1. Dr. Nihad Almughany University of Palestine
Faculty of Applied Engineering and Urban Planning
Dept. of Architecture
2nd Semester
Introduction to Interior Design ( EAGD 3217 )
Lecture 7
FURNITURE DESIGN
Dr. Nihad Almughany 1 1
Dr Nihad Almughany- Introduction to Interior Design- 2008

2. CONTENTS
1- Aims.
2- Review of Last Lecture ( Design of Interior Spaces ).
3-Factors Affecting Furniture Design
4- Classification of Furniture:
A- According to Function
B- According to Construction Method
C- According to Location
D- According to Material
5- Wooden Furniture
6- Metal Furniture
7- Comparison Between Wooden and Metal Furniture
8- Furniture Design Criteria
9- Furniture Styles
10- Conclusion 2

3. 1- AIMS This lecture aims to:
Review of the last lecture ( Design of interior spaces).
Highlight the importance of furniture design.
Indicate the furniture design principles, tools and construction techniques. 3 3

4. 2- REVIEW OF THE LAST LECTURE
- FACTORS AFFECTING THE DESIGN OF AN INTERIOR SPACE.
- VALUABLE INTERIOR SPACE.
- INTERIOR SPACE IN TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN HOME.
DESIGN CRITERIA OF INTERIOR SPACES:
Kitchens
Bedrooms
Offices
Bathrooms, WCs
Others 4

5. 3-Factors Affecting Furniture Design :
Furniture function / s .
Material .
Location ( interior – exterior ) .
Concept .
Style .

6. 4- Classification of Furniture: A- According to Function
Home furniture
Kitchen cabinets, dining table and seats, coaches, chairs, beds, closets, accessories, etc
Office furniture
Desks, cabinets, shelves, shelf cabinets, seats, tables, meeting tables and seats, etc.
Hospital furniture
Beds, surgery room furniture, rolling tables , etc.

7. 4- Classification of Furniture: A- According to Function ( cont. )
School furniture :
Desks, seats, cabinets, boards, hangers, labs, library shelves and tables, etc.
Other building types furniture : Libraries, museums, theatres, restaurants, coffees, industrial, agricultural buildings, etc… .

8. 4- Classification of Furniture: B- According to Construction Method:
Fixed furniture:
Strong but heavy and difficult to carry or move.
Appropriate to some functions as in public spaces.
Mobile furniture:
Easy to move, to carry and change.
Appropriate for some functions as in domestic spaces.

9. 4- Classification of Furniture: C- According to Location:
Internal Furniture ( Indoors )
External Furniture ( Outdoors )
Gardens Furniture
4- Classification of Furniture: C- According to Location:
Internal Furniture (Indoors)
Different interior spaces in housing, offices, educational and other buildings.
External Furniture (Outdoors)
Public spaces, streetscape, etc..
Garden furniture.

13. 4- Classification of Furniture: D- According to Material:
Wooden furniture
Natural wood
Manufactured wood
Bamboo furniture
Metal furniture
Plastic and acrylic furniture
Glass furniture
Combined furniture

14. 5- Wooden Furniture:
Furniture from natural wood for doors, tables, chairs, closets and others : ( Zaan, Suaid, Mahagony, …etc.)
Furniture from Manufactured wood :
Ply wood ( laminated by different kinds of materials and colors )
MDF for beds, closets, desks, cabinets, tables, etc .
Others.
Furniture from Bamboo for chairs, tables, shelves and others .

15. 6- Metal Furniture: Most familiar metals :
Steel: used for all kind of furniture and covered by different materials especially wood and leather .
Aluminum : used for many furniture items especially cabinets and tables .
Copper and Bronze : used for antiquities.
Combined by other materials such as glass, acrylic and wood

16. 7- Comparison Between Wooden and Metal Furniture:
Design :
Wood : limited shapes
Metal : flexibility in forming and shape
Weight
Wood : heavy
Metal : could be light ( Aluminum )
Firefighting
Wood: easy to burn
Metal : Does not burn easily
Cleanness :
Wood : could be cleaned but it is difficult to use water / A material liked by insects that hide in .
Metal : Easy to clean by water and it is not a field for insects
Shape and looking :
Wood : Fixed shape
Metal : Could have different shapes using colors and paints
Construction :
Wood : Complicated using glue and nails
Metal : Could be fixed and unfixed easily
Safety :
Wood : Needs efforts to be smooth and easy to scratch.
Metal : smooth surfaces and bears scratch / could be used for multi-loch doors .

26. 8- Furniture Design Criteria:
Functional
Comfortable
Strong and Durable
Matches the Style of the space enclosed.
Beautiful and amusing
Safe

27. 9- Furniture Styles: The most familiar styles are: Classic . Modern .
Post modern.
Local
- Arabic – Islamic.
- Indian .
- Italian .
- American .
- Etc.

28. Classic

29. Modern

31. Post Modern

32. Local

33. 7- CONCLUSION
Furniture design is of vital importance in the design of interior and exterior spaces.
Furniture design depends on many factors.
Furniture should be functional, beautiful, strong, durable, comfortable, safe and matches the style of the space enclosed.
Furniture could be classified either by function, construction technique, location or material.
Furniture could be manufactured by a variety of materials such as wood, metal, plastic and others. 33
Dr Nihad Almughany- Introduction to Interior Design- 2008