Reading room Despite the technology of modern entertainments, reading is still an activity pursued by a remarkably large percentage of the population. Perhaps the most obvious item of lounge furniture for those engaged in reading is the
bookcase. Any collection of books reveals much about the character of their owner, so the bookcase is an interesting point of study for any visitor. Not only do we supply bookcases, but our odds and sods category includes a useful selection of magazine racks. Finally, older people (such as myself!) often appreciate the illumination from a lamp on a
lamp table or end table when we are trying to read.
Watching TV or listening to music
Reading might be a popular activity but there is no doubt that the number one indoor pastime is watching television or listening to music. Since the 1950s there has been an enormous diversity of lounge furniture designed to cater for this activity. The changes in design have reflected not only technological advances but also social attitudes. When television was in its infancy, the set was built into its own wooden cabinet and it had pride of place in the corner of the room. Gradually it was felt watching TV was not a constructive pastime, so some people used converted tallboys and various other cabinets to hide the television from view when it was not in use.
The arrival of video, DVD and computer games helped bring televisions back into the open, if they needed it, and we offer various
TV cabinets, Hi-Fi cabinets and of course the ancillary
CD and DVD storage cabinets in our lounge furniture collections.
Eating
Changing lifestyles and living conditions mean that meals are usually taken in the lounge and so, for formal dining at least, the collection of lounge furniture is likely to include a
dining table and
chairs and probably a
sideboard or
dresser as well. From time to time, everyone likes to flop in front of the TV while having a meal or snack and then the
coffee table comes into its own. It has perhaps become, next to the sofa, the most important item of lounge furniture, holding everything from plates and cups to remote controls, magazines and laptop computers.
Entertaining Sometimes when visitors call, the coffee table is not quite large enough or convenient enough to hold cups, glasses or plates for everyone in the room. This is when that favourite item of lounge furniture for older generations, the
nest of tables, can prove so useful. Of course guests
can balance plates or cups on their laps, where they might risk spilling the contents; or they
can stand them on the floor where they might be trodden on (or eaten by the dog), so it is surely more sociable it to provide them with their own ‘personal’ table.
Drinking Still on the subject of entertaining, it is rare that most people do not, from time to time, have a drink in their lounge. A
wine rack could be placed discretely in some corner of the room, but traditionally they have not been classed as lounge furniture and their place would normally be in the kitchen or, if the home is large enough, the cellar. A far more common drink-related item is the
side table or console table. These are often placed in some convenient spot, such as behind the sofa, to hold a selection of spirits and associated glasses.
Lounge or Living room? To return to the subject of what the correct name should be for the lounge, it may be of interest to see the dates when names first appeared.
1300s Parlour. A room adjoining the Great Hall where people could speak in private.
1650s Drawing Room. The room to which the ladies would withdraw after dinner.
1790s Sitting Room. A daytime alternative to the drawing room for visitors.
1820s Living Room. The new name for a sitting room.
1880s Lounge. An invention to encompass all but dining in more modest homes.
1980s Family Room, Recreation Room and Great Room. From America.
Browse our varied selection of
Lounge Furniture accross our entire website.
You can find a TV unit here, with there being so many different styles all made from solid wood you will be able to find a
Hi-Fi, TV Unit here.