Tag Archives: foldable table

Origami-inspired table concept folds into a lamp to save space

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Tables are important pieces of furniture in any human space, whether it’s the dining table at home or a meeting table at the office. That said, we don’t always use these flat horizontal surfaces all the time, and there will be times when they’re just taking up precious space. Yes, more aesthetic tables do provide some visual value, but it doesn’t outweigh the cost of their presence. Foldable tables are practical, but few actually look good even when unfolded and the hassle of moving the folded table out of the way makes them less compelling. But what if you didn’t need to put the table away because it not only becomes more compact but also serves a different purpose? That’s the kind of multi-functional design that this concept proposes, turning a table into a lamp.

Designer: Sonakshi Gupta

The Japanese art of folding paper has inspired many designs because of its beauty, simplicity, and space efficiency. A large and flat sheet of paper can suddenly become a geometric flower or swan with a few folds, significantly reducing the area that the piece of paper once occupied. This art doesn’t involve removing or adding parts, which makes each piece an independent and standalone unit.

LightUP is a concept that takes inspiration from origami and kirigami (which does involve cutting away and gluing pieces together) to design a table that not only saves space but also provides a completely different functionality or two. The squarish wooden tabletop folds up into a shape that’s like a flower bud, freeing up the space around the table for use. Thanks to ingenious invisible hinges, not only do you have a clean and flat table surface but moving only one or two corners is enough to fold and unfold the table. The easier you can perform this action, the more frequently you’re willing to do it.

Of course, that’s not where it all ends. The design’s name comes from the fact that wide LED light strips from the pyramidal base of the table to each of the four corners. Thus, the table becomes a room-wide lamp at night but can also remain as a space-saving art object when the lights are off.

Admittedly, the design’s implementation is actually more complicated than it looks thanks to the moving parts and hinges involved. Those may become points of failure over time due to wear and tear. The idea, however, could give birth to a simpler design, one that takes into account aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability altogether for a truly space-saving piece of furniture.

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Flow Wall Desk transforms from a work of art into a functional table

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Those who have limited spaces at home will always be on the lookout for furniture that can have multiple purposes. Some furniture can serve dual functions while there are those that can be both decorative and useful. There are also those that can be stored quickly when not in use, therefore giving you more space while also making what limited space you may have look better. Finding something that can do all of that can be a challenge but there are a lot of creative furniture designers out there that are up to that challenge.

Designer: Robert van Embricq

The Flow Wall Desk is something that might be able to fit all of those requirements for a piece of furniture. When “stored” and folded up, it looks like a piece of art on your wall with its minimalist, geometric shapes. Initially it’s a flat canvas and when you unfold it, it looks like a “spiraling caterpillar” and you realize that it is turning into a desk where you can work, read, or write on your journal. Despite its multi-functionality, it has a pretty simple design that is also sustainable.

For it to turn from a contemporary work of art on your wall to a functional piece of furniture, all you have to do is unfold it and turn it on its axis. There are hinges that help turn it from art to a desk. From a flatpack design, it becomes a tabletop where you can work, relax, or even eat if you don’t have a dining table in your apartment. The table has wooden slats surrounding it to add to the design and to also give you a sense of privacy when you’re working or going about your business.

Once you’re done using it and you need to have more space in your area, you can just put it back up and it becomes part of your house’s decoration once again. Actually, even when it’s unfolded into a desk, you still get a pretty good-looking piece of furniture which reminds me of those bamboo organs but on a smaller scale. I wouldn’t mind having the Flow Wall Desk on my wall and as a smaller desk for me when I need a minimalist space for work.

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This folding side table uses a unique mechanism to save space when not in use

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Many of us probably wish we had something to put our coffee mugs or phones on beside our lounge chairs or couches. Side tables are perfect for this kind of duty, but there might also be times when you don’t want such a piece of furniture in front or beside you. Perhaps you are economizing on space, or maybe you just prefer to put everything away when you’re done using them. Whatever the reason might be, foldable tables exist for that purpose, but these form-changing pieces of furniture can be complex and are often unattractive. Of course, there are exceptions to this, and this curious side table concept is one of them, especially with its rather unconventional yet simple method of implementing that folding feature.

Designer: Pelin Ozbalci

At first glance, this side table is both a mystery and a work of art. Inspired by ancient Chinese waist fans, the table has a particular design that doesn’t even try to hide the multiple strips of wood that make up its circular top. It also looks almost unbalanced with the way that the tabletop sticks out to the side, away from its one and only leg. It almost feels like the table could topple over with the slightest push or with a heavy burden.

