Design Decoded - What is contract grade furniture - and do you need it?

You've probably seen the term "contract grade furniture" pop up while shopping online for sofas, bar stools or dining chairs. It sounds fancy (and maybe a little intimidating) but it simply means this: the piece is built to withstand heavy, frequent use. Think hotels, restaurants or other commercial spaces.

Unlike standard residential furniture, contract grade pieces are tested to meet commercial durability standards, often including:

• Stronger frames and joinery

• High-performance fabrics

• Reinforced legs or swivel bases

• BIFMA-compliant or ANSI-certified (yes, those are things)

If it's meant for commercial spaces, why is becoming more and more available? If you have kids, pets, guests or just a real-life household, a well-placed contract grade piece can bring both peace of mind and longevity to your home. At the end of the day, we here at Tenth and Jones believe furniture should be as resilient as it is beautiful.