Most of the furniture we surround ourselves with is linear in form; rectangular or square. Not surprising, giving that our houses and rooms are, for the most part, angular, and so must our furniture be, right? Not necessarily. There is something very appealing about things round. Consider nature, whose forms rarely have straight edges, such as trees, nests, rocks and mountains. There is also a geometric simplicity and efficiency to the circle, which is compelling: it is the shape that will enclose the most area with the least perimeter. This would explain why many of the first shelters built by people were round, reflecting limited availability of materials and the need to conserve human effort in constructing shelter. There is also a symbolic importance and beauty to the circle: it is inclusive, it is renewing and it is spiritual. Perhaps this is why monuments like Stonehenge, the earliest Greek and Roman amphitheatres and the most memorable Byzantine works (like the Hagia Sophia) still take our breath away while comforting us at the same time. So, we would like to pay tribute to the round in everyday forms and everyday life. They provide us with a welcome contrast to the edges and squares in our lives, drawing us into conversation and the warm circle of friendship! Here are just a few ways to add “round” to your life — some simple and some dramatic: