Furniture Products
2012.08.15
Definition
Furniture, according to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), is widely accepted as the collective noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as sitting and sleeping. Furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work (as horizontal surfaces above the ground), or to store things.
Furniture can be a product of design and is considered a form of decorative art. In addition to furniture's functional role, it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose. Furniture can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Furniture can be made using a variety of woodworking joints which often reflect the local culture.
Furniture Product Segmentation
It is suggested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (www.cbi.eu) that furniture is usually divided by function into the following major sub-sectors:
Sub-Sectors |
Product Groups |
Upholstered Seating |
Armchairs, reclining chairs, couches, sofas, divans, footstools, seating elements, upholstered with leather, wool, synthetic material, cotton etc. |
Non-upholstered Seating |
Seats, armchairs, rocking chairs, seats convertible into beds, stools |
Dining and Living Room Furniture |
Dining sets (tables and chairs), dressers, coffee tables, sideboards, shelf systems, room dividers, television/ video/music system storage units; |
Kitchen Furniture |
Fitted cabinets and kitchen units, kitchen tables and chairs, free-standing pieces such as moveable trolleys and butcher blocks |
Bedroom Furniture |
Beds, head boards, bedside tables, dressing tables, chests of drawers, wardrobes (fitted or free-standing) |
Home Office Furniture |
Desks, chairs, drawer unit, filing cabinets, integrated workstations, also known as SOHO (Small Office Home Office) |
Other Furniture |
Cupboards, bookcases and wall units; Occasional furniture like small tables, desks, mirrors, hall-stands; Bathroom furniture such as storage cabinets, baskets etc.; |
Furniture Parts |
Parts of furniture or seats, also including semi-finished furniture. |
Furniture can be also defined by material contents:
1. Wood
2. Cane, osier, bamboo or similar material
3. Metal
4. Plastic / Synthetic
5. Stone
6. Glass
7. Combination of materials
In addition, furniture can be also defined by style:
1. Classical