People keep asking us what Fast Furniture is and why we are so opposed to it.
Perhaps the reason people don’t understand the damage this issue causes is the name?
Fast Furniture sounds pretty innocuous, doesn’t it? Combatting the climate crisis however has got to be all of us making lots of small but better choices, and Fast Furniture is way up there with all the other problems that shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to change!
In fact, effective solutions are not difficult and at Ironfire we are proud to be a bit simple and don’t think that we need to greenwash our products or change our practices to make things that are a lot more sustainable. We’ve described our solution to each of the issues that make Fast Furniture such a bad thing, right at the end of this blog and we think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make furniture better to use, look at and own. So see what you think?
Fast Furniture is furniture that is produced quickly, often using low-cost materials and manufacturing processes. It’s designed to be affordable and readily available, catering to current trends and fashion. Being largely produced at unbelievably low costs, retailers can afford to offer long, interest free finance and flash showrooms.
However, mass produced, cheap Furniture has many significant environmental and social impacts:
Environmental Impact production involves intensive use of natural resources, – wood, metals textiles and of course, plastics. This is a major contributor to deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution. Additionally, the energy-intensive manufacturing processes and transportation of furniture around the world in ships contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
The following link leads to a fascinating easy to read article about the environmental impact of shipping stuff around the world so we can pay high prices for what cost pennies.
If the global shipping industry were a country, it would be the sixth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, falling between Japan and Germany.
Waste Generation. Cheap Furniture is often made with lower-quality materials, meaning it has a short lifespan. As a result, it is discarded and replaced, leading to high levels of furniture waste. This waste typically ends up in landfills, where it can take a long time to decompose and releases harmful substances into the atmosphere. UK households dump an estimated 670,000 tonnes of furniture each year. That’s a staggering amount of unnecessary waste?
Social Implications. The Fast Furniture industry’s culture of low-cost production often leads to poor working conditions and low wages for workers, particularly in developing economies.
Planned Obsolescence. A lot of cheap furniture is intentionally designed to wear out quickly or break easily and very, very rarely replacement parts are available.
To address environmental and social concerns of Fast Furniture, we should apply these sustainable practices:
Use of Sustainable Materials Furniture companies can choose eco-friendly and renewable materials, such as FSC-certified wood, recycled metals, and low-toxicity finishes.
Design for Durability. Creating furniture with high-quality materials and craftsmanship can extend its lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Circular Economy. Implementing circular economy principles involves designing furniture for disassembly, repair, and recycling to minimize waste and maximize resource use.
Responsible Production Manufacturers can improve their production processes to reduce energy consumption and emissions and implement responsible waste management practices.
Promote Conscious Consumerism. Encouraging consumers to make informed choices about their furniture purchases, considering factors like sustainability, durability, and ethical production practices.
It’s all very well spouting off about getting rid of Fast Furniture! So here’s how we meet all the aims below in a very straightforward way.
Lots of companies lay claim to sustainability but how many are jumping on the bandwagon without really contributing anything? At Ironfire our commitment is – slow furniture!Our furniture is made entirely in Britain from renewable English timber. It’s difficult to always know exactly where our Galvanised metal comes from, so our steel strategy is on make it once and make it to last as the most effective sustainable strategy!
Repair – Spare parts always available and easy to fit Renew – Change colours and refresh Ironfire pieces easily and at little cost. Robust – Metal is thick and galvanised before being powder coated – Victorian
engineering simple elegant but strong Recycle – Metal and wood are easily separatable, and toughened glass can be
recycled if kept apart from other glass. Choice – Wide range of sizes, hard or softwood formats and so many finishes. Looks – Ironfire furniture is the centre piece of any room with the beauty of
natural hand -crafted materials Price – Buy direct from us, we make a living and you save retail markups –
Worried about buying online? Look at our Trust Pilot and Google reviews!
We can also give you 12 months interest free to help spread the load.
Global Awards Winners Guide 2023/24 Luxury Furniture Retailer of the Year.
Southern Enterprise awards – Best Sustainable Home & outdoor Furniture Brand 2023
Build Magazine. Architecture Awards 2023 -Best Custom Industrial-Style Furniture Studio 2023 – South West England – https://www.build-review.com/winners/iron-fire/
We are never sure about the culture of Awards, and we certainly don’t put ourselves forward for them. But it also seems like being a bit backwards if we don’t tell anyone when we get one! In fact, this year, we have been awarded 3 and we should say thanks for the acknowledgement and recognition!
www.iron-fire.co.uk
It’s a difficult balance; wanting to market yourselves, but at the same time being disdainful of boasting about the things we do, which is just, after all common sense.
