Tag Archives: Side Table

Inventive take on the traditional side table, Proust is as versatile as your imagination

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When it comes to side tables, we often envision a sturdy wooden block with a flat top and a cabinet for storage. While these classic designs have served us well over the years, it’s time to embrace a fresh perspective.

Enter the Proust, a game-changing side table named after the illustrious French novelist Marcel Proust. Designed by the ingenious Teixeira Design Studio, this piece exudes a captivating aura with its uncanny grilled design.

Designer: Teixeira Design Studio

What sets the Proust apart from its conventional counterparts is its multi-functional approach. Say goodbye to mundane side tables you can use for limited purposes; this innovative creation will undoubtedly capture your heart.

The “a”-shaped table not only adds a touch of uniqueness but also allows for a wealth of versatility. But as Marcel Proust said “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes,” the possible use cases will depend on your need and creativity.

Imagine using the Proust to hang your clothing or hats, neatly displaying them on its crossed-section design. Place your books and magazines on the ingenious rack, while accommodating blankets or shoes in the base compartment. No matter your requirement, Proust can adapt to ever-changing needs!

But that’s not all. The inventive side table’s usage is not limited to its traditional upright position. Place it in landscape mode, and instantly, it becomes a captivating coffee table, inviting you to gather around with loved ones, sipping your favorite brew while engaging in deep conversations or spending a tranquil moment of solitude.

Blending functionality and aesthetics seamlessly, the Proust side table’s clever design ensures that your space remains clutter-free while maintaining an air of elegance. If you don’t mind dusting the furniture grooves on every weekend, the Proust is worthy of your imagination!

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Tranquil furniture collection is inspired by an enchanting moonlit lake

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There are many nature-inspired designs these days, but many of them take that inspiration too literally. Sometimes they’d literally have the shape of a rock or the moon, or they might even use actual natural objects like leaves or twigs. While there’s definitely nothing wrong with that kind of interpretation, there’s also something to be said for gentler nods toward natural things and phenomena. These can lead the mind the wonder and wander, picking up hints and sparking the imagination to make connections and draw their own conclusions. Sometimes they might make cherished memories surface; other times, they become reminders of the more important things in life. This bowl-shaped table and lamps, for example, try to nudge our minds towards calmness and peace by subtly calling to mind the otherworldly serenity of a lake reflecting the moon in the dark of night.

Designer: Yifu Guo

The side table of this Lake Collection of minimalist furniture is already quite interesting on its own. Having a bowl shape, though not unheard of, isn’t exactly common. Tables with this form often have a central cylinder for its lone support, but the Lake side table has two rectangular legs on each side holding it up.

The glossy and reflective surface of the table is meant to resemble the dark waters of a lake at night, though you probably wouldn’t be able to make that conclusion immediately unless you knew the name of the furniture collection. It’s that kind of indirect and subtle association that makes such designs open to more than just one interpretation, which makes them more effective at conveying messages. In this case, the simplicity of the table’s form becomes not only a tribute to minimalist design but also a reminder to keep our lives simple.

Once you add one of the two table lamps that are part of this collection, however, the moonlit lake inspiration becomes a bit more pronounced. The yellow circular glow of the lamps reflected on the table’s surface immediately calls to mind the unearthly light of the moon on dark waters. The reflection is clear, smooth, and undisturbed, hinting that the waters are similarly clear and calm, a metaphor for calming our minds at the end of the day.

The Lake Collection’s simple design is meant to encourage reflection, especially of the world and nature around us. But even if you miss those cues, the attractive forms and sleek materials still make the furniture a sight to behold, no matter where you place them in the room. It’s a nature-inspired design that, just like nature itself, doesn’t shout to call your attention and simply immerses you in its beauty and wonder.

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Eccentric side table puts a mythical beast in your living space

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Furniture may have started out as purely functional objects, but they quickly transformed into decorative pieces that add some flavor to a given space. Sometimes that flavor is ornate and grandiose. Other times it can be unadorned yet elegant. Eye-catching features don’t always have to come from embellishments and accents. Sometimes, just the shape of the furniture can already be a conversation starter, especially if they come in weird forms or distinct appearances. This side table, for example, is reminiscent of an elusive mythical monster rising from the depths of a lake, but despite its odd shape, it actually has a few useful functions beyond just holding your coffee mug.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

The Loch Ness monster, sometimes affectionately called “Nessie,” is one of the most famous mysteries that have filled books and cameras over the decades, right next to Bigfoot and UFO sightings. It is commonly speculated to be an amphibious creature that raises its long neck above the water from time to time, leading to its now iconic silhouette.

Nessie is a side table whose name and shape leave no doubt as to its inspiration. What is also clear is that it’s a fine example of woodwork craftsmanship, considering the difficulty in producing its unconventional form. It is practically made of two planks of wood that curve upward to join a square tabletop at two of the latter’s adjacent edges. Since such a composition would normally topple over, a wooden triangular prism serves as the counterweight on the opposite end.

