If you’re an independent millennial who recently moved out of their family home and into their own, then a major issue that you may be dealing with almost every day…is space constraint! Our modern millennial homes have many virtues, but one thing they lack is space! Space constraint is something most of us end up dealing with every day. Smart storage solutions can be lifesavers in such tricky and compact situations. And to make your lives easier, we’ve curated a whole collection of storage solutions that come in the form of furniture designs that, to be honest, are going to completely organize your home! Not only do these products comfortably store your belongings, but they’re also perfect for displaying those special items that you don’t feel like shutting away in a dusty cabinet. From a crafty bed with an overhead storage space to a tree-inspired bamboo bookcase – these innovative storage and display solutions are the additions your home needs!
1. The COBBO Bed
The COBBO bed, designed for furniture manufacturer OTTO, comes with a simple Nordic-inspired design with solid oak legs and white storage cabinets that are located above the sleeping area. The bed’s slightly tapered design serves two purposes, it gives the piece of furniture both visual and physical lightness, since the cabinet above the bed is significantly slimmer than the bed itself. This allowed Hilgers to use slim wooden pillars instead of metal ones since the cabinet above the bed wouldn’t end up being overly heavy. The slim cabinet/shelf comes with four doors (two on either side) that open to reveal a perfectly slim nook to store items like books, quilts, throws, and cushions.
2. The Wall-it
Rather than limiting what you can hang on your wall to the manufacturer’s specifications, Wall-it lets owners decide where and how to hold different kinds of objects. This modular capability is thanks to the power of strong magnets that not only let you decide which containers to attach but also which boards to use. This is also where the aesthetic and decorative aspect of Wall-it comes in. The concept has room for over a dozen different accessories that can be used for different kinds of objects, like a hook for headphones and a box for smartphones. Users can mix and match not only the types of containers themselves but also the colors of the board and the accessories.
3. Lightray
Meant to remind us of what we hold most dear to our hearts, Lightray merges the practicality of a light fixture with the nostalgia of a coffer. Built like a simple lantern, the wireless light fixture is defined by a ribbed glass encasement, which hosts the appliance’s light device. Inside, the light is warm like that emitted from 40W vintage-style lightbulbs and the ribbed glass helps subdue it further, making it an ideal night light for people of all ages. Jeongyeon explains, “Lightray is a light that has a tray. It was designed inspired by a treasure box. Put something you like or something always with you. Even on a dark night when you can’t see anything, they shine brightly.”
4. ARTIFOX Solid Hardwood Bench
The ARTIFOX Solid Hardwood Bench is an interesting piece of furniture that you can place in your living room, office or bedroom! The cool storage solution features a scroll to store your laptop, books, magazines, and other knick-knacks. You can even place your tech gadgets and devices in the removable steel tray. It also tactfully holds all your charging cables. The storage piece also doubles up as a bench! Created from hardwood, oak, and aluminum, you can sit on the minimal yet durable bench and enjoy a cup of coffee, read your favorite book, or chit-chat with a loved one.
5. The Stair Cubby
Staircase bins need to take into account the particular shape of stairs, but not all stairs are made equal, so they have to be a bit more flexible or at least configurable. Given how in-demand these storage solutions might be, they also need to be durable and sustainable. These two product design students from Nottingham Trent University in the UK hit both birds with one sheet of plywood. The Stair Cubby, as it was christened, can be assembled without the use of tools, with tabs simply going into slots and held down with pegs. The cubby is designed to sit on two steps of stairs, but the panel on the back can slide up and down to adjust to different stair heights. The storage has five open-access cubbies for shoes, books, and any other item that can fit inside, keeping things organized and out of harm’s way.
6. The UNICOO Bamboo Tree Bookcase
The UNICOO Bamboo Tree Bookcase is an innovative storage rack that’s shaped like a tree! The unique branches of the bookcase can be used to store and display your favorite books. It features nine shelves, as well as four foot pads to prevent it from scratching the floor. Created from natural bamboo, the UNICOO bookshelf is an aesthetically pleasing and minimally designed storage solution that would add a calming element to any living space. The bamboo is put through a patented fossilized process to ensure it is twice as dense as hardwood!
7. Gradient Space
The furniture/sculpture looks like it is cascading down the wall like a waterfall! The multifunctional design features multiple ‘gradients’ that can be used in various ways. This mesmerizing sculpture has been equipped with plenty of storage space! Hidden cabinets in the stairs, large drawers artfully placed underneath the bed, and built-in storage sections under the television set all function as smart storage facilities! In fact, you can lift up the bed to reveal a small hidden storeroom as well.
8. Tenement H
Tenement H is a modular cubby storage system that reflects the exhibition’s ‘domestic’ theme. Inspired by the multifaceted facades of Bangkok shophouses, Tenement H features customizable barriers that range from scissor gates to accordion doors, shutters, and railings. Constructed from aluminum, Tenement H is modular and versatile by design, allowing access to the storage units from all sides and multifunctional as a semi-partition for your room as well. Coated in glossy optic white, scarlet red, and light blue, the modules of Tenement H mimic the color scheme of Bangkok’s city storefronts. Each unit can be configured according to what your space allows–for smaller spaces, Tenement H can be built up vertically while larger spaces would allow for a wider base.
9. LAPOD
Whether you’re a digital nomad or a remote worker, LAPOD allows you to easily and comfortably work from anywhere. The lap desk holds all accessories such as chargers, cables, portable drives, without adding clutter to your ouch or side tables. The storage pod is also cushioned to make it comfortable when it is on your lap. No more balancing your laptop on your knee, battery indicator flashing, juggling charger, and plug while searching your bag for your earbuds to take that incoming video call!
10. Tomás Alonso’s Storage System
Designed by Tomás Alonso, this wooden wall system is inspired by ‘Kamoi’. Kamoi is a wooden rail that is placed around the perimeter of rooms in Japanese homes. The minimal and soft storage system can hold a variety of products – from personal items to even kitchen utensils. It all depends on where you position the versatile storage system! The storage solution’s Japanese aesthetics add a warm and clean element to whichever room it is placed into.