As cities grew and office refurbishment new forms of commerce emerged, office refurbishment the types of furniture also changed. Furniture evolved and was now referred to as upholstery. Upholstery is a common term used to describe furniture and part of furniture. Earlier upholstery materials were animal hides and leather, office refurbishment but later fabrics and fasteners included burlap, boiled wool, office fit out velvet, chintz, office fit out woven and embroidered fabrics, office refurbishment and many others. In addition, each new material brought with it a different set of characteristics and features.

For example, the size of a desk can vary from a child's to a senior's. In designing furniture, students must learn the standard sizes of common furniture pieces and find ways to adapt them to different body types. They must also research and draw typical measurements of different furniture pieces so they can see how they relate to each other. A good rule of thumb is that 1/2 inch = 1'0".

Aside from quality, the average cost of furniture has dropped by nearly 40 percent in the last six decades. Many manufacturers, however, are finding it hard to compete with Crate and Barrel. The industry is highly fragmented, so the consumer is often unaware of other options and has inaccurate expectations of what they can afford. Traditionally, big retail furniture stores reached people with local newspaper and TV ads. The furniture industry is now addressing this problem by lowering prices and increasing production volumes.

A post-World War II movement began to impact furniture design. Many designers and artists began experimenting with materials and styles that emphasized function over style. This movement became known as postmodern, and soon influenced both Modern and Traditional tastes. In North America, Shaker-style furniture also became popular. These styles continue to influence modern furniture design. In fact, postmodern furniture is often considered the perfect example of furniture design that bridges the gap between the two.