Metal Furniture
Harsh, cold and foreboding, metal is the strongest of the five elements. Metal accents have their place in many fields of design including jewellery making, fashion, and interior design. The key to designing with metal in most cases is to use certain pieces to stand out amid the space. That is rather than having a decorating scheme of all metal, which can work with jewellery, but would seem cacophonous or dungeon-like as a room scheme. There are dozens of unique ways to accent a space using metal pieces without being overbearing. These include metal tables, metal chairs, various racks, baker's stands, and metal decorative items.
Metal Tables
Metal tables are sturdier than wooden tables and twice as heavy. If used in an outdoor situation then they are more weather resistant than wood. When used indoors they provide a chic café look to any breakfast nook, den, or living room. Circular metal tables are efficiently arranged in nearly any area of the home or workplace. There are also rectangular tables that can do double duty as a dining room table of an accent table. One advantage of metal tables is that of design. Compared to wooden tables they are often times intricately wrought affairs that resemble the twists, spires, and curves of a flowering vine.
Metal Chairs
Many people enjoy having matching sets of tables and chairs so if you have a metal table it may be a good idea to invest in metal chairs. Others prefer the eclectic look of assorted chairs at the table for a more shabby chic vibe. Metal chairs are good for outdoor situations in which they may become exposed to the other elements. If you love the look but sitting on a bare metal chair is not as appealing there are a variety of decorative cushions that are designed to be tied to chairs in this situation. They come in many patterns that can be switched out for a fast way to update the look of the entire chair.
Various Racks
Metal racks are an old fashioned notion that has made a comeback in modern design, especially for cottage inspired styles that favour the vintage and the distressed. In this way a metal rack can be the perfect touch in a room meant to be cosy yet attractive. A coat rack or umbrella stand is a wonderful way to add a dash of metal to the room without weighing the whole thing down. Some metal racks are designed to resemble other things as they hold stuff, for example the flower cart rack or a metallic bird cage. Consider the use of a metal towel rail for situations that call for drying textiles and linens.
Baker's Stands
The idea is that baker's stands though originally designed to hold cooling pies are ideal shelving units for all sorts of items. Baker's racks are often used by gardeners either to bear plants or gardening equipment. Outdoors the durability of the metal structure makes it acceptable to water the plants while they are still on the stand. In a way the boughs of a plant compliment a metal baker's stand whereas another kind of object would slip right through the cracks. But it is also possible to line the shelves with a wooden plank or sheet of glass to turn a baker's stand into a veritable bookshelf for indoor usage.
Decorative Items
One of the easiest ways to incorporate a metallic look is with metal decorative items. Bells and wind bells in particular are made of metal and can be suspended from numerous high points for a multi-sensory accent. Little touches like metal doorknockers or old fashioned key rings can be used as hardware on fixtures. The sturdy weight of a metal statuette makes it the perfect doorstop for those portals better left open. Metal statues also look equally charming wherever one may place such as knick knack. Metal wall hangings like plaques, tin signs, or wall candle holders are an impressive statement.
