servers also feeds this trend. Hosts have a variety of functional furniture items available to keep the food and drinks coming.

The pedestal table, other round tables and “perfect square” tables have made a huge splash on the current market. Not only are these furniture pieces clever space savers, but also they add an unexpected offbeat quirkiness to overall design styles. The usual expectation is the long rectangular table or large ornate woods that suggest formal dining. Finding something smaller with a surprising shape is a smart way to make the decor “breathe.” It is a break from the usual patterns that invites people to sit and indulge themselves in joys of relaxation.

Much of the same relaxation in the bedroom has come down to the platform bed. An Asian inspired design choice, these beds close to the wall, do not require box springs, give many height choices and provide the versatility of almost any kind of headboard you can dream of. Shoppers are able to buy fabric covered, carved wood, iron, leather or combination headboards that become the centerpieces for a whole room.

Small benches and chests, pull-out drawers made into the platform bed base and small vanities with lift-up tops have accommodated the need for unnoticed storage space in bedrooms. Some people have even chosen to store shoes covertly in this way rather than stuff them sloppily in small closets.

Chiffrobes and armoires are less bulky and often serve as both clothing storage spaces and bedroom television stands. Chests and dressers are smaller furniture items with small brushed nickel handles for contemporary accenting. One popular item, a low bench with drawers for clothing, is a current trend in bedroom seating.

Furniture for babies and toddlers has gone the way of seeking to be convertible as the child grows. Baby cribs now come with removable frames and can easily turn into twin-size bedding suitable for toddlers. Many parents who are truly environmentally conscious and concerned about how the finishes on these products might cause harm for their children have chosen to go green for furniture. Bedding and furniture for children now gives parents a choice of materials like bamboo, organic cotton and other environmentally safe textiles.

Trends for the older kids – the ones in college – favor furniture pieces that are full of pull-out space options, ergonomic for long sitting hours while studying, and filled with plenty of access to outlets, ports and charge stations for laptops, mobile phones and the plethora of other gadgets that have captured the mind of the average U.S. college student. The good old 20th century chest, which every student drags to college full of their personal belongings, is still a hit. Rather than the old pirate-chest inspired top, though, many modern chests are flat to offer additional seating in dorm rooms. Husband pillows, laptop cooling boards, collapsible laptop trays and writing boards give students a choice of working at a desk with more formal back support or relaxing on their beds.

Bathroom furniture has become a case study in how to streamline storage space and offer sleek new vanities. Four-drawer wicker storage units, etageres, and wall-mounted cabinets have been hosts for towel storage and toiletries without imposing on the overall design of the bathroom. Bathroom vanities have fully embraced the vessel sink with sleek modern faucets. Some are made of hammer copper or stainless steel, while others have been able to upgrade the 20th century porcelain look in stunning whites whose bowl lips sit on top of the counter. Though the in-counter look is still available, it is not the leading choice among consumers.

Gone are the days of bulky pull-out trays and oversized desktops to accommodate clunky CRT monitors. Desks for the home office take up little space and are often designed to fold away when not in use. Many designs cater to new flat-screen monitors and notebooks rather than desktop computers. Ladder shelves that hold decor and store books and office supplies, as well as wicker storage baskets that can be stashed away beneath desks and on shelves, are creative ways to maximize the space in an office.

Kitchen furniture can present the most challenging kind of decision-making for shoppers. With so many choices for matching backsplash, cabinetry, trendy stainless steel appliances, and granite stone countertops, furniture for the kitchen has a lot to live up to. Kitchen islands and carts are accentuated with stainless steel tops, granite to match existing countertops, and lots of storage space for additional pots and pans, cutlery and kitchen towels.

In keeping with the space-saving theme, many people are opting for roll away carts or bakers racks that have a small extending workspace. When the cart is not in use, it slides easily into a pantry or storage closet. Mounted ceiling racks have also become ideal places to store pots and pans, making the easily accessible and an intimate part of the decor.

One of the current trends for casual furniture is outdoor pieces that seem suited for inside the house. More home owners have found comfort in designing outdoor spaces with chic weatherproof fabrics and contemporary lines that help to bring the indoors out. Rather than seeing patios and decks as separate spaces, they have now become extensions of the design choices already implemented inside the house. High dining sets, futons, fancy chaise lounges, small wine refrigerators and multipurpose tables are setting the scene for outdoor entertaining. The predominant theme for these spaces is a Zen-inspired outfit to push the limits of effortless relaxing after a hard week of work.

In the modern world of furniture shopping, there is much refuge in choice. Shoppers can sprint down the aisles of department stores and select furniture based on their commitment to environmental causes and that serve multiple purposes, allow for inter-cultural influences, create additional living space and make room for new technology.

It may seem relatively odd that the idea of choice could be a phenomenon that is not overwhelming and does not paralyze the person making the choice. In the case of current furniture, trends, however, choice is that odd phenomenon that is a tool of empowerment. Furniture shopping is the ultimate hunt of looking for great things at great value. Furniture is a rare means to customize and make a bold statement about the unique people who live and breathe in a particular space.

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