Side tables are probably one of the most neglected pieces of furniture in our home. I, mean, honestly how often do you actually pay attention to your side table, unless you accidentally bump your toe on it! Although they are ignored, it cannot be denied that they are sturdy and dependable pieces of furniture, that are perfect for storing those knick-knacks that you don’t need every day, but when you do need them, it’s like all hell breaks loose until you find them! There’s a species of side tables that I find thoroughly interesting – multifunctional side tables. These are the designs that function as more than everyday tables, they almost always double up as something really fun! From a side table that is also a powerful 200W high definition speaker system to a side table that merges with a projector to keep you entertained and your phone charged – these innovative side tables pack a powerful punch with their ingenious designs!
Spring comprises a cylindrical shape that increases or decreases in height according to its desired function. At its lowest height of 500mm, Spring serves as a simple side table with a natural wood top. Then, by simply pressing the table down, Spring’s built-in compression springs are activated and morph the side table into a chair with a backrest. By following the same pushing tactic, the Spring chair can reach its maximum height of 900mm, transforming into a table that can work as a centerpiece for a small studio space. While the main building material used to construct Spring is oak wood, the furniture’s compression springs are made from aluminum, while natural and white paint colors coat the sides and top of Spring.
The IKEA STARKVIND air purifier comes in two variants, a floor-standing model (in black and white) or a side table version (in the dark or light finish) – costing $129 and $189 respectively. Mind you, to have access to all the smart functions via the compatible app, the $35 smart home hub needs to be purchased as well. The air purifier will hit the IKEA stores from October 2021 in the U.S., so keep an eye on this one. While their form factor is a bit different depending on the intended use-case scenario, on the inside they contain the same three-filter system. This layered filtering system captures bigger particles like hair or dust, 99.5 percent of small airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers, pollutants, dust, pollen, and even bad odors are not spared.
The table and console combo thought of by Mudu Design is designed with the vision of interaction with home furniture in more than one way. This multifunctional side table seems like any ordinary piece of a furniture item – but that’s where the similarity ends. Not only is it a side table, but a sturdy stool, storage unit for magazines, and much more depending on your creativity. Plus, the easy-to-carry aesthetics make this side table highly maneuverable depending on the needs in a jiffy. The designer Rostyk Sorokovyi’s obsession with round shapes is evident in the side table crafted out of natural wood. This choice is not just random but based on the fact that the circle is the most harmonious shape nature has bestowed us with.
Ultimately the Cube is a uniquely expressive piece of furniture that’s more than just a surface for resting your cups. Combining patented audio technologies into one award-winning piece of furniture, the Cube surprises with how good it sounds for a device that small. Moreover, it eliminates the need for you to even own a separate speaker set because your furniture IS your speaker set. Considering how the Cube could be used by regular people as well as audio-enthusiasts, it comes outfitted to connect to a variety of devices. It has built-in Bluetooth, which means you can hook your phone, tablet, or even laptop to it, while the option of analog RCA connectivity, digital optical input Toslink (DAC 24-bit 192Khz), and a 3.5mm input means the Cube could be hooked to a host of external devices like your television or even vinyl player.
The SNOOZE by Subin Cho does exactly that, and it uses magnetic resonant wireless charging technology to keep the devices charged seamlessly. This makes complete sense, as the craving for multiple wirelessly charge capable devices like smartphones, tablets, earphones, or headphones will not shun any time soon. The designer believes that the technology will be commercialized in 2023, and SNOOZE will be there to take up all the hassle for you. The charging plate built in the bedside table’s upper section charges any wireless compatible mobile device, audio accessories, or any other compatible device kept in the range of 50 cm. The light on the bedside table is an indicator of the charging range, and whenever a device comes in this area, the light turns on, and charging commences.
Designed by Ben Hansen, this simple yet innovative dog house uses excess water from watering plants and filters it into the dog’s water bowl! Rattan with green accents gives it a light, airy feel. The minimal dog house will brighten any corner of your home – hard not to when it holds a cute plant and pet! It’s an adorable piece of furniture that not only serves as a home for your pet but also doubles up as an elegant plant holder, harmoniously merging with the interiors of your home. Ben’s approach to this is almost reversal to the way we treat our pets and plants. While we love the use of rattan and wish to promote this sustainable material, there is also a certain lightness to the material which needs to be balanced by a strong and heavy metal frame to keep your energetic puppy from toppling this over! There are rather obvious questions about the actual purification of this plant water runoff and we hope Ben will soon share more details on the design’s execution.
Projectable, derived by merging a projector+table is a one-stop solution for your relaxing needs, consider it a spa for your phone! The first thing this table does is wirelessly charge your phone through the small gap that slots and holds your phone comfortably. Now depending on your mood, you can let your phone rest or, unwind by watching everything from a kitten video to kinetic sand cutting ASMR videos using the projector – no more squinting at the tiny screen! The fabric mesh-covering visually separates the movable projector-head that provides almost 90 degrees rotation. The tactile buttons on the surface control the projector angle and volume levels while switching it off is as easy as leaning over and turning off your night light.
The team behind NÓMADA decided to attain the bedside table’s modularity through the material used during its production process by carving and integrating notches, buttons, and twisted, narrow chutes into each wooden and steel panel used for construction. It’s a good thing too because tools can be tricky to store in smaller living spaces like apartments or studios. The end result makes up a bedside table that appears simple and whose purpose seems singular upon first glance, but when deconstructed, the possibilities for restructuring NÓMADA are laid out in front of you, all you have to do is mix-and-match as your tabular needs guide you. Even if you just want a subtle revamp or facelift for your apartment’s design, simply unscrew and see which pieces fit where!
With its unusual nesting pattern, the Folding Window Pattern Stool packs two stools (or side-tables based on how you look at it) into a single form! Designed to be able to be docked, either way, the stool comes in two parts, featuring a positive-negative interlocking detail that’s as beautiful to look at as it is functional. Featuring four L-shaped positive and negative details that plug into each other perfectly, the Folding Window Pattern Stool can nest one above the other, or be kept separately (with the details turning into four legs as a result), or the stools can even be placed in an I shaped format with one stool nested upside down, to create a stable side-table that you can use any way you see fit. The two stools/tables also create a contrast by using dark and light woods, giving you an overall product that sparks your curiosity and is sure to get you to engage with it!
I have to hand it to designer Pei-Ju Wu, for the clever way they have integrated a planter, side table, and lamp, into this amazing piece of furniture that you can place in your living room. The lines are blurred due to the multiple functionalities of this piece, but the ingenious way they complement each other and come together as The Oasis is commendable. Picture this – you have a planter at the base of a table, which keeps green thanks to the integrated LED lights and stays hydrated via the clever funnel found at the center of the tabletop. Excess water simply drips down to the collection tray and evaporates back into the air.
