Friday 8 August 2014

Curvy Furniture Makes Happy People

When you think of furniture, does your mind naturally progress to theories on psychology? Maybe it should.

Experts in both fields say we’re influenced by our environment to the degree that certain types of furniture might bring out more positive emotions. It turns out curvy furniture beats its straight-lined siblings on many levels in our psyches - curves are just more inviting.

It’s nothing new to interior designer Susan Whittle of Hi Design, who has seen the trend of curved furniture come full swivel this season.

“It’s cozier. It’s friendlier. It’s more conducive to conversation,” says Susan. “All of those adjectives apply to round tables and curved furniture.”



Part of the appeal comes from our need for a good fit. Curved furniture can be more comfortable when it follows the natural contours of the human body. Sometimes the curves are there to enhance the design. The art of feng shui say decorating with curvy furniture creates a sense of movement and lets energy flow through a room. The curves of the retro Copenhagen Leather Chair, for example, are bold yet look natural to the eye, especially when finished in a soft finish such as hand-distressed leather.



Rounded or oval tables are equalizers that invite socializing, in part because there’s no true head of the table. The kruze Table from Boss Design, with its sculptured solid aluminium legs and thick wooden table top it perfect.

Mixing shapes can make a room more interesting. Just as designers frown upon all square furniture in a room, all round is just as big a faux pas. “It just gets boring if everything is all the same,” says Susan. “It’s really eye-catching have square chairs around a round cocktail table.”




Small and irregularly shaped rooms can challenge the best designers. Sometimes the solution is to choose furniture that also has spare and irregular proportions. The Lövbacken SideTable by IKEA can squeeze into a tight corner and make it look as if you doted on the space. Made of a veneered wood grain surface, it’s also stain resistant and easy to clean. Covered feet on the table’s legs keep it from scratching the floor – Perfect & a must have in any home or office!