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Fun Facts about Furniture from Seats to Slipcovers. Home decorating is a way of life. We actually spend more money on decorating our home than on buying clothes and other goods. Our nests weren't always so well furnished. In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, furniture was so scarce that it was moved around from room to room.From the 1100s to 1500s A.D., the Gothic period, furniture was at first crude and heavy. Toward the later end of that period, the style became quite decorative and ornate-borrowing from church design.In homes, furniture was rare. Mostly furniture was found in churches. Chairs were rigid and chests were massive and almost immovable because church discipline decreed that furniture was to be formal not comfortable.The Chest, Trunk or Bed The most popular piece of furniture was the chest. It was used for seats and benches by day and beds and couches at night. The tops were wide enough to fit one person. Families also stored their household goods in these trunks.Chairs Chairs in the Gothic period were found in churches as seats for the clergy. The ornate designs came directly from Mother Nature. When fabric covers were introduced, the prevalent pattern was the fleur-de-lis. It resembled local foliage.Over the centuries the focus was on detail and design. In the Victorian era, Queen Anne furniture ruled with ornate wooden furniture in curved lines. The Victorians loved the exotic designs from China. In wealthier homes, people decorated with lacquer-finished furniture with Oriental motifs. Chairs, made of mahogany had a curved, almost heart shaped back with legs that curved outward and then down. The claw-and-ball foot chair was later introduced in the Chippendale period.Adding Comfort In Medieval times cushions or chair pads were used to ease the hardness of a wooden stool or chair. In addition to comfort, chair pads came in colorful patterns-adding color to often drab and sparse interiors. These chair pads were used in both poor and wealthy homes.In wealthy homes in 18th century England, tailored slipcovers were used to protect fine furnishings. Often simple slipcovers were used over rare and expensive silk brocades.In the 19th century, slipcovers were commonly used in all households. In both America and Europe, brightly colored slipcovers served a dual purpose. They were used as decorative coverings and as a shield against dirt and sunlight.The first slipcovers were custom made. Immigrants brought the slipcover trade to America. Tailors would go to people's homes to cut the right amount of material for a custom made slipcover. They would bring the cut fabric back to their shop to sew. Going Electric Interior design in the 1920s went toward the extravagant and romantic. Looking back, what appears old fashioned today, was cutting edge in the Flapper Age.Electricity and indoor plumbing had been around for a number of years, however, they became more mainstream in the 1920s. Electric refrigerators replaced iceboxes and gas ranges replaced woodburning stoves. Appliances were mass produced and more affordable than in the past.While technology was embraced and interior design was a bit on the decadent side, colors were muted. Soft tone Oriental rugs and cheaper factory produced imitations came in soft blues, greens, and taupe. Walls were painted or paneled in wood. Wall-to-wall carpeting wasn't around. Instead, beautifully wooden floors were covered with Oriental-style rugs. And in some homes, linoleum was used in the living room.The 1970s to the Present Color popped-whether it was the gold or olive green colored refrigerator or the brightly patterned throw rug. Wall-to-wall carpet was also becoming popular. Comfort was a major factor in furniture design. You can go barefoot at home and walk on a shag rug in the 1960s and 1970s. Wall-to-wall carpet in the '80s was also about comfort.This is the "put your feet up on the sofa, watch the tube and unwind" period. Sofas that are designed for lounging are hip. The comfort factor continues today.We spend more time at home working, watching television, or socializing with family and friends. The interior design emphasis is on casual comfort. The setting can be elegant, but it has to be comfortable as well.Everything Old Is New Again Today slipcovers have a dual role. Like in the past, they protect fine furniture from sunlight and grime. Slipcovers can also change the décor of a room and are a fraction of the price of a new furniture. SureFit.com, the leading manufacturer of ready-made slipcovers, creates covers in a wide variety of styles and fabrics for sofas, loveseats, chairs, recliners, wingback chairs, ottomans, and dining room chairs.Designs range from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. And unlike slipcovers of the past, Sure Fit slipcovers are machine washable. They are ideal for families with pets and small children.Today's interior design is about comfort, style, and function. It's also about change. We like to create new looks in our home. With a slipcover, change can occur in minutes. It's fast and easy. Cover a sofa, loveseat, or chair and at the same time you will change the ambience of a room.That style should be personal. It's a reflection of who you are and what makes you feel at ease in your home.
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