Tag Archives: side tables

Quirky wooden side tables bring delight with geometric holes like a kid’s game

Posted on by

Almost all tables have tops that are flat and horizontal mostly because of the function they serve. You wouldn’t want your glass to tilt over or your phone to slide down just because of an uneven or inclined surface, right? But as long as you are able to place things down on the table without having them wobble, fall, or roll off to the side, then the tabletop can almost be open to any design or shape. That seems to be the reasoning behind these fun-looking side tables that, at first glance, don’t look reliable or functional, at least until you realize that using them is almost like playing that educational game of fitting shapes inside the right holes.

Designer: Chien Yuoning

Many parents or even kids might be familiar with that toy where you have holes in a geometric shape and you’re supposed to drop matching geometric blocks inside them. This side table collection might immediately remind people of those toys and, unfortunately, might also give them the wrong impression of the practicality of such a design. Fortunately, it isn’t just a whimsical decision as these geometric holes can actually act as helpful organization aids in addition to being quite interesting to look at.

The Designated Table collection has geometric shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, and even pills cut out from the tabletop. While they might look like a loss in terms of usable space, they act as designated containers for things like glasses, phones, books, or whatnot. These compartments let you separate different things while also providing a bit of support to some extent. It’s harder for a glass to topple over if its area is constricted.

At the same time, the shapes add a playful character to the tables, especially since the shapes have a different color from the natural finish of the rest of the wooden table. The tables themselves come in different shapes, including a hexagon and a half circle, doubling the fun factor of each side table. That, however, also determines where some of these side tables can be placed, like the hexagon-shaped side table making a poor fit for a nightstand or anywhere the table needs to be flush against a flat surface like a wall, a couch, or a bed.

Another interesting aspect of the Designated Table’s design is that the legs follow the shape and orientation of those seemingly random shapes. That makes it feel like the wooden legs flow from these geometric indentations or vice versa, giving the tables an almost whimsical flavor that doesn’t sacrifice their stability. The gaps between the legs can even become a place for magazines, taking advantage of the narrow space. The geometric design of the Designated Table feels jovial and delightful but still makes the side tables completely functional and, perhaps, even more effective in keeping your things in their proper places.

The post Quirky wooden side tables bring delight with geometric holes like a kid’s game first appeared on Yanko Design.

Terrazzo side table concept seems to tempt fate and defy the laws of physics

Posted on by

Tables come in all shapes and sizes, but regardless of the design, they all need to have a single critical trait: they have to be stable. No matter how breathtaking a table might be, it is nothing but a piece of art if it comes crashing down under the lightest of weights. Stability can be achieved through many means, but for something like a coffee table or even a side table, that mostly means having a flat surface that doesn’t wobble or, more importantly, doesn’t tip over. That’s the behavior that people have come to expect from even the most beautiful table, which is why this side table concept is striking both for its elegant looks as well as its rather worrying composition that precariously balances the tabletop on a curved surface, or at least it would seem like it.

Designer: Stuart Cole

Objects that boggle the mind and seem to defy the laws of physics have always been a fascination for us, which is probably why balancing toys or levitating speakers have always been popular products. That, however, doesn’t apply to furniture, especially ones that we expect to be stable or fixed. Seeing a table that’s about to topple over is enough to give some people a heart attack, but fortunately, that’s not the case for the aptly named “Balance” side table design concept.

The table’s form is actually pretty simple, utilizing basic geometrical shapes like a disc and cups. It’s the tension between these shapes, however, that gives Balance its dynamic and rather unstable appearance. It’s almost as if the circular tabletop would topple and fall off the upside-down bowl shape of its base, or that the cup would similarly fall over the edge and break. Of course, it’s all just an illusion because all three parts are joined using interlocking mechanisms that prevent them from falling apart, at least not without much effort.

Balance’s appeal doesn’t stop at its eye-catching shape. Its unique appearance is due not only to the use of terrazzo but also from employing recycled materials. This gives the side table not only a distinctive visual character but also a sustainable narrative that will surely be a topic of conversation for envious visitors. You might even be tempted to use it as a coffee or center table, rather than just leaving it off to the side, though that temptation might also be tempered by unfounded worries that the table will eventually become unbalanced and send your cups and books crashing down.

The post Terrazzo side table concept seems to tempt fate and defy the laws of physics first appeared on Yanko Design.

Triangle Side Table offers an interesting way to show off your books

Posted on by

As the name suggests, a side table is a piece of furniture that’s often placed on the periphery, serving a secondary purpose to hold small objects temporarily. They’re a great location for placing drinks while you lounge on the couch and read a book, or for placing that same book when you need to put it down for a bit. Because of this function, it’s sometimes possible to let side tables take on less conventional forms, at least compared to common desks and tables. You might even be able to stretch the definition of a table to something that might not look like a table at all, like this hollow triangular prism that functions as a decorative piece and a resting place for your books.

Designer: Matthew Soule

The standard definition of a table is an elevated flat horizontal surface supported by vertical legs, but the exact interpretation of these elements is sometimes left to imagination and creativity. The only real requirement is that it should have a stable structure to hold items, though what objects it can hold is again open to interpretation. Side tables are often used to hold cups, mugs, pens, phones, notebooks, and books, and they sometimes have separate storage space for other, less-used objects.

