Fast Furniture Shouldn’t Be a Part of Luxury Interior Design
First, there was fast food. Then, there was fast fashion. And, now there's fast furniture.
What do they have in common? They're all inexpensive, easy to find, and have environmental consequences.
Though fast furniture is the newest addition to the group, its environmental impact is substantial.
photo Custom Furniture Lisa Gilmore Design
The Consequences of Convenience
Furniture sales increased dramatically during the pandemic. Sales of desks, chairs, and patio equipment alone increased by more than $4 billion from 2019 to 2021. Many of these pieces, purchased from mass-production companies, aren't made to last.
The EPA says that each year, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture, an increase of 450 percent since 1960. Often, fast furniture pieces are made from materials that are hard to recycle or repair.
An Interior Design Perspective on Fast Furniture
Fast furniture also makes a less-than-ideal impression when used in a home.
Mass-produced furniture is sub-par from a design perspective – lesser quality and easily replicated, which is why we do not use it at Lisa Gilmore Design.
That's why we source our furnishings in three ways:
Placing Custom Orders: We collaborate with independent craftsmen and artisans to create unique pieces.
Custom Upholstery: We order custom upholstery from carefully selected partners, as made-to-order pieces create less waste.
Restyling Antiques: We revitalize carefully selected antiques and vintage pieces to give them new life.
Lisa Gilmore Design Furniture Selection
When we are shopping or custom-ordering a piece, we ask ourselves these questions:
Where was this item made?
What material is this item made of?
Does this item have a history?
Is this a piece that will still be relevant in 20 years?
Here are a few examples of our process in action.
Teal Repainted and Reupholstered Dining Chairs
We painted and reupholstered our client’s existing vintage dining chairs to give them a completely new look.
photo Original Look Lisa Gilmore Design
The Finished Look
When we needed additional chairs to fill the space, we looked on Chairish for chairs similar in style. To make the chairs look cohesive and intentional, we painted them the same color and used the same fabric on all of them.
photo Finished Look Lisa Gilmore Design
Custom TV Cabinet in St. Pete
This custom TV cabinet was made by a local carpenter, and all the upholstery featured in this room was made in North Carolina.
photo Lisa Gilmore Design
Reupholstered Sofa and Custom-Designed Ottomans
This vintage sofa was reimagined after being reupholstered, and the ottomans were designed by Lisa. Both were created by local partners.
photo Lisa Gilmore Design
Vintage Furniture Gets a Fresh Look
This space features antique finds mixed with newer pieces. We chose an antique rug and revitalized vintage furniture with new, custom upholstery fabricated in North Carolina.
photo Lisa Gilmore Design
Restyled Dining Room
This dining area features mid-century dining chairs that were restyled and repainted locally for a pop of color. Most of the upholstery in this photo was made to order by a partner in North Carolina and the rug is made of natural textiles.
photo Lisa Gilmore Design
FAQs: Fast Furniture and Interior Design
1. What is considered fast furniture?
Fast furniture refers to mass-produced, inexpensive pieces you can easily find in big stores. They're quick fixes for your home, but they come with a price.
2. What are the issues with fast furniture?
Well, fast furniture may be cheap, but it's not eco-friendly. It ends up in landfills, and it's not built to last. Plus, it's kinda like having the same outfit as everyone else at the party—no fun!
3. How long does fast furniture last?
Don't count on it for the long haul. Fast furniture tends to wear out quickly. It's like buying a car and expecting it to last forever. It won't.
The Lisa Gilmore Design Difference
The spaces Lisa Gilmore Design creates include locally sourced and custom elements. While some fast furniture pieces are beautiful, they are still cheap reproductions in comparison to the one-of-a-kind pieces we include in our clients' homes.
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