If you have at least five minutes, skim this BuzzFeed article titled "How One Generation Changed the Way We Think About Furniture" before reading on.
Our Managing Editor Alison came across it while researching for an assignment she’s working on for our July print issue (it’s on design industry disruptors — you won’t want to miss it) and I thought it was absolutely fascinating.
The gist is that Millennials think of furniture differently than their parents or grandparents. Rather than investing in sturdily made pieces with the mindset that they’ll be passed down from generation to generation, IKEA is the easy solution — it fits better into budgetary restraints, and there’s no guilt about getting rid of it in a few years given their transient lifestyles.
Then, when they start to make a bit more money and decide to invest in a piece, where do they turn? West Elm, of course (the article author has her own opinion on them).
In the comments section, one young woman asked “So where can I actually buy furniture that doesn’t fall apart?” Responses ranged from La-Z-boy to Amish furniture stores to antique shops, but the resounding tone was that good furniture — the stuff that lasts a lifetime — is usually ugly. Sturdy, and yes it costs more, but it’s ugly.
What a sad misconception. Especially fresh off of High Point, where beautiful, quality furniture is around every corner, I wish the people in those comments could see all of the sustainable, fashionable options available.
What are your thoughts on all of this? I’m curious to hear.
photo: pexels.com, Unsplash (unsplash.com)
