Division 12 Furnishings encompasses a broad grouping of objects that are installed in finished spaces and considered to be decorative or fine art. Used in any type of built space, they may function to support human activity and/or be aesthetically pleasing. They can be selected by an interior designer, specified by an architect or placed by a discerning homeowner. With proper selection, scale and scheme, furnishings complement a space’s interior finishes and define its style.

Furnishings are used in both interior and exterior spaces and include: art, window treatments, casework, multiple seating, real or artificial plantings, furniture and accessories. Art is a communicative object, produced to appeal to the senses in a variety of forms, genres, mediums and styles. Window treatments, while decorative, also serve to control light and temperature and provide insulation and privacy. Casework includes box shaped assemblies used for display or storage as well as countertops used for horizontal work surfaces. Casework, which can be modular or affixed to the structure, enhances a storage space with functional and decorative doors, drawers and hardware. Multiple seating is used anywhere that audiences congregate, such as in facilities for education, sports, theatre, dining, and religion. The broad range of seating options available include long wooden benches used in churches, fixed tables with benches commonly found in restaurants, and individual chairs configured along rows in the tiers of stadiums. Interior plantings, when alive, provide indoor air purification. Whether real or artificial, interior plants are decorative and are commonly tropical or sub-tropical types. Furniture and accessories are generally functional objects used by people to facilitate human movement, offer storage, provide comfort, and have a pleasing appearance.

Furnishings are all around us, assisting our daily activities or entertaining our eye. Thousands of companies and individuals serve to produce products for this category of objects.