After house and car, furniture is the third most expensive thing people generally buy. Perhaps this is not surprising because furniture has become more and more important in our lives. For example, during the Middle Ages, furniture was generally heavy oak with carved designs. Early beds were nothing more than piles of straw. In some homes, if not piles of straw then other natural materials, such as animal skin or heap of palm leaves. The 17th century is also known as the century of magnificent beds. And over the years, furniture from different era has become valuable. For example, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University in England is where you can find the oldest bookcase in the world. With our love and fascination for furniture, you therefore have an opportunity to buy the best pieces of furniture for your home. And to help you find the best furniture for your home, here are the types of furniture styles and guide to buying furniture.

First, there are different types of furniture styles. The most common types of furniture styles are the arts and craft style, classic contemporary, contemporary, country, eclectic, modern, rustic, shabby chic, traditional, transitional and Tuscan. Arts and craft are characterized by wood in clean strong lines and less detail. Classic contemporary are characterized by soft and round features. Contemporary is characterized by monochromatic colors, in metal and other hard materials. Country is wood, raw or distressed. Eclectic is bright and bold. Modern is simple and natural in leather and glass. Rustic is natural raw materials, such as stones and wool. Shabby chic is basically white, clean and distressed wood. Traditional is characterized by intricate details, rich materials and color. Transitional is monochromatic, and soft lines. Tuscan is bright that matches stucco walls and terra cotta tiles. Aside from these common types of furniture styles, there are also types of furniture styles that are defined by other influential persons from different era. Examples of these types of furniture styles are Chippendale by Thomas Chippendale, which is characterized by Gothic, French and Chinese influences and the Adam style, by Robert Adam, which is characterized by classical details in woodwork.

Furniture building materials are another consideration in buying furniture. For example, wood is durable and can last for century if maintained properly. On the other hand if you want maintenance free materials that can also last as long, you should consider steel or stainless steel. Other materials can be very difficult to maintain and not recommended for certain homes unless you are willing to spend on their cleaning and repair. For example, if you have pets that climb on your couch, leather and other fabric may not be the right one for you. So, when it comes to what to look for when buying furniture, the first is to choose from the different types of furniture styles that would best suit your home. Then check the furniture building materials and determine which is the best one for you. Good refereneces.