The term "furniture" describes a set of household equipment. It is used for normal activities and can be anything from a simple pine chest to a luxurious marquetry work cabinet. It can also be as simple as a stick-back country chair or office refurbishment as ornate as a gilded console table. Chairs are always for sitting on, whether they are simple or highly ornamented. Accessories are smaller, subsidiary items that complement the interior scheme.

Retail orders rose 41 percent in the fourth quarter, with consumers looking for office refurbishment upholstered seating, office fit out outdoor furniture, and home-office refurbishment staples. The growing trend for multipurpose furniture is also contributing to the increased demand. For instance, sectionals that can double as storage are popular. A newly introduced piece by Edel Furniture, which starts at $1,800, can serve as an office desk or dining table. While this trend isn't new, it does indicate that consumers are demanding more multifunctional furniture.

The word "furniture" comes from the French term fourniture, which means equipment. The Latin term, "mobilitas," means "movable." While the English word can be used to describe furniture, office fit out a good example of a modern furniture item is a piece of iron furniture installed in the St. Helena home of Napoleon. Iron beds and tables could be ornamented with brass ornaments and big knobs on the posts. And iron has also been used for chairs. Unlike traditional wooden chairs, iron chairs are weather-proof. However, paints can be used to protect them from scratches and stains.