10 Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Heritage Furniture for Your Living Room



Designing a living room to be both individual and timeless is an art form in itself – thank goodness for heritage furniture! A living room furnished with crafted, detailed, and heritage furniture is more than just furnishing your living; it’s a story, a reflection of your wants and taste, and it is timeless. Given the best choice amongst so many various styles and materials, how do you choose the heritage furniture that brings your living room to life? 

Here are 10 professional tips to guide you in making the appropriate choices. Whether your inspirations from pieces made with Bone Inlay Furniture, Mother of pearl furniture, brass and silver shiny surfaces or Wood hand carved furniture, these tips will be valuable in blending heritage beauty with modern utility.

1. Think About What Style Vision You'll Commit To First

Before you make any selections, think about the environment you would like to develop in your living room. There is a range of styles of heritage furniture; it could be heavy laden with details and have Mughal-inspired carving, or it could be light and clean with contemporary colonial lines? 

Do you want to convey ostentatious regality or understated elegance? If you would like detail and intricacy, consider Mother of Pearl or Bone Inlay Furniture where hand-inlaid floral and geometric patterns create natural designs on each unique piece of furniture. If you want a grand feel but that feels somewhat still classic, solid wood hand-carved furniture with deep, rich and complex themes could peg the cases on a statement piece collection. 

Pro Tip: Make a simple mood board with reference photos to define your vision before shopping.


2. Be Aware of your Space and Layout

Heritage furniture tends to make a bold visual impression. If you cram heavy, large pieces into your living room, it can come across as crowded. To avoid this always take careful measurements of your space, including the doorways, windows, and paths of flow. 

For smaller spaces, think more delicate items, such as a low-profile, inlay coffee table, or a console with brass and silver accents. For big spaces, you could also go with a bold, handcarved wood sofa set, or an ornate inlay cabinet, that could anchor the room.


Find more insights over here: Why Designers Around the World Choose Handmade Indian Furniture

3. Quality of Workmanship


True heritage furniture is defined by great workmanship. Look for handcrafted joints, carefully laid inlay patterns, as well as variations in the depth of the carving. In Bone Inlay Furniture, for example, the pieces of resin or bone need to be such that they can be cut and placed into the surface without issues. For Mother of pearl Furniture, there should be uniformly joined shell pieces that shimmer as well as well and neatly placed grout lines. 

Brass and silver accents should be placed smoothly without excess accumulation of welding marks or uneven finishes. For wood hand-carved furniture, check for clean and consistent chiseling and securely jointed pieces.


4. Selecting Quality Materials


Materials are the essence of heritage furniture. For longevity and beauty, opt for sustainable hardwoods (teak, sheesham, mango) for durability but beauty - all take good carving and handle the aging process much better. In Bone Inlay Furniture camel bone is typically used, but resin (ethically sourced of course) is a non-cruelty based option.

On Mother of Pearl Furniture, typically pearl or shell is used for depth in brass and silver elements, make sure to have metal instead of painted plastic. 

Don’t hesitate to ask your seller about materials, being a thoughtful prospective buyer is always worthwhile.


5. Contrast Powerful Statements with Understated Details

A living room shouldn't feel like a museum. Even when you love heritage style, visual balance is necessary. Anchor the space with one or two statement pieces - a carved sofa, inlaid sideboard, or cabinet is an example - everything else should be subtle.

The subtle aspects can be complemented with delicate heritage pieces such as a mirror framed in brass-and-silver or a modern coffee table with a mother of pearl inlay tray to give the essence of heritage. This will keep the elegant, livable space rather than an overpowering space.


6. Add Color to Your Palette  

Heritage furniture can be colorful or neutral. Bone Inlay Furniture is available in colors such as black, white, blue, green, and others; so select colors that match your scheme or are intentionally opposite. Mother of pearl Furniture generally has a pale light reflecting color that can add to light, airy rooms.  


Brass and silver objects serve to soften a cool room or add an elegant gleam to a rustic room. Wood furniture, exquisitely and completely carved, stained a dark brown or black look amazing with warm neutrals or jewel tones.


7. Consider Functionality

Heritage furniture should not only be decorative. Think regarding the functionality and use of the piece. A fine dressing table, even if it is used as a vanity, can be beautiful and add storage space. A coffee table in mother of pearl has surface area to use and can become a piece of art in the living room. A tray or a decorative item that consists of brass and/or silver can add sparkle to the occasion or setting and still be usable every day.

If your heritage furniture is in your family home or frequented spaces, then the piece needs to offer you long-term quality in a usable or functional piece. Select pieces that are framed in solid hard-wood with durable joinery so your piece will last.


8. Accept mix-and-match

There's no need to buy everything from one matching set. Heritage style is best when it looks like it was collected over the course of time. Mixing traditions is encouraged! Experiment with pairing an inlay side table with a brass-and-silver mirror, or using mother of pearl décor with a hand carved wood bench.

Using this layering strategy can give your living room feel curated, personal, and welcoming.

9. Inquire About Authenticity and Ethical Sourcing

Cultural furnishings usually come from makers or traditional craftspeople. Seek brands and sellers that work with artisans and pay a decent wage. Ethical sourcing supports the traditions and diminishes exploitation.

Look for certifications, ask about the origin of the materials (particularly bone and mother of pearl), and choose a company that is open about how they arrive at your product.


10. Proper Maintenance for Your Investment 

Heritage furniture needs some care. Dust regularly with a soft cloth. Do not place Bone Inlay Furniture or Mother of pearl furniture in strong sunlight or high humidity areas. There is no time to waste. Clean up spills quickly before they soak in! 

Brass and silver parts can simply be cleaned like with any mild metal cleaner (non-abrasive). For hand-carved wood furniture, you may want to also polish it every now and then with natural wax or natural oil. A little bit of maintenance will allow your pieces to look great for generations.


Check this out as well: 10 Questions to Ask Before Importing Handmade Furniture for Your Home

Final thoughts

There is more to consider when selecting heritage furniture for your living room than just the purpose of filling a room; this is also about respecting a culture and honouring creativity and craftsmanship while creating a space that resonates as your home.  Whether you are creating your space, considering furniture quality for your living room, or who knows, maybe you even have the right mix of styles; achieving a level of compatibility between heritage furnishings and comforts of contemporary living can only help create a living room to be proud of.


If you are ready to be inspired and wowed by really authentic Bone Inlay Furniture, curiosities made of Mother of pearl, brass and or silver accouterments, and breathtaking Wood handcarved furniture then you should visit lakecity handicrafts and shop their beautifully crafted, ethically sourced, collection of products that honour timeless design.


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