In the millennial era, one has probably come across the term ‘fast fashion’ which implies a certain category of furniture in dining room which ultimately disintegrates after a few wears and is generally sold at cheaper prices. On one hand, manufacturers save on expenses as these types of furniture require cheap materials whereas, on the other hand, their profits or return on investments are much higher in comparison due to the fact that these clothes aren’t lasting and deteriorate quickly and customers keep coming back for more.
In a similar fashion, the term ‘fast furniture’ is also becoming a trend in the furniture industry. Be it furniture belonging to the dining room, living room or kitchen, the underlying principle behind the production of such furniture remains the same—producing kitchen furniture with cheap materials which will fall to pieces quickly, thus forcing the customer to return with further investments. So let us see what all you need to consider when buying dining room furniture.
Fast dining room furniture
The dining room or the living room is so much more than a mere assortment of tables and chairs or sofas and couches: it serves as the ‘hub’ or gathering spot for the family. Its where one enjoys everything from a quick snack to a fully-fledged holiday feast.
Its not been long since furniture were brought to last. Dining tables occupied a traditional location in a household. In fact, some have even been passed down from one generation to the next. The occupied a part of our lives and constituted as an element of some of our fondest memories. During such times, each piece of furniture actually possessed an intrinsic value as the material and craftsmanship put into the most subtle details were significant. Since we actually valued it, we put our sincerest efforts into preserving it. And if our furniture broke, we took steps to fix it such as giving it a new look through a fresh coat of varnish or with new upholstery. We used to continue this procedure until the furniture at hand was beyond repair and would cease to serve its purpose.
Fast furniture on the other hand is sadly cheap, mass-produced and of low quality and significantly of a use-and throw type because this is what our contemporary society has been reduced to: one which simply thrives on convenience, consuming and wasting an equal amount. But there are things you need to consider before buying dining room furniture.
Why fast furniture in dining room isn’t useful in the long run?
- It doesn’t last in the long run
Most fast furniture is produced from a particle board covered with a layer of laminate or veneer. As such, owing to this additional layer, if the surface is damaged, it cannot be simply sanded back or repainted to restore its original glory. Subsequently, if the particle board itself is exposed to moisture and content with water, it swells up and eventually begins to rot away. Hence, while it may seem like a good deal at the time of investment, its actually not as the furniture, be it a dining set or a living room set, will eventually fall into disrepair.
- It is mass produced
Imagine walking into your friend’s house to immediately notice a bookshelf or a coffee table exactly identical to the one you have. Congratulations! You’ve stumbled across pottery barn: an industry producing a plethora of mass-produced objects including, but not limited to, furniture. As such, the charm and uniqueness which a piece of furniture possesses is lost to the whims of a mechanical and profit-induced industry.
- It is highly wasteful
Furniture accounts for a massive percentage of landfill wastage. Old furniture wastage account for 4-5% of household waste in landfills accounts for furniture—thus it can be estimated that, we generate up to 3.1 million tonnes of furniture waste per year—or the weight of about 6.2 lakh elephants, which, incidentally, is higher than the actual elephant population across the world which ranges from about 4,40,000 to 4,65,000.
- Fast furniture is generally produced from substances of highly toxic nature
As mentioned earlier, fast furniture is produced from particle boards which actually contain formaldehyde, a highly toxic substance. Living room and bedroom furniture, especially beds and sofas contain an assortment of chemical cocktails. These are neither recyclable or biodegradable, persisting for years upon end in the environment as well as our bodies.
These are the four primary reasons why we should not adopt using and making fast furniture a part of our lifestyles. To conclude, everything in our lives seem to have taken a turn into the fast lane, be it fast food, fast fashion or fast furniture. We are seemingly blinded by our search for convenience, so much so that we fail to realize the disasters we are rushing into. It is not to say that fast furniture does not serve a purpose. Indeed, they are a much more feasible option for students who have tighter purse strings and are unable to spend frivolously. But for those who are not held back by these constraints, please consider investing in proper furniture which will actually last several years, if not decades on end. One puts considerable effort and workmanship into producing these pieces, so let us appreciate their hard work as well. So let us not be at haste when buying dining room furniture.