With that in mind, there are plenty of sources for design ideas, like this Triangle Side Table that was supposedly inspired by kids’ toy blocks. It definitely challenges the definition of a table having a flat horizontal surface, though there is definitely an area for that on the back of the apex, like a ledge for your things. That flat area, however, is barely enough to hold a mug, a small notebook, or a smartphone, but only one at a time. There’s also a groove for securing a writing instrument, but you’ll have to make it your favorite or most-used tool since there’s only room for one.

The main focus, instead, is to have a resting place for what you’re currently reading, be it a book or a magazine. You place the partially opened book on top of the triangle, using the tip as a bookmark. It’s a popular design in many minimalist products these days, though it’s uncertain whether it will harm the book’s binding in the long run.

The open interior of the triangle is also another place to showcase reading materials, though it can also house a potted plant or even a pet mattress. The unique shape of the side table, its natural wood material, beveled edges, and the minimalist base that makes the table look like it’s magically floating all contribute to making the odd side table an attention-grabbing piece of furniture. Unfortunately, it’s also quite poor at actually functioning as a regular table, so you’ll definitely want to put it at the sides only.

The post Triangle Side Table offers an interesting way to show off your books first appeared on Yanko Design.

This beautiful adjustable side table was made for accessibility and uses reclaimed wood

Posted on by

We’ve seen no small number of furniture here a Yanko Design covering a wide range of materials, shapes, and functions. While these designs try to cater to as many people as possible, few of them address one specific but very important use case. The word “accessibility” isn’t often used when it comes to furniture, mostly because of the stigma the term has in relation to sterile and clinical designs found in hospitals. That’s not to say, however, that these don’t serve a purpose outside of medical facilities, only that their aesthetics are a poor fit in homes and residences. The answer is not to shy away from these products but to shed new light on them, just like this handsome wooden side table that is actually an over-couch or overbed table that you see beside hospital beds.

Designer: Capella

The interesting thing about accessibility is that even though it’s sometimes seen as a burden on designers, it actually benefits more than just people with disabilities. Software gets new features that can be utilized by power users, and physical products gain capabilities or parts that wouldn’t be there otherwise. When it comes to furniture, however, accessibility suffers from the association with hospital equipment whose designs are driven by very different requirements from home use. Fortunately, all it takes is some creative thinking and smart use of materials to reshape one such common piece of furniture in order to benefit anyone at home, especially those who have poor mobility.

The Corbal Side Table looks like any other wood and metal shelf, albeit one that can easily be attached to the side of a couch or a bed. Its secret, however, is that the tabletop can actually swivel around, putting that surface right in front of the person sitting or lying down. It’s a kind of function commonly found in overbed tables in hospitals to help patients eat without leaving their beds. Corbal offers the same convenience for eating, working, or any other activity, all from the comfort of one’s home.

The side table definitely doesn’t look like any piece of hospital furniture because of its modern design utilizing finished solid wood and matte black steel supports. At the same time, it isn’t like any normal overbed table either, because of the feet that can be hidden under the bed or couch to provide stability, especially when swinging the height-adjustable tray. It looks like a perfect match for any home interior without giving away its clinical inspiration.

As if its features weren’t impressive enough, the Corbal Side Table has an equally interesting origin story to tell. It is made from vintage and reclaimed wood, specifically mahogany, giving it a sustainable and environment-friendly character as well. All in all, it’s a design that benefits not only those who are in need of accessible furniture at home but practically everyone else as well, and that includes even the planet.

The post This beautiful adjustable side table was made for accessibility and uses reclaimed wood first appeared on Yanko Design.

Playful coffee table concept brings Piet Mondrian’s three colors to your home

Posted on by

Coffee tables, sofas, side tables, and shelves have all become points of interest and pride these days. Since they usually become the visual centers of a room, owners take the opportunity to use furniture that either reflects their interests and personality or, at the very least, shows off their design tastes. The variety of designs for tables and chairs can range from the ultra-minimalist to the highly elaborate, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. You don’t have to go overboard, however, just to make a memorable impact. This table, for example, is nothing but a few circles, one of which isn’t even full, and three colors, but the asymmetric combination gives it a vibrant and playful character, especially once you start looking at it from different angles.

Designer: Miguel Pinheira

Rendered on KeyShot: Click Here to Download Your Free Trial Now!

Dutch artist Pier Mondrian showed that it doesn’t take much to leave a lasting impression. His famed “Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow” simply used three colors, aside from black and white, and asymmetrical shapes to create a masterpiece that would be remembered for decades. This harmony of contrasts and economy of colors are what inspired this peculiar table design, resulting in a piece that, while artistic, also conveys some of that tension between elements in a lively manner.

Instead of squares, the RYB Coffee Table uses two circles and a half circle joined by transparent rods that make the circles look as if they’re floating on air. The three pieces serve different functions, like a tabletop, a secondary table, and a magazine or vinyl record holder. The top circle can even be removed and placed in a different position, making the design a bit modular.

