From the very beginnings of architecture, since the time people started building structures that were more complex than simple huts, columns have been used to support beams and ceilings. In fact, the Classic era was probably the high point of columns, which served as inspiration for everything column-related ever since.
Besides being significant for the structural integrity of buildings that used them, columns were also often decorated to make them look better. And while the middle sections of the columns, or shafts, could pull through with having no decorations, the bases and the capitals, or the topmost parts of columns, were usually beautifully decorated. These decorations could be geometric, floral, or with animal symbols. But even the columns that were not decorated could leave people breathless by their sheer size.
Today, however, we mostly tend to build walls that support our roofs and floors. But that doesn't mean that the column has gone to history. Columns are still being used in buildings around the world, and when it comes to building homes, columns are used there as well. However, having load bearing columns in a home can be a bit tricky – you need to arrange furniture around them, you can’t simply have them anywhere you want, and it’s easy to see how they can get in the way.
That’s why people who want columns in their houses sometimes choose to have them only for decorative purposes. For that type of columns, looking good is more important than being structurally sound, so they could be made out of plaster or wood. They can be placed anywhere, regardless of the structure above them that needs support, which makes them more convenient that having load bearing columns. In fact, they can be placed against the wall, or only hinted by careful use of ornaments on the wall to create a desired effect.
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