There’s something about wood as a material that instantly puts you at ease. Wood radiates a certain warmth, and sense of zen, that no other material can exude. And, sometimes a wooden piece of furniture is what your living space truly needs. I feel a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces! Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps a space radiate an aura of warmth and calmness. They instantly make you feel at home. From a wormhole coffee table to a fortune-cookie-inspired chair/work pod – these quintessential yet stunning wooden furniture designs are all you need in your home.
1. Wormhole Coffee Table
Wormholes can hypothetically connect two disparate points in spacetime via a tunnel. And they’re quite commonly found in science fiction! And this mind-blowing coffee table by Olivier Gomis attempts to convert the hypothetical wormhole into a physical manifestation.
Why is it noteworthy?
The shape of a table is already quite eye-catching on its own. It’s almost like a wooden plank that has been bent so that the two ends are on top of each other and then joined together by a double cone. These are then glued together with sheets of maple veneer in between, which give the appearance of those faint light lines that form the grid.
What we like
- A lamp was installed in the center of the hole, giving the table an eerie appearance in the dark
What we dislike
- The inward curving section provides a risk for products that could roll inside and get stuck like a marble or a coin
2. Live Edge
Beomsuk Ko designed a beautiful collection of storage furniture called Live Edge. The furniture pieces celebrate the natural grain of the wood and were designed by Ko for Kobeomsuk Furniture, the South Korean furniture brand of which he is the founder.
Why is it noteworthy?
The furniture collection includes a glass cabinet, a walnut TV stand, and a freestanding shelving unit. “The wood itself was so beautiful, I thought about how to put this beauty into the furniture as it is, and I came up with the design. Kobeomsuk Furniture pursues a bold design that is natural, not artificial, with a sense of Korean aesthetics,” said Ko.
What we like
- All the pieces in the collection are beautifully designed with a minimal yet attention-grabbing appearance
- Allows the natural grain of the wood to shine
What we dislike
- There is no option for customization of size, as the pieces as pretty huge, and people may prefer options that are more compact
3. Allieva
There’s always been a need for compact and functional workstations. But this necessity is further compounded by the growing trend of distance learning and working from home, especially after the pandemic. To address this problem, Whynot Design has introduced a unique and innovative solution called the Allieva. This foldable wooden workstation is designed for Foppapedretti, one of the most well-known Italian brands for baby products and wooden furniture since 1945.
Why is it noteworthy?
This sleek, foldable work desk is meant to fit in any space, making it perfect for small houses and dorm rooms. Despite compromising on size, Allieva is aesthetically pleasing. It takes up as little space as possible and measures only 7 inches deep when folded.
What we like
- The workstation can be set up easily with a simple gesture
- Comes with a large compartment at the base of the table that allows you to keep everything
What we dislike
- The folding and unfolding mechanism could be considered tedious by some
4. The Fortune Chair
Designed by Hyeyoung Han and Hanyoung Lee, the Fortune Chair is really a mix between a bean bag, chair, and a pod, and it also happens to look like a fortune cookie.
Why is it noteworthy?
The chair includes a fortune cookie-inspired wooden outer wall, which functions as a covering frame that surrounds the user. This outer wall creates a cozy, comfortable, and private space for the user to sit in.
What we like
- Irrespective if you’re working in a corporate office or at home, the Fortune Chair functions as a little oasis for you to work in peace, much like the office pods we find today in commercial offices
What we dislike
- We’re not sure how comfy it would be to sit for long periods of time
5. The Altura
Patricia Perez designed the Altura, a minimal and sturdy step stool, for Case Furniture. An interesting fact about the stool is that it doubles as up as a side table and a plant stand.
Why is it noteworthy?
Described as a “sleek yet sturdy design”, the stool has been equipped with two stepped tiers that serve extremely handy in holding and storing all kinds of items – from lamps, and books, to an entire person!
What we like
- It enables users to reach those high-up places in their homes that they usually aren’t able to reach
- Altura’s minimal and neutral aesthetics make it a great addition to any modern living space
What we dislike
- There are similar designs on the market, nothing to really help it stand apart