Biedermeier style was popular in Middle-Europe between 1815 and 1850, first of all in Germany and in the Monarchy. The meaning of the word is a bit pejorative, the „good Mr. Meier”. It was typical in bourgeois interiors.
Main points of view were saving, expediency and comfort in furnishing a biedermeier interior. Homes were light, wide and bright, the walls were painted commonly white or covered by floral/striped wallpapers. Clean room was its attribute which was separated from common life, it served the representation – also for sparing. One of the main furniture could be found here was the display cabinet. It could have one or two-doors. It wasn’t the invention of that time but was very popular then. Family heritage and valuable decoration objects were kept in it.
Carpentry had a boom. Lines of furniture became simpler compared to styles before, less, but more accented decoration elements were used. Curves have appeared instead of straight lines. The legs of chairs commonly had a rectangular intersection, their backs were inwrought. The seat was padded with horsehair. Upholstery was striped or floral which was matched with fabrics of curtains and draperies. Combined furniture, that had more functions, was also popular. For example: chair convertible to library ladder, turnover/wind-wing table, hidden drawers. Only the outer (visible) sides of furniture were veneered, the inner part remained the base-wood, commonly pine. The material of the veneer was a lighter wood: cherry, maple, pear, ash etc. Settee was present in various types as the synonym of comfort.
Many original furniture has remained from this era. Most of the inherited furniture are biedermeier. It’s hard to place them for many people in today’s (modern) interior because of not only their design but their color also, although they still look good. Ask for help of an interior designer for worthy safekeeping of your heritage.