While we have plenty of choice with furniture, sometimes it's hard to think how we can create a slightly different look in our homes with the general designs that are on offer in furniture stores today. Tables, chairs, wardrobes and beds - they're all pretty much the same, so how do we inject a little bit of personality and glamour into our interior decor? One simple solution is to choose a classic piece of French furniture, such as the chaise longue.

The chaise longue has been around for hundreds of years with references to this now predominantly French style furniture dating back as far as the ancient Romans and Egyptians. In fact, before the Europeans found affection for these French chairs, and they found their beautifully curved feet firmly placed in the French furniture revolution, they had been around in one form or another in cultures across the whole of the ancient world.

When the more recent version was created as the statement piece of French furniture, it was largely reserved for royalty and the aristocracy. French style furniture was designed to be high impact, with more than a hint of grandeur, glamour and decadence. To carry this through the design, the chaise longue was ornately carved and covered in the richest, finest, plushest fabrics. This glamorous reputation has stayed with this classic piece of French furniture, and no other French chair can compete with the elegant luxury that a chaise longue can add to a room.

The chaise longue, whilst still largely designed in line with French style furniture, can now be found in such a wide range of styles that you've probably tripped over one without even noticing that it's one of the most iconic types of French chairs around. The good old lounger that we all break out when the sun shines is simply a chaise longue that's been adapted and constructed of materials to allow easy storage and the ability to withstand the elements. Read More...