Furniture designed to last is durable and has emotional value.  

It gives an opportunity to instill our own story and pass it on to the next generation. 

At KING, we have been designing and manufacturing furniture for the past five decades.  

We value crafting designs built to last that can adapt to changing lifestyles and favour timeless design styles that endure.   

Here we explore hallmarks of furniture designed to last and how quality designs can become something worth keeping for generations. 

The Issho Console Table strikes the perfect balance between a sculptural art form and functional quality.

What makes a design worth keeping for generations?

A great deal of furniture on the market simply isn’t designed to last. It's made with low-quality materials, and poor construction methods and will often end up in landfill after a few years.  

Quality furniture designed to last can become something worth keeping for generations. The best items will be designed with quality materials and true craftsmanship, allowing its story and sentimental value to grow over time. 

The Aspen Coffee Table complements any space with its geometric profile and striking V-shaped legs.

What are the benefits of designs with sentimental value?

Better for the planet

Furniture designed to last and be kept through the generations is more sustainable and means fewer resources are used to create new items.

You want to care for it

Caring for furniture, whether that's keeping it out of the sun, conditioning the leather, or removing pills from the fabric, is necessary to keep it looking its best. With furniture that has meaning attached, you will want to truly care for it to ensure it lasts as long as possible. 

Collects memories over time

Our furniture is the backdrop to many moments in our lives. From daily family dinners to birthdays and special occasions, furniture collects the stories of our lives.

Long-lasting and durable

Furniture designed to last may be more costly upfront, but the initial cost is worth the longevity. Many low-quality designs will break, wear out or no longer be on trend after a few years.

Timeless quality

Designs created to last that are also timeless in style will look beautiful and harmonious with any interior look. With a timeless design, you can mix and match with any pieces you love.

Unique and meaningful aesthetic

Filling your home with mass-produced items from department stores won’t create the same feeling as special pieces with meaning. Items you really love are the difference between a house and a home, and can help bring a unique aesthetic to your home that feels like you.

Developed in collaboration with Australian designer Charles Wilson, the Seymour Chair is a masterclass of form and function.

What are the hallmarks of furniture designed to last?

With so many options available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by choice and get caught up in brands' different furniture terminology. There are a few simple things to look out for that can help you choose furniture designed to last that can become something worth keeping for generations.

Custom and made-to-order designs

Choosing furniture made-to-order instead of mass-produced stocked items allows you to customise the item to your needs. A design will also feel more special if you have played a part in customising it, whether that is choosing your favourite luxury fabric or leather, selecting the cushion fills like memory foam or feather, or even the leg height of your sofa. Custom designs have built-in sentimental value, which creates a desire to keep the item as long as possible.

Handcrafting methods and true craftmanship

While technology is integral to furniture manufacturing processes, the trained eye and nuanced touch of craftspeople can offer an exceptional level of quality. If you choose a design that offers features produced by handcrafting methods, you can end up with a quality finish that cannot be replicated by machinery.

Solid foundation

When looking for furniture designed to last, remember that the foundation is where the support starts. A well-made foundation, like solid hardwood or a steel frame, will ensure the item remains looking and feeling good over time. This is particularly important with sofas, as the frame will make or break the comfort over time. At KING, we use a steel frame backed by a 25-year warranty.

Fleur’s timeless silhouette is understated in approach and destined to become an Australian design icon.

Superior construction

You will need to look closely at the finished details to identify if a product is well-made. Inconspicuous areas like the bottom or back of a piece of furniture is a good place to look first. If shortcuts were taken here, this might suggest the same for its internal structure and materials.

Timeless and aesthetically refined style

While timeless design isn’t essential to determining quality, opting for pieces with paired-back features will help the design remain relevant through the years. Aesthetically simple, clean, and timeless design silhouettes will always endure seasonal trends. The restraint of simple design also means superfluous features won’t be used to cover or make up for questionable or average quality. 

Modular design

A modular design philosophy is an approach that allows independent parts to move and connect. This allows for easy customisation, and the ability to reuse and repair individual parts, leading to a longer life. Modularity can help future-proof furniture when your tastes or preferences change or your family grows. Modular sofa designs are particularly beneficial as they offer huge flexibility with how the setting can be used and rearranged in a space.

The Issho Dining Table and Amara Dining Chair create a family dining table for making memories.

Are you ready to find quality furniture designed to last?

True quality comes from tangible properties like durability and intangible properties such as aesthetics and sentimentality. Both of these intertwine to form a long-lasting and optimal pieces that are designed to last generations.  

Furniture goes through a lot. It needs to endure being moved around, having things placed on it, and functioning as a place for us to sit, relax, work and be. When choosing quality furniture designed to last, remember to look for the following:  

1. Custom and made-to-order designs – a design will also feel more special if you have played a part in customising it, which creates built-in sentimental value.   

1. Handcrafting methods and true craftsmanship – designs that offer features produced by handcrafting methods can create a quality finish that cannot be replicated by machinery.   

1. Solid foundation – A well-made foundation, like solid hardwood or a steel frame, will ensure the item remains looking and feeling good over time.   

1. Superior construction – check the finished details like the bottom or back of a piece of furniture to help identify if a product is well-made.  

1. Timeless and aesthetically refined style – simple, clean, and timeless design silhouettes will always endure through seasonal trends.   

1. Modular design – modularity can help future-proof furniture when tastes or preferences change or a family grows.   

To learn more about sustainable furniture designed to last, read our article on emotionally durable design or learn how timeless design and lifestyle flexibility contribute to sustainable design.  

You may also be interested to learn about fast furniture versus sustainable design.