# Concrete Cushioned Furniture UnPolished by Dik Scheepers Explores the Soft Side of Hard Materials By Amelia Roblin | Published 2011-11-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unpolished-by-dik-scheepers References: [designspotter](http://www.designspotter.com/product/2011/11/Unplished.html) & [dikscheepers.nl](http://www.dikscheepers.nl/products/116-unpolished) It's quite reasonable for furnishings to be manufactured from notoriously uncomfortable materials, yet designers tend to apply much softer ones to the surfaces with which users interact most frequently. UnPolished by Dik Scheepers appears to afford its user the opposite setup, as each object in the collection presents [cement-like components](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/so-koizumi) on which one is meant to sit or set down his things. Peculiarly, the forgiving whitewood pieces are used to construct the supportive frames of the chairs and tables but are not assembled to encourage human contact. It's [papercrete that composes the cushions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pastille), backrests, tabletops and cubbyholes with its rough and rigid texture. The [eccentric sculptural](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atypical-chair) UnPolished by Dik Scheepers thus embodies a humor and irony, enhanced with added depth through the utilization of environmentally gentle eco-friendly materials. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Concrete Cushioned Furniture:** Opportunity for designers to explore the unconventional use of materials, creating unique and unexpected seating options. - **Soft-touch Surfaces:** Demand for more comfortable and user-friendly furniture surfaces, driving innovation in soft materials and textures. - **Sustainable Design:** Growing interest in eco-friendly and environmentally gentle materials, leading to the development of furniture collections that prioritize sustainability. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture Design:** Furniture designers can experiment with unconventional materials and textures to create innovative seating options. - **Home Decor:** Home decor manufacturers can leverage the demand for soft-touch surfaces to design and produce comfortable and aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces. - **Sustainability:** Companies in the sustainability sector can explore the use of eco-friendly materials in furniture production to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable design. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Concrete Sculptural Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ancora.md) - [Experimental Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/philipp-aduatz.md) - [Sustainable Chrome Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cork-collection.md) - [Squishy Clay-Made Daybeds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soft-soil-daybed.md) - [3D-Printed Concrete Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chair-none.md) - [Wooden Textural Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/corrugated-furniture.md) - [Ultra-Comfy Seating Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cushy-lounge-chair.md) - [Visibly Undulating Stool Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concave-stool.md) - [Hand Carved Cork Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dol-furniture.md)