When lounging on the couch, or sitting on a chair eating a nice meal, most of our first thoughts aren’t, damn, how cool would it be if instead of sitting on furniture, I were the furniture. However, folks with a furniture fetish, or forniphilia, are turned on by using their bodies as tables, chairs, cabinets, or other types of furniture.
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What is forniphilia (furniture fetish)?
Furniture fetish, also known as forniphilia fetish, is being turned on by using a person’s body as tables, chairs, cabinets, or other types of furniture. It’s a multifaceted fetish often explored through the lens of BDSM and bondage. Unlike some more straightforward fetishes, the desire to be human furniture can have a wide range of motivations and erotic triggers.
Why do people have a furniture fetish?
For some, forniphilia is the ultimate expression of submission. When we think of the eroticism of submission, for many, the desire comes from feeling used and objectified by the more dominant partner. The entire purpose of furniture is to be used by the owner, so for some, it can be sexy to be used as a functional tool that isn’t even capable of having a thought or talking. Many pieces of furniture may even enjoy being gagged or tightly bound by partners to lean more into the objectification of the act.
The experience of being turned into furniture can also be deeply humiliating and degrading for some individuals, which can be a major source of sexual arousal. For example, someone on Reddit shared,
“I was used as a human footrest by a dom while they relaxed on their porch and smoked a cigarette. The porch was partially enclosed with a brick wall/railing that was about two feet high. If you were standing or seated in a chair, you could easily see over the wall and out into the rest of the neighborhood. I, however, was led out onto the porch on all fours wearing nothing but the collar and leash around my neck. As my Dom smoked, they’d occasionally flick ash across my skin. I could hear a few people taking a golden hour stroll about the neighborhood, and it felt so hot being completely exposed just out of their view, my hands and knees pressed into the hard cement while my Dom, fully clothed, made use of my human body.”
For others, it has less to do with being used and more with the aesthetic aspects of forniphilia. Indeed, there is a lot of human furniture within modern art and fetish photography. For some, the visual impact of sexual objectification in creating human furniture is a significant part of the allure. However, for others, the physical sensation of being constrained and held in place is the primary source of pleasure – like in other bondage techniques. For example, someone on Reddit shared:
“I had my bf use me as a human table, and it felt soo good. He tied my hands and legs from the knee down onto the carpet. Then he put a glass pain on my hips and shoulders with glue.”
Regardless of the specific motivation, Forniphilia is one of many fascinating fetishes that can be explored in various ways. For the purest furniture enthusiasts, it is not about power, aesthetics, or bondage but truly about the desire to be a piece of furniture. The story below was shared anonymously on Reddit, I slightly shortened the description, but you’ll get the idea.
“I used to have a furniture fetish. I knew I’d be disowned from my family if anyone found out, but I just couldn’t say no to my desires. Little by little, so I wouldn’t get caught, I gradually removed the stuffing from our monolithic leather recliner. It took several months, grabbing one cotton ball tuft at a time through the zipper with tweezers, or occasionally slipping downstairs at night to grab a handful or two of the stuffing, but little by little I emptied it at a rate too slow for anyone to notice.
Finally, one night, it was time. I had completely emptied it, and I snuck downstairs to claim my prize. I had to be extra quiet because it was Christmas Eve, and some of my relatives had stayed over for the night, but I made it to the living room undetected.
It was there that I removed all my clothes and covered my body in Vaseline. It was just then that I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I had no time to think, I just had to go in raw. I unzipped the zipper and slid my whole body into the chair, zipping it back up over me. I came so hard I shat my pants. I was grounded for a week.”
How common is Forniphilia?
As with most fetishes, it’s difficult to pinpoint precisely how many people have explored or are excited by furniture play. On Reddit, there are 14k subscribers in the Forniphilia community. There are also porn sites devoted to human furniture, such as deocrativegirls.com, which has hours of videos of women being displayed as furniture and decoration. House of Gord is also a fascinating site, which was founded by Jeff Gord, the man who allegedly coined the term forniphilia.
Gender and Forniphilia
In my deep dive into Reddit, I found that although most men discussed exploring this fetish alone (like in the lovely story above), in most cases, it seemed like the woman played the role of furniture when partner play was involved.
That makes sense on some level, as some research shows that women are slightly more likely to be submissive than men. However, how forniphilia is written about can sometimes feel more like sexism than based on different desires. For example, on the House of Gord Q&A, they share that,
“A second description of forniphilia would be man’s desire to render a powerful and dangerous adversary to the role of utility item. Make no mistake, women are a dangerous species. Thus by relegating her to an item of furniture that can be used and enjoyed at leisure and in complete safety, we can achieve that goal.”
This quote reminds me of those religions where they don’t let women go out because their power over men is too strong, so they must stay at home and be docile – overall, it doesn’t feel like a compliment. It also makes me wonder if some women exploring partnered furniture play are coerced instead of genuinely turned on.
How to Explore Forniphilia?
- Take your time. Start with seeing how it feels to be in the mindset of furniture and holding a more comfortable position before exploring any bondage or restraint.
- Pick the right furniture. Some examples include chandeliers, tables, lamps, pedestals, chairs, footstools, ceiling decorations (for the experts), lawn sprinklers, and bird tables. Spend some time thinking about which piece of furniture reflects you and the feeling you want to experience.
- Remember to remain in contact with your partner and discuss boundaries and safe words before getting started.
- Only explore forniphilia if it excites you. If it’s something you are only doing because your partner enjoys it, make sure they are also exploring something you want (or at least are also seeing how it feels to be a bedside table).
- Don’t stay in one position too long. On House of Gord, they recommend that a couple of hours is the maximum someone should explore this dynamic, but I would say start with a ten-minute scene and check in.
- If any restraint is involved, learn about circulation and binds to ensure there is not too much strain on any body part and circulation isn’t being cut off. Also, never leave the human furniture alone – make sure safety is a priority!
Forniphilia can be enjoyable for people of all genders to explore. As one Reddit user said,
“I have a futon with a fantastic ass!”
I’m also hoping we will see more male furniture moving forward – because I’m not mad at the idea of having a submissive cabinet that holds my vibrators. And to shake things up a little bit, you can also try to incorporate other fetishes you might like.
As discussed, this fetish can be appealing for various reasons, such as the feeling of power, playfulness, or simply exploring it solo. However, it is essential to note that communication and consent are key to any partnered play. Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all parties (and cabinets!) involved is crucial.
Happy Exploring!
Niki
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