The modern armoire has a royal ancestry. About a century ago, European monarchs stored their clothing and personal cash in small rooms, called wardrobes. The royal wardrobe was tended by the treasurer of the household. As royalty increased their wealth, they began to offer similar accommodations for their guests, with rooms fitted with simple cupboards and lockers.
During times of war, sovereigns needed a more portable wardrobe, one that would secure a war treasury that could travel with the monarch on campaigns. In the 13th century, Edward I was among the first to employ a moveable wardrobe. The travelling wardrobe would likely have held armor as well. The word “armoire” first appeared around 1570, from the French word “armarie,” derived from the Latin “arma,” meaning tools, gear or arms.
Today, armoire furniture is typically described as large cupboards with two doors that open to reveal a large, open space, as well as shelves or drawers. In the years before built-in closets, armoire furniture was a common feature of most bedrooms in the Western world.
Armoires overwhelmed the small bedrooms and low ceilings of suburban homes built after World War II, and their popularity subsequently waned. A renewed interest in antiques in the 1960s brought them back into favor as a decorative and functional storage units for use in common living areas.
Furniture makers have long used armoires to showcase their skill, and armoires generally reflect the fashion and decorating styles of the period in which they were produced. In the early 1700s, Chippendale armoires featured elaborate ornamental carving. Later in the century, the Sheraton and Hepplewhite style favored simpler designs, with polishes that highlighted the beauty of the wood.
The type of wood used for armoires has changed through the centuries as well. Walnut, mahogany, oak and maple have all take their turn in popularity. In the 19th century, high-end armoires featured rare woods like satinwood and ebony, often featured in intricate, inlaid designs. A recent re-interpretation of the armoire used eco-friendly birch wood.
Today, armoires are perhaps more popular than they have been in a hundred years. Armoires offer design solutions in modern homes with open floor plans and high ceilings, providing architectural interest that helps to visually organize a large space. The weight and mass of armoires make them a useful design tool whenever an open space feels overwhelming. In homes and lofts where built-in closets are scarce, small or non-existent, armoire furniture provides decorative storage answers. An armoire can instantly convert a spare room into a bedroom.
The primary reason for the renewed interest in armoire furniture, however, is their functionality. Homeowners often search for ways to hide televisions and stereo systems, and armoires offer storage for large-sized electronics. Today, an armoire is likely to be designed with this specific function in mind, with discreet holes that provide access for electrical cords and cables. As television screens grow wider, so do the armoires. Instead of rods for hanging clothes, armoires are more likely to feature a wide, pull-out shelf, compartments for DVDs and CDs and shelves for a number of electronics.
While these modern improvements can be costly, larger furniture stores that are able to sustain large inventories usually offer armoires at substantial savings. Amoire furniture offers additional storage while providing a strong design statement, one that can inspire the decorating style of the whole room.