Even when one is making best efforts we can always improve and besides we’re all avid consumers of the comforts we have been brought up to take for granted. There’s not really anything for any manufacturer to boast about and it’s easy to sit picking apart TV adverts crowing about some blue chip’s new found ecological awareness. Of course any improvement is a step forward, but In a global economy it is diffficult to make a meaningful personal contribution and only too easy to forget that the answer has to be lots of people changing their habits – just a bit.
It’s good too that people are starting to realise how much fast furniture contibutes to global warming. Fast furniture items are mass produced and shipped around the world, sold at budget prices allowing us to quickly and cheaply update our homes. We’re all becoming increasigly aware of the impact fast furniture has on global warming The impact, however, on global forests and landfill is horrendous and it’s estimated that, just in the UK, we throw away 22 million bits of furniture every year. That’s a lot of stuff that ends up in landfill and uses many toxins in the production of chipboard and synthetic fabrics, not to mention having being shipped around the globe.
At Ironfire HQ we’ve been developing new pieces for 2022. Today we’re presenting our reimagined Dining Table. The same durability and striking looks but with a modern touch. Within our 7 Smart Furniture Ideas we describe our furniture as “innovative, industrial style… helps you stamp your own personality on your house and garden” this design is testament to that.
Before we get into why, here are the logistics. The original legs (shown below) have been updated to minimalistic U-Shaped legs. Though our extra-large tables are perfect for large parties we moved the legs closer into the table top to allow for even more guests at your table. The table top has stayed the same. Why? The formula works. A bold black steel border + customisable size and colour of the wooden top = easily integrated industrial style. And finally, the specifications: our steel is galvanised, and black powder coated, made to be “heavy duty, robust and weatherproof” and our wood is either our durable water-resistant Oak or our specifically dried, primed and charred Douglas Fir (also water-resistant and available in almost any colour). Both full of character for your table.
Speaking of character this new design brings minimalism. It leaves more space underneath the table, more space means less clutter and thus the feeling of a bigger room. To amplify this even further we recommend pairing this design with one of our extra-large mirrors for the illusion of space. Not to mention the added benefits of more light, more appeal, and an easy way to make a statement. In 2022 creating open spacious statement areas and cohesive interior in your house couldn’t be more of an easy way to fast track to a high end design look aswell as relevant as we’ve spent more time than ever at home. And as our world opens back up the trends have followed, shifting to the idea of a spacious feel to our home being continuous from inside to out.
It’s important to outline that our Dining Table can adapt to these trends of inside out and outside in. Thanks to its durability this table is easily adaptable into a garden table. The opportunity for you to have Ironfire furniture wherever you see fit is important to us, under a shelter, out in the open, in the sun house, on the patio and of course inside your home too. This new design stays true to this, remaining perfect for inside and out. But what’s new? Thanks to the lighter look our new design is in line with the elevated outdoor furniture trend. Not sure what that is? Elevated outdoor design is the idea that with us spending more time outdoors, our gardens or yards are becoming extensions of our interior requiring more sophisticated furniture. A trend that Ironfire has been prepared for from the get-go.
As well as Ironfire Traditional Japanese interior has also been in line with this idea before it became a trend. But Ironfire has even more links to Japanese inspired interior. The most obvious being our use of a preservation method inspired by Yaki Sugi. Yaki meaning heat with fire and Sugi being a type of Japanese coniferous tree. We quite literally heat coniferous wood (the Douglas fir) with fire to help preserve the wood. The science being that by charring the outside of the wood lightly,
carbonisation occurs making the wood waterproof (adding to the longevity) fire retardant and safer from insect infestations. However, our connections extend beyond Japanese techniques to the design of our new table. The refined look is in touch with the Japanese industrial modern trends. Described by Decoholic as “Simplicity, naturalness, elegance” but with an “emphasis on space, light, and airiness” which we believe is pretty close to what this Ironfire table strives for. They share the same benefits too, simple but sophisticated, easy to maintain etc.
We’ve spoken a lot about trends in this blog but being a sustainable company, we recognise what’s important isn’t bringing out new collections every season to be on trend it’s creating timeless furniture that lives on through each trend, staying modern but also classic. So, what makes us timeless? When we bring out new products, we keep our consistency with original products because we stay so close to our values. This ensures inclusion for our returning customers and plenty of options for the new. It’s an idea we have already touched on, cohesion for everyone available everywhere.
