The articles of urban furniture can be classified into those used for rest, illumination, play, waste disposal, shelter and way finding.

• Urban furniture for rest: Benches, seats, picnic tables etc. are different articles of furniture than can be used for rest in an urban environment.
• Illumination: In addition to serving their primary function of illuminating an open space in the dark, urban furniture can also instill an air of security in the public while underscoring certain areas within a space.
• Play: Articles of furniture used for play function can include tables integrated with different board games such as chess add an entertainment value to the furniture.
• Waste disposal: Dustbins of different types can be thought of as urban furniture used for waste disposal purposes.
• Wayfinding: Wayfinding furniture includes all sorts of signage elements such as sitemaps and those portraying information regarding direction or restrictions.

As discussed above, urban street furniture can be used for resting, sitting, eating and bolstering social interaction amongst people. Such a setup can also be beneficial to the aged, the hampered and adults with kids. Furniture selected in a meticulous manner can lure people outdoors from the confines of their homes and making them feel welcomed and relaxed.

The area where the urban furniture is required to be installed must be kept in mind before ascertaining the design of the furniture; whether it is to be installed in a park, a neighborhood street, commercial building, water fountains, mall etc. Other aspects that need to be kept in mind include the potential end users of the furniture, frequency of its usage and how it is intended to serve the end users when they arrive at the destination.

While installing the furniture at a certain location, it should be ensured that the furniture elements do not appear cluttered. For instance, signs affixed to a single post instead of being spread out at several locations, seats are set up in a single area etc. Moreover, the furniture should not pose a risk for the pedestrians; if it is placed alongside a sidewalk, it should not hamper the movement of people as they move around.

The elements of urban furniture should be designed to cater for the needs of the hampered, the aged and the kids and should encourage social interaction. It has been observed that if elements of urban furniture such as benches, dustbins and telephone booths have been placed at isolated spots, they tend to draw people away from each other while on the other hand, if they are closely linked to spots such as a coffee cart they have a tendency to bring people together.

• Safety and security: Elements of furniture for outdoor use must be made of safe materials and designed to prevent any harmful injuries. They should be embedded firmly into the ground and arranged while keeping in mind lighting and accessibility conditions for the end users.
• Materials used in urban furniture: Weather conditions such as humidity, sunlight, expansion and contraction and other such aspects must be taken into account while designing urban furniture. Steel and wood are the most popular materials used to make urban furniture while stone, concrete, recycled plastic and other materials are also used but not than often. Again, the surrounding environment tends to determine the material to be used; for instance the furniture should be resistant to rough use; in case of wet spells, it should be able to get dried up quickly; and repair and maintenance costs must also be kept in mind.
• Color: The luminescence contrast of the color of urban furniture elements should be significant to be visible to the end users.

• Seating: Benches should be placed in outdoor facilities in order to encourage social interaction amongst people. They should be installed in places such as malls, shopping corridors and other such spaces where there is sufficient protection against wind and people have a choice whether to sit in the sun or in the shade. They should boast designs that offer comfort to people and should fit in with their surroundings.
• Signage: Signs are used to provide vital information and direction to people and should be placed at key spots near benches, cafes and restrooms. In addition to educating people regarding certain safety issues and discouraging them from indulging in any undesired activities, signs should be positive and informative.
• Lighting: The lighting elements in urban furniture can be used to assist pedestrians in wayfinding, creating social spaces and meeting security requirements. A certain area can be rendered more vibrant and buoyant with the help of site lighting in addition to bolstering its safety and security in the dark. Lighting is particularly crucial at entrances of buildings, intersections, staircases and remote walkways.
• Fountains: Fountains boasting flowing water tend to have a visual and auditory appeal to the pedestrians. Moreover, fountains can be fenced to prevent access or any undesired situations.

Smart urban street furniture can provide tons of benefits to the inhabitants of a city in addition to enhancing the attractiveness of public spaces.

• Solar powered charging points for handheld mobiles devices
• WiFi connectivity
• Provision of public service messages and vital information on display screens to citizens
• Raising awareness amongst people regarding the efficacy of renewable energy
• For advertisement purposes