10 Best Stools Designs To Add To Your Home ASAP

I’m at a point in my life where I’m team stools over chairs, and I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a portable stool made from electronic waste packaging – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

Called the Drum Stool, this minimal, stackable, and sustainable stool looks like an adorable little wine cork at first glance! But as you dig deeper, you realize it has much more to offer.

Why is it noteworthy?

Teixeira picked materials such as cork and wood to build the stool, instantly rating it high on sustainability. Cork was used to create the seat, while wood was the leg material.

What we like

  • The stool features a round trimmed surface that offers it a fun and playful shape
  • The trimmed seat is paired up with slim wooden legs, creating a cohesive and harmonious furniture piece

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how comfy the trimmed cork seat would be to sit on for longer durations of time

2. EDGAR Stool

Dubbed the EDGAR stool, this concept for a portable stool is designed to be something functional while also using a minimum amount of resources in terms of the material used for it, the energy required to create it, and the cost of making it.

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes this stool super cool is that they only spent $0.29 in making the prototype of these stools! The stool is low-cost since it is made from waste from the packaging of electronic appliances and adhesives. It handles one of the biggest waste issues!

What we like

  • Lightweight and easy to carry around

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t seem like the best option if you have a pretty round derriere

3. Stump Recycled Stool

Derlot designed the original Stump stool a while ago, and now they’ve unveiled their latest Stump Recycled which features the same basic structure of the stool but is made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new Stump stool features a different design, as the patterns form a terrazzo-like design that offers the stool a textured and colored look. You can pick stools with a kaleidoscope-like finish, which provides a fresh interpretation of how recycled materials can be used to elevate a design.

What we like

  • Provides a new take on how recycled materials can be used

What we dislike

  • Not sure how long you can sit on the stool, since it’s quite small and doesn’t look too comfy

4. The +52 Stool

After extensive research on the current timber designs and manufacturing, Studio Plastique converted all this knowledge into a unique wooden step stool called the +52 stool.

Why is it noteworthy?

This stool isn’t just furniture, it was designed to be a ‘scenario’, which represents the potential of undervalued wood types as sustainable alternatives to typical wood types. It is produced using a variety of non-commercial woods such as elm, koto, willow, acacia, and birch which changes the weight, color, and texture of the stool.

What we like

  • Designed to tackle the complete lack of awareness surrounding lesser-known wood species that aren’t used in the design world

What we dislike

  • Has a raw and rustic look, which isn’t preferred by everyone

5. S1 Stool

Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for the furniture brand Derlot, the minimalist and simple S1 stool doubles up as a handy side table!

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool/side table has a simple form that is inspired by an I-beam, which is a structural member with an I-shaped cross-section. The S1 stool is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, owing to its versatile form and universal design.

What we like

  •  Available in three heights to maximize its versatility

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are simple and unassuming

6. Arc Stool

Called the Arc Stool, this furniture design is simple and thoughtfully designed to add a plethora of elegance and personality to your home.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Arc Stool is designed to elevate and upgrade the mundane stool, and it is a signature piece of the inaugural collection by US Studio Juntos. It attempts to add a much-needed flair to the simple stool design.

What we like

  • Features a dipped surface that provides comfort to the user
  • Portable and easy-to-move design

What we dislike

  • No options for customization or personalization

7. Superpop Tables

Dubbed the Superpop tables, these colorful tables feature terrazzo-like surfaces that have been made from recycled plastic. They were designed by Paolo Cappello for Miniforms.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tables are super versatile, and what’s even more interesting is that they can be used as coffee tables, side tables, or even stools! They are sustainable, versatile, lightweight, and fun.

What we like

  • Versatile functionality with a universal appeal
  • Brings a fun and festive atmosphere wherever they are placed

What we dislike

  • Could be difficult to match them with the interior styles of different homes

8. Balanco Stools

Designed during the pandemic, the Balanco stools are inspired by rocks and boulders, and they’re meant for adults and kids to play and engage with.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers. Traditionally, the pebbles mostly consist of rounded forms, designers Lisa Lai and Joel Wong decided that chiseled rock-like shapes would create more visual dynamism while offering a variety of flat surfaces that are ideal for stacking and layering.

What we like

  • Extremely light
  • Inspired by rocks and boulders

What we dislike

  • Made from felt, there is a higher chance of staining this design

9. The Tie Stool

Dubbed the Tie Stool, this stunning stool is made from three bent plywood that effortlessly locks into one another, creating a unique tripod form that is quite comfy to sit on. It is a simple stool made using minimal materials making the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three plywood strips can be split into 6 total parts, forming individual parts that are built using high pressure, causing the plywood to bend and retain its shape. The cutting processes are performed on the parts allowing them to interlock into one another.

What we like

  • Flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • Features a stackable form

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

10. The Rook Stool

Named the Rook Stool, this unique stool is inspired by chess pieces. It is available in three types of solid wood and has an intriguing similarity to the pieces you find on a chess board.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer drew references from the shapes of decorative wooden chess pieces for the Rook Stool. The stool utilizes simple elements that have been placed at unusual but intriguing angles and intersections to create a sculptural appeal.

What we like

  • Available in three kinds of wood, so you can choose

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long durations of time

The post 10 Best Stools Designs To Add To Your Home ASAP first appeared on Yanko Design.

The +52 Stool Explores Lesser-Known Wood Types As Sustainable Alternatives To Commercial Wood Species

Have you joined team stools over chairs yet? Well, if you haven’t then it is high time that you should! I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t really overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, a great stool design to add to your home would be the +52 stool!

Designer: Studio Plastique

Based in Brussels, Studio Plastique conducted extensive research on current timber designs and manufacturing and transformed that knowledge into a wooden step stool. Dubbed +52 stool, the furniture piece isn’t simply considered as furniture, the studio sees it as a ‘scenario’, via which the scope and potential of undervalued wood types as sustainable alternatives to the typical wood types can be explored and looked deeper into.

The +52 stool is produced using a variety of non-commercial woods such as elm, koto, willow, acacia, and birch which changes the weight, color, and texture of the stool. The stool was created by Studio Plastique as a solution to the overexploitation of forests that occurs currently in the wood production industry. The stool aims to tackle the complete lack of awareness surrounding lesser-known wood species that aren’t used in the design world.

“With +52 we would like to contribute to an alternative perspective on wood scenarios,” said the studio. “Through our collaborations with stakeholders in the field, we aim to highlight these problematics on the one hand, and on the other propose diversified scenarios.”

The +52 stool is manufactured in varying thicknesses to provide it with structural stability irrespective of the kind of wood it is made from, in turn, offering strength and functionality no matter what. The stool makes for an excellent fit for both casual spaces, as well as more formal spaces since it is a versatile and durable furniture piece that can merge harmoniously with contemporary spaces. The aesthetic of the stool is modern and minimal, and it would complement other furniture pieces well, without creating a stark contrast.

The post The +52 Stool Explores Lesser-Known Wood Types As Sustainable Alternatives To Commercial Wood Species first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Adaptable + Minimal Furniture Collection Is The Future Of Seating In Schools & Offices

Having the right seating solutions in offices and schools is of utmost importance. We spend a lot of time on it, completing our tasks, working away to glory, or sitting through tedious classes if we’re still in school. An excellent seating design is of course, comfortable and ergonomic, but also able to add some personality and spunk to a space. It functions as a great spot to not only complete your work but also lounge about a bit, and have a quick chat with your co-workers and friends. And, one such seating option to consider is the Plega Seating Collection by Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot.

Designer: Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot

Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot, the Plega seating collection includes a range of stool and benches that perfectly combine acoustic properties with adaptable seating, to work efficiently for work and school environments. The Plega stools and benches are made using a thick felt sound-dampening panel which is called Autex Acoustics’ CubeTM material. The collection is built using an attractive yet functional design that can be folded and slotted together from a flat-pack format.