Most companies who prioritise a cohesive collection subsequently lose individuality, their customers have limited options to express their interior style through the product. Being a bespoke company, we believe in giving you as much control over your furniture as possible. You design it, we make it. Within Ironfire this translates to being able to choose between over 200+ colour for your tabletop, you’ve got plenty of size options and even the type of bolt we use can be customised. However, this table adds yet another bespoke feature. The beauty of this simple U-shaped leg is it can be turned 180 degrees to give a completely different style of table leg. Still minimalist, modern and sleek but with a bit of a different spin that may be better suited to your taste. A way for Ironfire to put another element of your furniture into your hands.
Ironfire’s new table isn’t just an exciting addition to our wide range of products, it’s a representation of our company’s values. Durable, lifelong, bespoke, innovative. Don’t hesitate to get in touch to talk about our furniture or your design ideas.
Ironfire’s coffee table is made for you, colour, size, and style. So you don’t have to keep endlessly searching. We bring the table to you.
Read on to learn more about our bespoke tables from day dot to delivery.
Hello again,
In our last blog we told you about one of our new products. A re-imagined dining table. But Ironfire isn’t only about creating new products. We’re also about refining classics like our coffee table to our customer’s requirements. That means two things; We aim to deliver personal, tailored customer service and a table right for you. One of the ways we can do this is by offering you choices.
The Ironfire Coffee table is the product which has undergone the most revision and innovation, to make a bespoke piece of furniture. We’ve made extra-large coffee tables and small coffee tables. Coffee table and tv stand sets. Coffee table and side table sets. We’ve matched tables to wallpaper, furniture, even farrow and ball paints, taking the work out of finding a match, making your life easier. In fact, one of ‘our 7 smart furniture ideas’ is to give you a unique piece of personal bespoke furniture. One of our most recent orders perfectly illustrates this.
Chris and his partner ordered an infinity table. A popular variant of our classic coffee tables. They wanted a 900x1400mm table to match the aged oak in their beautiful period sitting room. Not only that but the bolts on our table could match the traditional ceiling beam’s metal studs. To co-ordinate the table to the room we needed to match the natural light oak of our boards to darker oak in a room that was almost 300 miles away. We love a challenge at Ironfire, so we put on our colour mixing hats and put our heads together. A bit of hubble bubble toil and trouble later we had a unique blend of different wood stains and a goldilocks solution – not too dark, not too light, just right? We hoped so, especially having made a match using only photos.
A couple of weeks later we’d finished the table. So, we wrapped it safely and loaded it into the van for delivery with the rest of a round for London and East Anglia. And so, the 6-hour journey to North Norfolk to meet the Wallers and Pennard the Labrador Retriever Cross with their table began. There were a few hours on the motorway, and winding A roads as well as some important stops. The first of which was an installation of a cabinet to an amazon store (for our other company RI). As we drove up the country all a sudden as we turned a corner, what had been fields and towns became the North Sea. Next stop (of course): had to be the seaside to stretch our legs out of the van and along the shore. Third stop: Chris’s house where Pennard and a wonderful house and garden greeted us.
One of the perks of the job is meeting our customers and putting a face to a name. Though it’s especially rewarding with those like Chris where we had worked with him through the process to get the colour as he wanted it. Thankfully our table was cohesive with their furniture, beam and flooring. Not only that but being an infinity table, the glass ensured the table could be in the centre but not intruding. Instead it complimented the light scandi feel to the room.
After a long day of delivering we went through great snoring and little snoring – yes, they are real places! Though we weren’t actually asleep at the wheel sometimes our big journeys can be longsome and tiring. But on days like these they are a pleasure.
In fact, it’s hard not to enjoy them; the sun shining, happy customers, a lovely dog and a brief view of the north sea.
At Ironfire, the journey of your table isn’t just it traveling up the M4. It starts when we talk to you about your ideas. Continuing as we cut the first piece of wood, all the way to putting together the finishing touches.
In the words of Chris and Shaun – “Thoroughly recommend Ironfire for something just a little extra special and bespoke to enhance home. Both really happy with new coffee table, and extra mile (literally!) taken by Andrew and team to fulfil what we are looking for. Thanks again, Chris, Shaun, plus Pennard “. We love the satisfaction of not only seeing but making your coffee table go from an idea to your sitting room. Only made possible because at Ironfire we do everything ourselves. Bespoke, personal and happy to help. Give us a call to chat about your coffee table.