Despite its rather unusual shape, reminiscent of an animal sticking its neck up, each part of the side table’s design serves a particular purpose. The long triangular block, for example, acts as a bookmark for more than just one reading material. The empty space beneath the table top can also serve as a hiding spot for other items like small storage boxes.

As far as side tables go, Nessie definitely takes up more space and requires some planning on where to put it. That said, it isn’t wasted space either since every part serves a function. It might even be possible to extend the design to create some storage space inside the triangular end, with a door that easily lifts to reveal its contents.

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This minimal + sustainable side table has a self-assembly design and a unique origin/inspiration story

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A beautifully designed minimal piece of furniture has the power to lend an air of elegance and calm to an otherwise mundane or messy space. It doesn’t have to be large, nor does it have to be woven with bells and tassels, its simplistic minimal demeanor is enough to add an interesting spark to a basic living room. And the Bündner Side Table is an example of such a piece of furniture. If you look closely, the side table looks as if it could suffice as a stool as well, although I’m not sure if it could handle that additional weight, so for now, let’s just assume that it functions simply as a side table.

Designer: Joana Vilaça Studio

Designed by the Portuguese architecture and design studio Joana Vilaça Studio, the Bündner Side table is a solid wood table that is artfully inspired by the Swiss Alps lifestyle. It’s a rather interesting muse for a meager table, and not a very common one either. However, Joana drew inspiration from her own experience of living in Switzerland, where her studio is located. “Having lived for five years in the beautiful Graubünden canton of Switzerland, the collection is inspired by the art of living in the Swiss Alps,” she said. The aforementioned collection is the Bündner Collection, of which the side table is a part.

The low-slung side table features a round top with a 42-centimeter diameter and is available in options of oak or ash wood. Both types of wood are available in a diverse range of finishes – such as natural, oiled or matt lacquered. What makes the side table even more interesting is that you can assemble it yourself! The self-assembly design is ideal for residential or public interiors, where it can be utilized as a bedside, coffee, or side table. “The possibility of self-assembly makes it playful. Sustainable materials and carefully chosen wood are combined with contemporary design,” said Joana.

“The Bündner collection brings together quality materials, craftsmanship, and durability,” said Joana “Due to the characteristics of solid wood, each piece is unique.” In fact, the tiny Bündner side table comes in a larger version as well, which is suitable for dining. The two would pair up well.

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Magazine rack concept defies common sense with intersecting tubes to hold your books

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We’ve seen an almost endless train of design ideas for furniture, ranging from shelves to chairs to tables. The latter even come in different types, functioning as dining tables, work desks, or anything in between. Although table designs can vary greatly, the one thing that they all have in common is a solid and whole surface to place things on top of them. This is true for almost any piece of furniture as well since there always needs to be a flat surface to hold things or bodies. That’s the kind of standard design that this magazine rack and side table in one throws out the window, utilizing two intersecting groups of tubes to hold up books and magazines in an almost illusion-like manner.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

Although we rely on them critically, it’s almost too easy to trick our brains and our eyes with optical illusions and crafty designs. Logic would tell us that slipping a book into a slot like a grill would let the book fall without something to stop it. That “something,” however, doesn’t need to be the ground or a flat surface, just like what this Interspace magazine rack design concept tries to demonstrate.

The rather confusing piece of furniture is actually made of two groups, both of them a row of steel tubes bent to form a loop. Normally, if you put anything in the space between tubes, it would fall down to the opposite side. The trick that Interspace uses is to connect the two groups perpendicularly to each other while also leaving a small gap in the middle where the bottom of one extends beyond the top of the other or vice-versa.

This creates a sort of natural “stopper” for anything that goes in between the gap since the intersecting tubes below it serve as the “floor” for the item. This works whether inserting the book from the top or from the side. The empty areas formed at the top and bottom of the structure also become spaces for reading materials that might be too thick for the grill. Because of the intersecting design of the tubes, arranging books can become almost like a puzzle, where you decide the best place for them in between the gaps.

The curious form of steel tubes intersecting with one another also creates a rather curious visual, almost to the point that it could confuse the eyes because of the play of form, light, and shadows. The top surface of the rack can also serve as a side table, admittedly for larger objects that don’t risk falling into the gaps. You could, theoretically, also put your drink on top, though it’s probably best to have some tray in between for good measure.

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This collection of sustainable tables was built from a sea plant and named after mythological Greek sea nymphs

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Tables are often underestimated when in reality they can add a whole depth of personality and character to your living space – whether it’s a great coffee table, a nifty side table, or a console that will hold your favorite souvenirs. But finding the right table can be a task. Luckily we came across a cool collection of tables called Oceanides. Designed by Alexia Mintsouli for UK studio Alexa Mint, Oceanides is a collection of tables made from sea plants and marble.

