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Egyptian chair with carved legs and cloth upholstery
Interior Design Practice

The History of the Chair

IDI Editorial Team2 min read

Introduction

IDI students learn about the historic and contemporary styles of chairs from the 1900's to current. Emphasis is placed on the primary furniture styles used in today's interior design.

Egyptian Chairs

Made for function and beauty, these chairs were often made with cloth or leather and were carved and curved. The legs were often designed to resemble legs of beasts.

Egyptian chair with carved legs and cloth upholstery

Rococo 18th Century Chairs

Rococo 18th century chairs were one of the most popular in the victorian era and featured scrolls and curves. More cushioning and soft fabrics such as silks were often used to create more comfort.

Rococo 18th century chair with scrolls and curves

Bauhaus Chair

The Bauhaus chair reflected modern style in the 20th century and was influenced by modern movements. The famous Barcelona chair was from the Bauhaus movement and reflected linear and geometric forms.

Barcelona chair from Bauhaus movement

Mid-Century Modern

The famous "egg" chair is a mid-century modern design, with the idea that form follows function. This style introduced the use of new materials such as metal, glass and plastic.

Egg chair mid-century modern design

Contemporary Minimalist

Today much of our furniture is considered minimalist style. It is simple, sleek and fits into any space. There are many materials, textures and styles to choose from.

Contemporary minimalist chair

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interior design

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