Furniture refers to movable objects intendedtosupport various human activities such as seating (e.g.,chairs,stools, tables and sofas) and sleeping (e.g., beds).Furniture isalso used to hold objects at a convenient height forwork (ashorizontal surfaces above the ground, such as tables anddesks), orto store things (e.g., cupboards and shelves). Furniturecan be aproduct of design and is considered a form of decorativeart. Inaddition to furniture's functional role, it can serve asymbolic orreligious purpose. Furniture can be made using a varietyofwoodworking joints which often reflect the local culture.

People have been using natural objects, such as tree stumps,rocksand moss, as furniture since the beginning of humancivilisation.Archaeological research shows that from around 30,000years ago,people began constructing and carving their ownfurniture, usingwood, stone, and animal bones. Early furniture fromthis period isknown from artwork such as a Venus figurine found inRussia,depicting the goddess on a throne. The first survivingextantfurniture is in the homes of Skara Brae in Scotland, andincludescupboards, dressers and beds all constructed from stone.Complexconstruction techniques such as joinery began in the earlydynasticperiod of ancient Egypt. This era saw constructed woodenpieces,including stools and tables, sometimes decorated withvaluablemetals or ivory. The evolution of furniture designcontinued inancient Greece and ancient Rome, with thrones beingcommonplace aswell as the klinai, multipurpose couches used forrelaxing, eating,and sleeping. The furniture of the Middle Ages wasusually heavy,oak, and ornamented. Furniture design expanded duringthe ItalianRenaissance of the fourteenth and fifteenth century.Theseventeenth century, in both Southern and Northern Europe,wascharacterized by opulent, often gilded Baroque designs.Thenineteenth century is usually defined by revival styles. Thefirstthree-quarters of the twentieth century are often seen as themarchtowards Modernism. One unique outgrowth of post-modernfurnituredesign is a return to natural shapes and textures.