Designer: Alexia Mintsouli for Alexa Mint 

The innovative collection includes a square coffee table and two round side tables. One of the side tables features four legs, while the other features a solid base. Peloponnesian Tortora marble was used to craft the base and legs of the table, while the brown-colored tabletops were built using a sea plant that imparts the table with a natural pattern variation.”The top of the tables are from the sea plant Posidonia Oceanica, one of the oldest living organisms on Earth,” said Alex Mint. Until recently, the sea plant was disposed of as waste, but now it has a newfound purpose.

“In order to make living spaces greener, we are exploring the potential of natural materials in the creation of eco-friendly, modern furniture. We try to follow the ecological guidelines by using eco-friendly, local materials and collaborating with Greek craftsmen to eliminate the energy consumption that goes into transportation,” continued the brand. The Oceanides tables are heavily inspired by the sea breeze, and they were all designed with an aim to promote sustainability and earth preservation.

The eco-friendly tables are designed to be not only sustainable but luxurious as well, and they are driven by the brand’s love for all things sustainable. The local Greek craftsmen were involved in the process, hence giving the local economy a boost as well. The story behind the name ‘Oceanides’ is quite interesting as well. The name was inspired by the sea plant that was used to build the tables – Posidonia Oceanica. And according to Greek mythology, the Oceanides were mythological sea nymphs, daughters of the Titan Oceanus, the great primordial world-encircling river, and Tethys, a sea goddess.

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This side and coffee tables have sustainability and simplicity ingrained in their DNA

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Once upon a time, buying a table involved troublesome and inconvenient shipping arrangements because the furniture either comes pre-assembled or didn’t have any way to disassemble it anyway. These days, however, it has become trendy to buy flat-packed furniture, especially if they come with minimalist designs. These are easier to transport, sometimes by the buyers themselves, and are possible to take apart store away when they’re no longer needed. The trade-off, however, is often the complexity and difficulty of assembling the things on your own. Fortunately, more creative furniture designers have come up with new ways to simplify that process, and these wooden tables demonstrate how an easier process doesn’t exactly make the furniture less stable.

Designer: Ivan Nuño

Thanks to the prevalence of minimalist designs and the popularity of stores like IKEA, it isn’t uncommon these days for many people to prefer tables and chairs that arrive at their doorsteps in pieces. Logistics like transportation and storage can be cheaper, and it’s also not that much work for those already used to putting things together themselves by hand. The latter, however, doesn’t cover the majority of buyers that need simpler steps to follow. Unfortunately, simplicity can sometimes also mean fragility, and some might find their tables loosening in critical areas.

To correct that problem, Studio Nuño designed a new type of joinery that it says reduces the assembly time down to just a few minutes while still maintaining structural strength to bear the weight of everyday use. You simply insert the legs into the slots beneath the tabletop, slide in a supporting piece, and screw that piece down with an Allen wrench. The legs come in three or four distinct pieces for the side table and coffee table, respectively, so there are no confusing angles or combinations to worry about.

Although not an inherent property of flat-pack design, many products that come in this form often have a pinch of sustainable design as well. Studio Nuño, however, takes it to a whole new level by making sure both the product and its packaging are environment-friendly. The wood for the tables, for example, is made from Baltic birch plywood coated with high-pressure laminate made from recycled materials, while the joinery uses recycled steel. The packaging is devoid of single-use plastic, using 100% recycled and biodegradable materials. It even uses eco-friendly tape to keep things together.

Studio Nuño’s tables don’t skimp on the aesthetics either, fully embracing a minimalist design that blends well with any theme you might have running in your home. Simple and sustainable, this coffee and side table pair offers a fresh look at how furniture doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful or sturdy. At the same time, its simple assembly also proves that you don’t have to sweat too much to have a sturdy and reliable table for your use, whatever that may be.

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This sculptural multifunctional stool is made from wood but looks like it’s carved from stone

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Honestly, I’m team stools over chairs, and I think it’s high time you guys shift to the other side as well! Although stools are overlooked way more than they deserve to be, they’re actually super functional and ergonomic furniture designs. They’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable! But I will admit, the stools available on the market aren’t the prettiest brunch. But this is where the Fels stool by OUT greatly differs!

Designer: OUT

Designed by the German brand OUT, the Fels stool is excellent for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it’s been crafted from wood, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly piece of furniture. Secondly, although it is built from wood, it looks as if it’s been carved from stone! This instantly gives the stool a rather sophisticated and luxurious look to it, despite being made from a simple material – wood. It looks more like a sculpture than a piece of furniture, to be honest. And thirdly, it can also be used as a side table!

