It is often said that we now live in a throwaway society, an age when most consumers tend to know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Most of the items we buy are actually purposely designed to display the disuse encourages us to replace them in just a year or two of purchase - personal computers and mobile phones are two classic examples of high prices gradually assumed the status of consumables.
Modern furniture, too, can often be seen in the same light, and too often, with all the justifications. Many so-called discount stores today are well known for their range of products at competitive prices such as dining and living rooms. In the showroom display all these trappings of style and quality, but once regular service, their flimsy construction and inferior materials fail to cope with the daily wear and are guarantee a disappointing inevitable limited lifespan.
Many designs today are more cautious in their use of the material in the past. This is partly a consequence of the price increases, but the economic recession has also led to the downsizing of many goods with less space available for the furniture. Once widely popular items such as wing-backed chairs with their huge arms are certainly still available, but sales were overshadowed by those of low profile units require much less hardware.
This, however, does not automatically identify these elements as inferior or limited life. These factors are determined by more than the quality of materials used, rather than quantity, as well as the skills displayed in their manufacture. For those who have limited space or who simply prefer the smooth lines that are typical of modern furniture, there are many high-quality products that are able to meet their needs while contemporary designers continue to receive those that have not bound by any such space restrictions.
It is not only the quantity and quality of materials used that determine its durability. The type of material used will also determine the performance and durability of the finished product. For example, while Perspex is prone to scratches, glass is not and where the wood is chipped or scratched, the stainless steel is much less vulnerable to trauma.
Choice between leather and upholstered sofas and armchairs
When considering furniture for the living room, buyers are often faced with yet another choice of materials. A three piece suite, for example, when covered with fabric, displays the properties quite different from those that are characteristic of natural hide. This should not be confused with synthetic products that are designed to mimic skin and whose main virtues are the ticket prices low and a much wider range of colors than possible with natural skin.
It must be said that although the leather is among the hardest and most durable of all natural materials, when used in the manufacture of furniture is modern or traditional, it is susceptible to accidental damage by pets small children and when these items are covered with the highest grades of skin may be best used in the office environment or at home, in a study in which neither children nor animals must have access regularly.
For families, the class known as grain split is by far the best choice while being much less expensive than full grain leather and first grades of grain.
In normal use, the fabrics are much more likely to show signs of wear and tear of daily use that to hide. However, many are treated with chemical stains that make cleaning simple and even untreated material generally respond well to chemical cleaners or steam vacuum cleaner. In contrast, the leather tends to develop water marks if it is kept well polished and spillage are removed immediately.
In common with imitation leather products, fabrics offer consumers the same distinct advantage in hiding as a more or less unlimited choice of colors. In general, they are also available in a variety of finishes reasons for those whose tastes may extend to something a little less simple items can even be specially padded to match the curtains existing or proposed new if necessary.
Whether fabric or leather, and whatever its nature modern or traditional furniture must be chosen with taste, functionality and value for money foremost in mind.
Joy Furniture specializes in modern and stylish furniture, tables, chairs, tables, sofas and more, contemporary style fabric that are made with the best materials.