Our seating furniture is a notorious clutter magnet. Its demoralizing coziness compels us to pile more and more things closer to our bums, so we don’t need to bother getting up. Design firm Quinze and Milan and backpack manufacturer Eastpak took this desire quite literally and created the Backpack Sofa, a transformable piece of furniture with unlimited storage possibilities. The number of pockets and compartments is impressive and will allow storing books, DVDs, periodicals, iPads, and all other toys and spoils you like to keep close to you. Beautiful and at the same time dangerous idea…
If you know what it feels like to be taking a lot of medications, you also know what ugly clutter they create. That is because your main supply and daily dispensers need to be stored separately. Add to this meds you have to take with you, and you get an overwhelming picture. Not to mention – the very aura of pill bottles has this sickening ‘Sweat November’ doom about it. Luckily this artful storage system, created by young French designer Celine Forestier, can address all of these issues. The collection is comprised of three parts – wall cabinet, weekly pill organizer, and series of handheld single-dose boxes. These components are not only convenient and cover nicely all medical storage phases, they are aesthetically pleasing as well. Thanks to this destigmatizing design, medical supplies can now be comfortably stored at your fingertips.
It seems that the more commonplace e-readers get, the more popular it becomes to incorporate actual books into objects. Even Philippe Starck participated in this trend by creating Bibliotheque Nationale – a lamp that features bookshelves. This multifunctional piece will help you to store your books, periodicals and other reading materials right under your light source. And if you have gone completely paper free, the lamp provides a comfortable charging station for all your devices.
Scene is a smart flexible storage system, created by Dick Spierenburg for Arco. Each unit is comprised of a wooden frame and various metal storage components, freely placed inside it. The components can be open, closed, or with doors and drawers, depending on your storage needs. The frame system itself it modular and can create various configurations – wall units, sideboards, bookcases etc. The sideboard version features a cable transit in the backside for media storage. Scene allows for different color combinations as well. I struggle to imagine what else we can want from a storage system…
This visually pleasing bookcase was designed by Laszlo Rozsnoki, who used layers of rope instead of solid shelves. The piece, called Ropeshelf, presents a hip and flexible alternative to a traditional storage system. The ropes, fastened to a stainless steel frame, can be easily adjusted to accommodate items of various shapes and sizes. This use of materials not only creates a graphical appearance, it also allows to store books and periodicals at an angle, which is the best way to prevent warping.
There is a lot to love about this cool minimalistic bed with integrated storage. Called Buden, the item was created by LA-based company Viesso, a young business that prides itself on making furniture ‘as Green as possible.’ The company uses environmentally friendly practices and chooses sustainable sources. This bed, for example, is made from bamboo – a fast-growing renewable material. But what gives it many space-saving points is the storage. Optional foot drawers, as well as base compartments and headboard drawers, are all available. Buden is customizable too – just give Viesso your specs.
This multifunctional modular storage system from J1 Studio can be built in any direction. Called T.Shelf, the product is made up of multiple plywood triangles (the strongest geometric shape). These triangles are connected to one another via simple zipties, which makes the system easy to assemble. The beauty of the T.Shelf is in its flexibility. There is an infinite number of things you can create with it – free standing shelf, wall unit, bookcase, coffee table base, you name it. Very clever.
The subtle humor of these pieces made me look. The Inside-Out storage furniture from FreshWest design studio features an unusual decorative approach – while concealing the contents inside, it also showcases their contours on the outside. The line includes bathroom and drink cabinets. Made from an aluminum composite, the pieces can be painted in different colors. The design on the doors is routed into a paint finish, allowing the silver edge of the aluminum to shine through.
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company was established by Jay Shafer, who practices the art of living small like no other human being. Jay plans and builds tiny houses (some of which are smaller than 90 square feet!). You can buy it ready made or build it from plans yourself. All Jay’s creations are van-compatible and can be transported to the new address at a moment’s notice. Truly efficient, eco-conscious, nomad living. Check out the videos below for space-saving and lifestyle-changing ideas.
London based designer Andrew Millar created this fun storage/seating hybrid, called Teddy Bag. Made from 100% natural wool material, the piece is completely recyclable and biodegradable. In addition to its obvious eco-friendliness, the item wins many space-saving points. Envisioned as flexible storage for kid’s room, the Teddy Bag holds clothes and soft toys, promoting tidiness at an early age. It can also be incorporated into an adult interior (which is to say – I want one).
