1. Furnishing Your Home
Chapter 24-2

2. Objectives Explain how to choose good furniture
Demonstrate ways to organize living space
Give examples of ways to use accessories

3. Choosing Furniture
Basic furnishings should be comfortable, tasteful & suitable to your lifestyle
Furniture should be durable enough to last several years
Choose furniture that is functional with multiple uses
Furniture should be in proportion to the size of the room

4. Furniture Styles
Traditional – based on popular styles of the past. (ex. Early American-rustic, sturdy, made of pine, birch, or maple wood)‏
Modern – simple lines- “form follows function”
Contemporary – latest design & materials, plain lines, made of metal, plastics, & glass with or without wood

6. Judging Quality in Furniture
Wood furniture
Veneer
Joints
Finish
Upholstered furniture
Sturdy frame
Quality springs and cushions
Fabric durability
Wood furniture
Veneer is a thin slice of fine-quality wood that is bonded to inexpensive wood. Makes wood affordable versus solid wood. Good veneered furniture is strong, durable and more resistant to breaking and warping than solid wood.
Joints – quality joints are more expensive but much more durable. Ex. Dove tail,dowel or tongue and groove as opposed to glue screws or nails.
Finish – treatment to wood to improve surface. Some are decorative affecting wood’s color, grain pattern and sheen. Other finishes are protective helping surface resist moisture and scratches.
Upholstered furniture
Reinforced frame with corner blocks or steel plates. Read labels – important details are hidden from view.
Sit on furniture to judge quality of springs and cushions. Check for comfort of seat, back and arms.
Fabric – fine fabrics like silk or loosely woven fabrics are not durable. Soil repellent and fire-resistant finishes may have been applied for safety and durability. Seams and stitches should be neat and straight with matched patterns.

8. Organizing Living Space
Shared space
Areas where family can gather & spend time
Should reflect everyone's needs and taste
Furniture arranged for communication
Often contain activity centers
Personal space
Areas to be alone and store personal belongings
If sharing, arrange furniture to achieve privacy

9. Organizing Living Space
Scale floor plan
Drawing shows size and shape of a room
Traffic patterns-paths to follow within room
Avoid too much furniture in a room
Place large pieces first
Place large pieces parallel to the walls
Allow enough space to use furniture
Arrange upholstered furniture among wood

10. Using Accessories
Pictures, flowers, statues, clocks and lamps are all examples of accessories
Select accessories with textures and colors that go with the rest of the room
Keep proportion in mind
Consider the design element of line