Exciting news we have a guest blogger – Maria Jose is a Marketing Specialist and does Content Marketing at Porch. She is passionate about animals and her hobbies are reading, writing, traveling and music. She shares with us some handy tips on the particle ways of buying furniture for your home and shows that you can produce sustainable furniture.
If you’re gearing up to move into a new home, there are probably a ton of things to take care of on your to-do list. Buying furniture is one of the most important and biggest investments you’ll make, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you choose the right pieces at the right price. There’s a lot to consider when you’re furnishing a new house, from the dimensions to the durability and much more. Check out this guide featuring some advice on what to avoid, along with actionable, helpful tips to make your next furniture buying adventure easy and, most importantly, affordable.
Modern Living room design image
If you’re gearing up to move into a new home, there are probably a ton of things to take care of on your to-do list. Buying furniture is one of the most important and biggest investments you’ll make, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you choose the right pieces at the right price. There’s a lot to consider when you’re furnishing a new house, from the dimensions to the durability and much more. Check out this guide featuring some advice on what to avoid, along with actionable, helpful tips to make your next furniture buying adventure easy and, most importantly, affordable.
10 Important Things to Avoid When Buying Furniture
White room with doors image
There are some common furniture buying mistakes that people make, which often leads to buyer’s remorse. Here are the 10 most important things to avoid when buying furniture for your new home, along with some suggestions.
Not measuring: Measuring your space before you buy any new furniture is absolutely crucial. If you don’t measure, your furniture might not fit through the door, or it won’t fit properly in the room. Record the dimensions of every room of your home, noting the length and width in feet. You should also draw a basic layout on paper to help you choose the right size furniture for every space. A sectional won’t fit correctly if you have a small living room, for example. Measuring furniture includes checking the length, width, depth, and height of every piece. This will ensure that every item you buy fits nicely in its designated spot.
Painting first: You might be tempted to paint your new home before you buy new furniture. However, it’s much easier to purchase furniture based on the colors in the room after it’s already there. Go ahead and furnish the rooms in your home, then choose a beautiful paint color to match so everything coordinates nicely for a cohesive look.
Not scaling: Proper scale and proportion are key to a functional space. Make sure your new furniture works well in the room and doesn’t overcrowd it. If the furniture is too large in proportion to the size of the room, everything will feel cramped. If it’s too small, the room will feel hollow and empty. Choose everything in tandem so that every item works well with the other to create a correctly scaled space
Not considering your lifestyle: If you have children or pets, you need to select furniture that fits your lifestyle. Choose upholstered pieces that are easy to clean and maintain if you have a lot of foot traffic and a large family. Having beautiful furniture in your new home is important, but it won’t do any good if it isn’t functional too. Look at each item and think about how it will fit your lifestyle before you purchase.
Stool with a cat image
Being unrealistic about maintenance: All furniture undergoes regular wear and tear, but some materials are easier to maintain than others. Always make sure that your new furniture can be cleaned easily and that it’s not too difficult to repair if something ever gets broken. Search for furniture that’s easy to care for, so you’re not spending all of your time worrying about maintaining it or keeping it clean. Stock up on products to help you maintain it, like wood furniture polishes and waxes, leather conditioners, and a quality vacuum cleaner to get rid of crumbs between sofa cushions.
Buying everything at once: Buying furniture is exciting, so it’s easy to feel like you need to buy everything at once. Furnishing an entire room or even your entire home all at one time could lead to buyer’s remorse later. Focus on the most important pieces first, like the bed for your bedroom, the dining table for your dining room, and the sofa for your living room. You can always add new items to go with it later once you determine which styles, sizes, and designs will work best in each room and for your specific lifestyle.
Getting into an “impulse buy”: Don’t get lured into furniture trends and make an impulse purchase that you’ll regret later. Take your time and research furniture, looking carefully at things like customer reviews and examples of furniture in different homes. When you take your time buying furniture, you’ll be much happier with the outcome.
Prioritizing style over comfort: A beautiful home filled with stylish furniture is important, but your comfort is more important. Don’t sacrifice your comfort just to give your home a stylish look. If your new furniture is uncomfortable, you’ve essentially wasted your hard-earned money. Try to find pieces that meet somewhere in the middle, blending beautiful design with supportive and comfortable features.