The stool and benches have a cuboidal form which allows them to be used as flexible furniture items in dynamic settings. The lightweight seating designs can be bundled together to support team meetings and huddles. The aforementioned CubeTM panels are built using compressed polyester felt with 60 percent recycled content. The entire collection is awarded with certifications by WELL, LEED, Green Star, and BREEAM for the collection’s high environmental performance.

“Beyond sustainability, these stools and benches encapsulate a harmonious blend of adaptability and form, catering to the dynamic requirements of educational and corporate spaces,” said Derlot. The varied PLEGA stools and benches are available in a collection of soft and pastel colors that won’t command too much attention. They’re available in both adult and kid sizes, making them ideal for offices and schools. PLEGA is designed to be the future of seating in contemporary schools and offices. The collection has a minimal and clean form, making it appropriate for such spaces, and allowing the furniture pieces to harmoniously merge with such environments.

The post This Adaptable + Minimal Furniture Collection Is The Future Of Seating In Schools & Offices first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Stools That Make For The Ultimate Seating Solutions In Your Home

I’m at a point in my life where I’m team stools over chairs, and I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t really overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a rustic stool made using leftover grain from beer – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

This minimal, stackable, and sustainable stool is called the Drum Stool! When you first look at the Drum Stool it looks like an adorable little wine cork, but as you dig deeper, you realize it has much more to offer.

Why is it noteworthy?

Teixeira picked materials such as cork and wood to build the stool, instantly rating it high on sustainability. Cork was used to create the seat, while wood was the material for the legs.

What we like

  • Equipped with round trimmed surfaces, giving it a rather fun and playful shape
  • The trimmed seat is further supported by slim wooden legs that effortlessly blend with the seat, creating a furniture piece with a cohesive and harmonious personality

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how comfy the trimmed cork seat would be to sit on for longer durations of time

2. S1 Stool

Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for the furniture brand Derlot, the minimalist and simple S1 stool doubles up as a handy side table!

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool/side table has a simple form that is inspired by an I-beam, which is a structural member with an I-shaped cross-section. The S1 stool is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, owing to its versatile form and universal design.

What we like

  •  Available in three heights to maximize its versatility

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are simple and unassuming

3. Lift Stool

One look at the Lift Stool, and you’ll be completely mesmerized by its beautiful translucent texture, and the two lifted ends that seem to define the design. It’s completely unlike any stool I’ve seen, and with good reason.

Why is it noteworthy?

We often see lighting fixtures on walls that have been slightly lifted or exposed on one end to allow the light to flow more freely. These fixtures often lend an air of fascination and mystery to the room they’re placed in, and SUNRIU Design attempted to capture the same sensation.

What we like

  •  Makes for a great lounging spot for your cat

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept, so we don’t know how the actual product will turn out to be

4. Mosquito Barstool

Say hello to the peculiarly named ‘Mosquito Barstool’! The original Mosquito chair was designed by mid-century designer and architect Niko Kralj and Slovenian brand Rex Kralj has reimagined it as a contemporary wooden bar stool.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Mosquito Bar Stool has the same plywood seat as the 1953 Mosquito Chair, which was one of its distinguished features. This seat has a unique and signature “winged form” that mimics the bodies of the flying insects, hence giving the stool its quirky name.

What we like

  • Inspired by a 1950s furniture design

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics may be too traditional and old-fashioned for some

5. The Arc Stool

The Arc Stool is a simple but wonderfully and thoughtfully designed stool that can add manifolds of elegance and personality to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool is a typically humble item, however, the Arc Stool attempts to elevate and upgrade this rather mundane furniture piece. It is a signature piece of the inaugural collection by the US studio Juntos.