“Fels is a form study that requires a special amount of time and sensitivity in the production process,” said OUT. “As in sculpture, the associative form is gradually worked out of the material.” The brand says that Fels was created by combining three major elements – nature, craftsmanship, and “the Berlin State of Mind”. They wanted to revamp wood and provide it with a refreshed sense of perspective and appearance, by treating it the way one would stone.  They managed to give wood an exciting makeover while retaining the characteristics about it that everyone loves so much for ages galore!

The Fels stool has been specially handcrafted in Germany, using wood that has been sourced from sustainable forests. This also manages to add more points to the sustainability section of the stool! The stool’s funky aesthetics have been further amplified by providing it in a range of diverse and bold colors, which allow the wood grain to comfortably show through. It can also be ordered with a natural finish. The Fels stool’s unique and playful form and the choice of contemporary colors definitely make this stool a quirky yet fun buy!

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This multi-level side table becomes a piece of wall art when folded flat

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By their very name and nature, side tables often take a secondary role in a room. Some might even be hidden in corners or obstructed by other furniture. They do serve a purpose, of course, often as a temporary surface to put down phones, books, or cups. But when they aren’t in use, they can get in the way or be wasted space, especially if they’re not particularly noteworthy in terms of visual appeal. This foldable side table is already attractive when standing on its own, but you might still want to fold it away and hang it up on a wall anyway because it can add a dash of sophistication to the area as an aesthetic piece of modern wall art.

Designer: Vico Magistretti (Original), Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces (Remaster)

The original Florian was already quite an oddity when it first appeared in 1989. A foldable side table was most likely rare and unconventional, but one that had two or even three tabletops was a peculiar embellishment that is uncommon even by today’s standards. What really made it special, though, is the fact that it looked so beautiful even when folded up that you could hang it on a wall, and none would be wiser that it was actually a functional side table rather than a modern artwork of circles and lines.

The 2021 remaster retains the original’s structure but adjusts the size for modern lifestyles while also expanding the color selection for a wider range of aesthetic tastes. The frame is still made with ash wood, now joined by visually contrasting brass mechanisms. The new colors now include mustard yellow, dark green, and brick red; all lacquered to give the side table wall art an eye-catching sheen.

There is a fourth color that feels like the union of past and present. The brushed veneer black ash is closer to the original Florian while still giving off a more contemporary vibe. The way it shows the wood’s natural veins even after treatment makes it an ideal “open-pore” display on your wall.

Whether standing as a two-layer side table holding your cups and books or hanging on a wall to enhance the room’s ambiance, the Florian demonstrates how a design can be timeless and enchanting even after decades. The table’s simple shapes combined with its ingenious folding mechanism bring a piece of furniture that is both functional and decorative in all its forms. You definitely won’t go wrong with this side table, and it might even amaze your guests when you take down what they presumed is just a wall decoration and turn it into a table for their use.

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This brutalist side table enthrones your books and magazines for everyone to see

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Most of us have reading materials lying around the house, sometimes in multiple places. There might be books we’ve been trying to finish for months, magazines we’re collecting, or some special coffee table piece that shows off our particular interests. Those with more active reading habits will want some of these to be within reach or displayed within sight, but most shelves and coffee tables serve only one or the other. This side table, however, is able to do both, and it puts your reading materials on a pedestal designed to be both utilitarian yet also appealing in a certain brutalist fashion.

Designer: Hyeonil Jeong

We all have particular tastes in furniture, but most would probably prefer one that looks finished and complete rather than raw. At least for indoor furniture, the go-to materials included finished wood, sandblasted metal, matte plastic, and cut glass, to name a few. Some outdoor furniture tends to look a bit rougher, hinting at their ruggedness and durability. Of course, there’s no hard rule that says these designs can’t mix, like a combination of concrete and metal that makes a powerful statement inside the living room.

The B HOLD side table concept is one such design that is minimalist to the point of almost being raw. The base is a simple concrete cylinder with part of its top hewn to make room for the tabletop. That “top” is made from two pieces of metal joined at an angle, with one forming the flat horizontal surface on which you can confidently place your coffee mug or wine glass.

What makes this design different is the space beneath that tabletop. Inspired by both magazine racks and book stands, it lies at an angle that makes it possible to stack a few books or magazines without any of them falling off. That angle also makes it easy to see those reading materials, particularly the one sitting at the top of the stack. It presents an opportunity to show off what you’re currently reading or a book you want to boast about.

That space won’t be able to fit a whole collection of books, so you’ll have to pick only the best or current volumes. In a way, that limitation does force you to be a bit organized and more discerning, at least with what you want to put on display. The side table design is simple yet effective, raw yet powerful, creating a dedicated space for you to take a breather, sip a cup of coffee or tea, and pull out something to read, all while giving guests a peek at the books that make you, you.

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