What Is Lucite® Furniture?

Lucite® furniture is any piece of furniture for indoor or outdoor use that is made from the material known as Lucite®, a transparent plastic material that resembles glass. Lucite® is usually lighter and more durable than glass, though it is more prone to scratching and overall degradation of appearance over time. Lucite® furniture may include chairs, tables, trays, carts, stools, bed headboards, and various other pieces for use inside or around the home. Lucite® is usually fairly lightweight and easy to manufacture, which keeps the cost down and the convenience level up.

Perhaps the most common type of Lucite® furniture is the Lucite® chair. Such a chair can vary significantly in style, shape, size, and so on, though most chairs made from Lucite® appear clear. Some models are colored, however, and the chair may either be tinted to remain translucent or colored completely so it is no longer transparent at all. Lucite® is generally easy to mold, since several molding methods exist, so the shapes and sizes of the chairs can vary significantly according to the manufacturer's preferences. Other Lucite® furniture can be molded into various shapes as well, meaning the possibilities for attractive designs are almost endless.

Lucite® furniture is often used in lieu of glass furniture not only to save money, but also to help prevent damage to the furniture. Glass has a tendency to shatter, which can be dangerous, especially for children. Lucite® is therefore a better choice for furniture that will be used regularly, especially if those users are children, who tend to be rougher on furniture than adults. Lucite is also lightweight and easy to move, and some Lucite® chairs and tables are foldable for easy movement and storage.

This type of plastic can be combined with other materials to create an even more aesthetically unique piece of furniture. Metal and wood are often used as framing materials, while Lucite® can be used to accent a piece. The opposite may be done as well: the Lucite® can be used as the structural elements of a piece of furniture, while metal or wood can be used as accenting material to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a certain piece of furniture. It is also not uncommon to find Lucite® chairs that feature rubber footings meant to help protect wood floors from being scratched by the Lucite® legs of a table or chair.