What truly makes or breaks a home at the end of the day is the furniture that’s placed in it. The right kind of furniture design can create the essence and soul of a home. And I do feel it’s essential that the soul of our home is a reflection of our own soul. Hence picking furniture pieces that bring out the best in our homes, while authentically representing our personality is a must. You need to pick designs that are fun, sophisticated, and functional. They add an extra spark to your home, without compromising on utility in the least. From asymmetrical wooden storage that doubles as a beautiful side table to a table that uses fabric as a curvy surface – these intriguing furniture designs are what your modern home needs!
1. The Plot Twist Bookshelf
German furniture designer Deniz Aktay always manages to mesmerize us with his unconventional and innovative furniture designs. One of his recent creations is called the Plot Twist Bookshelf, and it features four separate twisted wooden elements. They are connected to each other, shaping and creating a stable form.
Why is it noteworthy?
The bookshelf’s design allows it to be accessed from every side. As with most of Deniz Aktay’s product designs, this bookshelf is oddly satisfying. The curves are present as with the designer’s other projects. In addition, most of Aktay’s works have undergone some bending or twisting, as with the Wavelet, the Tie Stool, and The Pet Table.
What we like
- The shelves can accommodate similarly sized books for a clutter-free look
- The bookshelf is stable and stands on its own
What we dislike
- Space consuming design
2. The Groove Concept Table
The Groove concept for a curved table is pretty interesting. You get two levels for this furniture with the bottom part being the flat, hard, sturdy plane but the top part being the curvy section as it uses a fabric material. The designer calculated the depth that the fabric can reach and up to what weight you can place on it without it tearing or falling over. It also uses a wide shape rather than a circular one as you can see the changes in the fabric when you put a light or heavy objects on it.
Why is it noteworthy?
The second space of the table is the more stable one and is made from an iron plate. So basically you get two options when placing an object and the contrast between the “flexible-shaped fabric and hard steel plate” is pretty interesting. Obviously, the design for this kind of table is more aesthetic than functional.
What we like
- A unique furniture design
- Features a crease-resistant fabric
What we dislike
- More aesthetic than functional
3. Crossbred
Having something that can serve multiple functions at once is definitely better, and that’s what Crossbred tries to offer on a slightly smaller scale.
Why is it noteworthy?
The furniture’s name speaks to both its form as well as its function. It looks like an “X” or a cross, as some might call it, standing steadily on the tip of its two legs. It’s a hollow cross through and through, and all five spaces can be used to store anything from books to knickknacks. That said, given their inclined surfaces, it obviously isn’t a good idea to put something that requires a perfectly horizontal plane, like some fragile decor or even a picture frame.
What we like
- Multifunctional design
- Perfectly integrates with modern homes
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. The Play Table
Presenting a modern dimension to the work table, Strol x cloudandco –studios brainchild of designers Yeo Junyoung and Yeongkyu Yoo respectively – have designed a ping pong table that can also facilitate work from home.
Why is it noteworthy?
Rightfully called the Play Table, it is categorically designed for a home than a recreational space. To ensure it finds a rightful place at home where stylish and contemporary tables rule the roost, the ping pong table does a multipurpose gimmick in a modern design outfit. Kicking back the tradition of a single-purpose table, the Play Table gears up for a game of tennis and in an instant transforms into a work table complete with wireless charging and storage for your stationery and supplies.
What we like
- Functions as a recreational and a functional furniture design
- The table legs are made from aluminum with steel castors that make it effortless to move the table
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. Skrolla
A shining example of an ergonomic yet aesthetic chair is Skrolla, a beautiful wooden chair whose curves are more than just for show.
Why is it noteworthy?
Chairs with curved surfaces are nothing new, but you’d often find those forms in seats made of plastic or metal. These materials are easier to bend than wood, of course, but they also have less impact when it comes to portraying natural beauty. That novelty serves to augment Skrolla’s beauty, its smooth wooden surface and smooth curved form creating a visually appealing appearance that will sit well in almost any room. Plus, those curves were carefully designed to offer the best comfort for anyone sitting on this magnificent piece of furniture.
What we like
- Joined and curved using a novel patented process
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. Spray
What if you could actually customize a mass-produced desk or shelf easily without having to buy additional accessories? That is the idea behind Spray, and it delivers customization in a simple yet effective way that doesn’t take anything away from its minimalist beauty.
Why is it noteworthy?
Hidden mechanisms, detachable modules, and moving parts might be out of sight, but they also make the product more prone to wear and tear, not to mention making them harder to repair or replace. In contrast, almost every option is within plain sight with Spray, and nothing requires screws, hinges, or anything metal for that matter.
What we like
- Customizable design
- Features interchangeable parts
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. The Swing Ao Stool
Dubbed the Swing Ao Stool, this little number by Takusei Kajitani explores a fun concept of using tension to emulate ‘softness’. Sort of how a hammock feels soft like a beanbag, although there’s no ‘cushioning material’ inside a hammock, the Swing Ao chair provides a level of flexibility thanks to the fact that the seat is, in fact, suspended from the chair’s four legs.
Why is it noteworthy?
The idea, says the designer, was born from a need to eliminate the sedentary lifestyle. “Most chairs have been designed on the idea that sitting is a static movement despite the human body is designed to move,” says Kajitani. “It forces our body to stay rigid for a long time.” To that end, the Swing Ao Stool promotes constant movement. Sort of like sitting on one of those yoga ball chairs, the Swing Ao Stool keeps you constantly moving, feeling like a cross between a stool and a pogo stick!
What we like
- The chair’s unique design explores a special arrangement where the seat and the legs don’t really touch each other
- This tension structure allows the seat to move freely in conjunction with the movement of the sitter’s pelvis like a small swing
What we dislike
- No complaints!
8. Brute
“Brute” is a concept for furniture that puts brutalist design in a place where it works best: outdoors. The chair and the table have the same basic shape, looking more like overgrown square brackets rather than furniture.
Why is it noteworthy?
The chair is naturally shorter, and a groove on the back where a thick piece of plywood is inserted to function as a backrest. That backrest also offers a visual contrast to the chair, pitting the warmth of wood against the coldness of concrete.
What we like
- Different arrangements can be used to create seating for at most four people
What we dislike
- No complaints!
9. Canoa
Recreating waves might be a bit harder, but a properly designed rocking chair could actually fit the bill. This lounge chair does, in fact, try to deliver that soothing experience, but its ties to the sea go beyond its rocking motion.
Why is it noteworthy?
The curved bottom of the chair resembles the hull of a boat, and its elongated body further reinforces that imagery. While most lounge chairs use warm tones and hues to convey feelings of comfort, Canoa employs a darker shade of blue with specks of white to represent its maritime inspiration.
What we like
- It would probably be easy to fall asleep on the chair with its rocking motions, which is the entire point of the design anyway
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. The Zipper Bookshelf
What you normally look for in a bookshelf is functionality over form. You need something where you can store your books and decorations. But sometimes, you also need something that looks good and will show off just some of your selected titles. For that, you can choose some kind of unique design that will make it not just a piece of furniture but a decorative showcase for your favorite books. The Zipper Bookshelf is one such creative execution for a metal bookshelf.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Germany-based designer thought of creating a bookshelf that can represent the analogy of opening a book “where the pages diverge”. For this, he got inspiration from an unlikely source: the zipper. The bottom of the structure starts out simply enough with some regular-looking shelves that will fit some thin books or at least one thick coffee table book. It then breaks apart as you go to the top and open up, just like you would a zipper.
What we like
- The top can display your books like they were on tree branches
What we dislike
- No complaints!
