In the century since Gerrit Rietveld’s iconic application of primary colours to a wooden chair, the use of colour in home furnishings has developed its own rich history. Departing from the humble finishes of natural timber and neutral metals, the contemporary design marketplace has blossomed in a rainbow of colours. Bright, brash and muted alike, the astute application of colour in design has become a meaningful feature in and of itself.

This book tracks the trend towards colour chronologically from its intellectual roots in the Bauhaus movement to the current day. Eight standalone profiles showcase designers who have applied colour in inventive ways, and short texts contextualize each of the 250 objects covered. Novel in its approach, A Century of Colour in Design presents an essential short-form history of the increasingly innovative use of colour in contemporary furniture, lighting and decorative objects for all with an interest in design, culture, history and colour.