While the main parts can be made of different materials and use a monochromatic scheme, the best effect is achieved with translucent or transparent material and sticking to the original red, yellow, and blue triplet. This particular combination really brings out the table’s personality, making it look like hard candy or stained glass. Even better, looking at the different pieces through each other can bring out other colors, like green resulting from mixing yellow and blue.

In terms of functionality, however, the RYB Coffee Table is probably better as a side table, though it will still manage to grab anyone’s attention, regardless of its location. Its arrangement makes it look a little unbalanced visually, which could make some people hesitate to put anything fragile on top. That’s also why it’s probably better off to the side rather than as a centerpiece, lending a bit of vibrancy and life to the room without getting in the way.

The post Playful coffee table concept brings Piet Mondrian’s three colors to your home first appeared on Yanko Design.

How this beautiful wooden side table seems to hover in the air

Posted on by

Furniture has long ceased being simply functional products that take up space in homes or offices. Given their very visible roles, they have also become decorative pieces that add to a space’s ambiance. This is especially true for chairs, sofas, and large tables like coffee tables, but even smaller items like side tables can have an impact on the overall appeal of the room. Some of these side tables use elaborate designs, unusual forms, or even showy colors, but those are not the only ways to grab people’s attention. There are times when simplicity works better, and this particular design uses extremely simple shapes and constructions to the point that the side table looks almost magical as if its top was simply hovering above the ground.

Designer: Jonas Herman Pedersen

Tables need to be steady and stable to be able to hold things, and that’s normally accomplished by having four or at least two even legs raising the tabletop up. Even for a table with a single “pillar,” that support is often located in the middle at the table’s center of gravity to help keep it from toppling on one side. The Stilk Side Table, however, throws convention out of the window, resulting in a design that seemingly challenges common sense when constructing tables.

Completely made out of wood, Stilk’s top rests on a thin monolith that stands not at the center but off to one side. Of course, balance is achieved through the counterweight, which is a pile of four thick wooden discs joined to the base of the monolith, also on a single side only.

The top itself isn’t a flat circle but has the edge attached to the stem folded up a bit. This makes the tabletop look like it’s hovering with nothing supporting it while also acting as a sort of locking mechanism when something heavy is placed on the table. Despite its simple design, Stilk actually has a secret function where the owner can adjust the table’s height by simply removing a small wooden rod and positioning the top on one of three available heights.

Stilk is an unconventional side table design that admittedly would make some people nervous about placing fragile objects on it. In a sense, its appearance creates an illusion of lightness and instability that definitely catches people’s attention without actually going beyond simple shapes and finishes. It’s an effective example of how challenging the status quo can lead to interesting and effective designs while still keeping things simple, minimalist, and beautiful.

The post How this beautiful wooden side table seems to hover in the air first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tranquil furniture collection is inspired by an enchanting moonlit lake

Posted on by

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.

The post Tranquil furniture collection is inspired by an enchanting moonlit lake first appeared on Yanko Design.

Slithering sculptural table with smart storage surfaces is inspired by the king cobra

Posted on by

If you’ve ever even remotely spent time in the design world on Instagram, then you’ve for sure come across Deniz Aktay. His simple, minimal, yet genius furniture pieces have slowly but surely taken the IG world by storm. The success of his designs lies in the fact that they’re oh-so-simple, elegant, and yet packed with massive functionality. The simplicity will almost make you wonder ‘Why didn’t I think of this?’, but unfortunately for us and luckily for Aktay, no one else can conjure these designs up except him. He’s created wonders – from a unique bookshelf that functions as a side table to a coffee table design with intriguing layers. And, we’re currently drooling over the Cobra table.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

As its name signifies, the inspiration behind the Cobra table was simple – it was a cobra. While designing the Cobra table, Aktay had the intention of creating something that is artistic and sculptural, but also functional. And the Cobra table checks all three of these boxes! The Cobra table could function as a small center table, or a more suitable side table. It doesn’t have much of a footprint, and it has a snake-inspired form that is accentuated by a rather meandering shape.

The smartly designed table features three storage levels. The different levels slither from the bottom to the top, much like a majestic king cobra! This gives the table quite a sculptural feel and a dynamic and free-flowing form. The base and the tabletop function as storage spaces, as well as the intermediate surface in between them. At first, you may assume that the surface in the center has no function, but Aktay has left no component of the Cobra Table useless. The three storage floors are excellent for storing books, magazines, documents, and other souvenirs. The topmost surface can also hold glasses or plates if you like snacking in your living room.

The table is a beautiful bright orange, which heightens its uniqueness and quirkiness. Aktay does prefer to utilize bright and bold colors for most of his designs, colors that you may not usually associate with pieces of furniture. The orange color he picked for this table is an example of that, but also an example of how a simple color can completely illuminate and uplift a design!

The post Slithering sculptural table with smart storage surfaces is inspired by the king cobra first appeared on Yanko Design.

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

Posted on by

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.

The post Magazine rack concept defies common sense with intersecting tubes to hold your books first appeared on Yanko Design.

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

Posted on by

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.

The post This side and coffee tables have sustainability and simplicity ingrained in their DNA first appeared on Yanko Design.