Modern furniture is harder to maintain than antique, neoclassical, or country furniture because, after the first six months of wear and tear, it can begin to look shabby, decadent, and even cheap.

My first look was actually modern. I quickly discovered that:

Modern furniture is best replaced rather than repaired, because when you do repair it, it looks repaired.

When modern furniture gathers even the slightest film of dust, it looks glaringly dirty. The same isn't true of antique, neoclassical, or country furniture.

I have somehow always looked at modern living room sets as furniture for office lobbies.