Indian Furniture Tips – What is an Almirah?

Indian furniture has long been the perfect way to add an exotic and beautiful touch to the home or office. One can find furniture made in India for almost any use, be it inside the kitchen as a kitchen cabinet or as a center table in the office. However, it is important to know the Indian names for different types of furniture, or else you might end up looking for something and buying something else! For example, a cot is called a charpoy or khatiya, and a sofa is called a diwan. In the same way, a wardrobe is called an almirah. Here is more information about the almirah, or wardrobe:

The Almirah has a special place in Indian culture and tradition:

Contrary to the wardrobes of Western cultures which are simply storage devices, the Indian Almirah has a special place in the Indian family. Generally speaking, in an Indian family, the almirah is a place where jewelry, money, and even other everyday items of the family, such as clothes, etc., are stored. Of course, jewelry and cash are stored in a separate locked compartment in the almirah and it is almost never opened except if the situation arises.

For this reason, the Almirah is a piece of furniture built in such a way that it can be used both for everyday use and for security and storage. The almirah usually has a high compartment for storing shirts on hangers and smaller lower compartments for storing folded clothing such as pants, skirts, saris, etc. there is a separate, albeit small, lockable compartment in which the family’s valuables are stored.

The Almirah is quite Strong and Robust:

As noted above, an almirah has a special place in the Indian family, and buying an alimrah is usually something that happens with a special event, such as a wedding or someone else entering the house. Therefore, the almirah has to be built very sturdy and strong as it has to withstand the wear and tear of daily use as well as offer the strength and security that a family would need for their valuables and things.

The Almirah can be made of various materials:

Traditionally, the almirah, or almari as it is pronounced in Hindi, is made of wood and only wood. Even today, in rural India, an almirah means a piece of furniture made from any type of wood, be it teak, rosewood, etc. However, with the changing times, almirahs have been made from iron, steel, and other materials. However, the true aristocracy and beauty of an almirah can only be experienced in a wooden almirah.