Furniture came before the showroom
An old story about storage, comfort and the things a room needs to do. A useful place to begin designing your own.
By the Ajusteur team1 minute read
Begin with daily life
Before choosing a finish, think about the first thing you do when you come home. Where do the keys go? Where does a bag land? Where do people gather? A room starts to feel right when its furniture answers those small questions.
That is our starting point at Ajusteur: not a room arranged for a photograph, but a space that makes ordinary life easier.
The objects that survive are only part of the story
UCL's account of ancient Egyptian furniture draws on surviving objects, fragments and images. Boxes and baskets provided storage. Chairs and beds could be luxury possessions; mats were more common. The elaborate pieces that attract attention today should not be mistaken for everyone's daily experience.
Design around a routine
The useful question is what your furniture needs to do now. A dining table may also be a homework desk. A wardrobe needs to work with the clothes you actually own. A sofa should leave room for people to move around it.
Measure the activities as well as the walls: the space to open a door, pull out a chair or sit together. Then decide what deserves to be built in and what should remain free to move.
A room should have room to change
A good fit is not necessarily a cabinet in every gap. Sometimes the better choice is a smaller piece, a movable table or an empty corner. Keep what supports your life, and leave enough space for it to evolve.