Sacrificing quality for price: Saving money on furniture is always a good thing, but you shouldn’t skimp on quality. Look for great deals on furniture that will still provide you with a quality piece you’ll use for years to come. Remember that new furniture at an extremely low price usually means that it’s made of low-quality materials, and it might not hold up to a lot of wear and tear.
Overfilling the room: If you buy too many furniture pieces, it can make the rooms in your home feel cramped and overcrowded. Adding too much furniture will end up making your home feel cluttered, which can lead to higher stress levels. Try to stick with the basics first, then add accent pieces as needed.
How to save money when buying furniture
Saving money on furniture is easy when you keep these helpful tips in mind.
Plant pot full of money and a plant growing pot
Shop Online: Shopping online is one of the easiest, most effective ways to save money on everything from furniture to décor and more. Look for websites that offer free shipping to save even more. Before you click the “purchase” button, make sure you read the customer reviews thoroughly to ensure that you’re getting a good deal and a quality item.
Garage Sale: Scour local garage sales to find decent quality furniture. In many cases, homeowners simply need to downsize, or they don’t want to take perfectly good furniture with them for a move. You can always negotiate with the seller to bring the price down even lower, too.
Buying antique furniture: Not all antique furniture costs an arm and a leg. Shop at some local consignment stores to score a good deal on beautiful antiques. The perk of buying antique furniture is that it’s typically made of durable materials, and it’s built to last, so you’re getting more out of your investment.
Repurpose and recycle: You don’t have to buy every single thing brand-new for your home. In fact, some of your furniture can easily be repurposed or recycled. An older coffee table can look new again with a fresh coat of chalk paint. Go through the items you already own to see how many of them can be repurposed or reused in other rooms or for different reasons.
Refurbish: Refurbished furniture can look just as beautiful and last just as long as new furniture. Switch out hardware, add a fresh coat of paint or finish, or reinforce furniture to make it stronger. Simple changes to existing furniture can make it look brand-new and give it a new purpose without breaking your budget.
Upcycle: Upcycling furniture is similar to refurbishing, and it involves adding your own personal touch to each piece. You can make any piece of furniture look brand-new with some simple changes like painting it, adding new hardware, or taking it apart and rebuilding it to turn it into something new.
DIY: If you’re handy with a hammer and nails, don’t be afraid to try your hand at some DIY furniture. Building your own furniture creates feelings of pride and a sense of satisfaction. It’s also an excellent way to save money on new items like tables or chairs.
Get sales alerts: Sign up for sales alerts from some of your favorite furniture stores. Many retailers offer deep discounts at various times of the year, which means you could save a lot of cash if you’re patient.
Time your shopping: Many local furniture salespeople have quotas and work on commission, which means they might be willing to offer you a deal at certain times of the month. Ask if they can provide you with a deal or throw in free delivery to help you save a bit of extra money.
How to care for and maintain your furniture
Lady sat on sofa, exhausted from hoovering image
With so many furniture styles and options to choose from, it’s important to maintain and care for each item to keep it in good condition. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when it comes to furniture maintenance.
Do’s
Remove dirt, dust, and debris from wood furniture, often using a soft, damp cloth or paper towel.
Take care of wood furniture by polishing it regularly and using a gentle, silicone-free furniture cleaning product.
Repair scratches as soon as possible, using a furniture touch-up pen that matches the finish.
Keep furniture out of direct sunlight, especially leather and wood, which can become discolored and dry out over time.
Only use cleaning products made for your furniture’s specific material to avoid damage.
Wipe spills immediately whenever liquid comes in contact with your furniture.
Rotate or flip seat cushions every few months to keep them comfortable and looking new.
Don’ts
Do not use an all-purpose cleaner, bleach, or abrasive cleaning products on your furniture.
Don’t put off dusting your furniture. Airborne particles can build up on wood, leaving a layer of dust and grime that may scratch the finish.
Never add a tablecloth to your tables until they’re completely dry.
Do not arrange your furniture near radiators, heat or air vents, and air conditioning units. Extreme temperature changes can easily damage furniture.
Don’t sit extremely hot or cold beverages or food directly on top of your furniture – use a coaster or protective cover like a tablecloth.
Avoid placing your furniture close to the fireplace or wood-burning stoves.
If you just got married, just became independent, just moved to college, or are just ready to start buying furniture for your new place, be sure to keep these helpful tips in mind. Remember to measure the rooms in your home as well as the dimensions of your new furniture to find a perfect fit. Choose furniture that fits your lifestyle, and shop garage sales and websites to help you find the best deal so you’ll have fabulous furniture the whole family will enjoy for years to come.