What truly makes this side table unique, however, is its folding mechanism. Rather than folding down the tabletop as a whole, it actually folds in half instead. The loop in the middle keeps the halves from folding down, but a simple 90-degree turn frees the hinge completely. It’s a simple mechanism that requires no extra parts to lock the two halves together, and the table will only fold if the hinge is lined exactly in the middle.

Admittedly, that same bar that holds the two halves in place also limits the size of things you can put on the side table. Then again, the purpose of this table is for small, temporary items that need a brief resting place, like a cup, a phone, or a pocketbook. Anything bigger would require a more permanent table, which is not what this design is for.

As for the table’s stability, the base of the table is made from concrete, so it won’t fall over unless you put something heavier than that. This combination of concrete and wood also turns the table into a somewhat interesting piece of sculptural art when folded. That way, it serves a secondary and more passive purpose even when not in use, making it an ideal solution for space-constrained rooms and living spaces.

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Designed for National Geographic, this collapsible camping furniture that fits in a suitcase is your perfect outdoor companion!

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There are many types of campers and camping regimes. Some travel with friends and family to the remotest wilderness and others like to drive their RV and park at a nice spot with a view. In both cases, at the end of the day, one desires a nice chair to sit on and a decent table to serve up the meal. This is where the portable and convenient Bungalow Luggage for National Geographic comes to the fore.

Whether you’re backpacking, planning on fishing, or just want to spend time at the lake, a foldable and easy-to-carry furniture is definitely going to be on your top priority list. A collapsible furniture range that is relatively luxurious, ultra-lightweight, and packs up into a travel trolley you can tote after you; the Bungalow Luggage by designer Eunsol Lee sets a stage for unique camping experiences.

There is no dearth of foldable camping chairs and tables out there. You could even pick a set of table and chairs off the shelf but this idea of a portable furniture set has its own merits. Unlike the other metal rod collapsible furniture for the outdoor, this one designed for National Geographic is convenient to transport. Just fold up the two chairs and the table into their bags and the trio sits evenly inside a suitcase you can lug along. This ease of portability also comes in handy when you want to fit the furniture in the boot of the car.

Packed in a travel trolley-style sturdy case with four wheels, you get a pair of chairs and a table with a foldable top. The collapsible frame, seat, and backrest form the chair, while the metal spokes aligned as hollow table legs become the base for a wooden plank tabletop. The chairs have a nice canvas seat and the table seems pretty robust; together the furniture outside your camp will become your closest confidant in comfort!

Designer: Eunsol Lee





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This foldable table can be taken anywhere to easily adapt to your work scenario!

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Tables are workstations, creativity hubs, brainstorming posts, and landing strips for storing everyday items. The multifaceted personality of the table is what makes them so versatile and yet so limiting– a dining room table cluttered with unread mail and stacks of papers can’t also be used for dining unless you want dried-up tomato sauce crusted over onto your assignment that’s due tomorrow. To provide a table that’s collapsible, portable, and adaptable to any working scenario, Yelim Kim, along with Alissa Arends and Leon Bucher created Plato, or “Fold It,” a table devoted to the daily working efforts of students and workers alike.

Plato is comprised of only two parts: a wooden desktop and a folding steel pipe. The foldable steel pipe enacts a hinged folding mechanism that allows its legs to recline and create a ledge with two pipes on which the wooden desktop can rest. Two steel clamps welded to fit the width of the wooden desktop are located on both ends of the steel pipes for the tabletop to securely latch onto. The easy assembly of Plato allows the foldable table to be used anywhere additional table space is needed.

Then, when the work is all finished, Plato’s tabletop can be dislodged from the welded steel clamps and transported or stored away for future use. The durability and solidity of Plato’s steel clamps allow weight to be evenly distributed across the tabletop and give Plato a simple, minimal structure, requiring no tools or hardware for assembly. Created for students and workers alike, Plato, or “Fold It” is a table designed for those late-night brainstorming sessions or post-presentation brunches.

Designer: Yelim Kim, Alissa Arends, and Leon Bucher

The simple, minimal design of Plato enhances its adaptability and makes it easy to dismantle and bring with you anywhere.

Comprised of only two parts, Plato is manageable to carry and turn into new workstations.

Two welded steel clamps provide a secure socket for Plato’s tabletop to lodge into.

 

Following multiple ideations, Plato’s collapsible form was achieved through miniature prototypes.

Plato’s steel pipes were welded to accurately and evenly distribute weight across the tabletop’s surface.