What we like

  • The dipped surface adds comfort for the sitter
  • Extremely easy to pick up and move

What we dislike

  • No options for customization or personalization

6. Superpop Tables

Designed by Italian designer Paolo Cappello for Miniforms, the Superpop tables feature colorful, terrazzo-like surfaces created from recycled plastic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tables are super versatile, and what’s even more interesting is that they can be used as coffee tables, side tables, or even stools! They are sustainable, versatile, lightweight, and fun.

What we like

  • Have a universe appeal and versatile functionality
  • Bring a festive atmosphere to any space they are placed into

What we dislike

  • Could be difficult to match them with the interior styles of different homes

7. Mask Stool

Dubbed the Mask Stool, this unique stool is made using spent grain from brewery Carlsberg’s beer production at the Danish film festival 3 Days of Design.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Mask Stool is built using a sustainable design technology that Mater developed. Mater developed this technology alongside the Danish Technological Institute and the University of Copenhagen. The technology merges and mixes fiber-based materials with plastic waste.

What we like

  • Utilizes an innovative new sustainable technology

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the stool are quite odd-looking, and may not be appreciated by everyone

8. Balanco Stools

Designed during the pandemic, the Balanco stools are inspired by rocks and boulders, and they’re meant for adults and kids to play and engage with.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers. Traditionally, the pebbles mostly consist of rounded forms, designers Lisa Lai and Joel Wong decided that chiseled rock-like shapes would create more visual dynamism while offering a variety of flat surfaces that are ideal for stacking and layering.

What we like

  • Extremely light
  • Inspired by rocks and boulders

What we dislike

  • Made from felt, there is a higher chance of staining this design

9. Tie Stool

The Tie Stool is made up of three bent plywood strips that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a tripod form that is comfortable to sit down on. Besides its unique design, the sheer simplicity of the stool, and the use of minimal materials make the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

Fabricating the Tie Stool would require a few simple steps. The three plywood strips can, in fact, be split into 6 total parts (you can see the parting lines). The individual parts are formed using high pressure and temperatures that cause the plywood to bend and retain its shape, and cutting/finishing processes are performed on the parts to make them interlock into one another.

What we like

  • The entire stool can potentially be flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • It’s stackable

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

10. The Rook Stool

Designed by Australian designer Ross Gardam, the Rook Stool draws inspiration from chess pieces! Available in three types of solid wood, if you look closely at the stool, you’ll find deft and interesting similarities to the pieces you find on a chess board.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer drew references from the shapes of decorative wooden chess pieces for the Rook Stool. The stool utilizes simple elements that have been placed at unusual but intriguing angles and intersections to create a sculptural appeal.

What we like

  • Available in various wood options so you can take your pick

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long durations of time

The post Top 10 Stools That Make For The Ultimate Seating Solutions In Your Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 5 stool designs to replace your traditional chairs

At Yanko Design, we believe in constantly innovating, creating, and evolving. It’s a philosophy that serves as a lifeline for us, and one of the results of this lifeline is the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub! The Inspiration Hub is our ‘ever-expanding encyclopedia’ of design work for you to participate in, to inspire designers, and to get inspired by. Created in collaboration with KeyShot, the Inspiration Hub is your one-stop space for inspiration where designers like you can submit your impressive designs and be awarded to stand out in the crowd and to inspire other like-minded designers.

To kickstart your journey and send some motivation your way, we’ve curated some of our favorite stool designs from the Inspiration Hub. These unique and uber-cool stool designs will motivate you to create something spectacular and submit the design, as a gateway to sharing it with the best of the design world. Additionally, we will also be picking our favorite Design of the Week, Design of the Month, and Design of the Year – every week, month, and year from the submissions on the Inspiration Hub. Keep an eye on our Instagram page and the Inspiration Hub to see if your design gets picked. Fingers crossed!

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to take your sketch from concept to render!

1. The Pentagon Stool

Designed by Designerd ™, the Pentagon Stool is a minimal low stool that has been built using five identical pieces of hardwood. The hardwood pieces function as the legs of the stool, giving it its name ‘Pentagon’. The legs are woven together and held together using a star plate. The designer states that the leg element of the stool can be swiftly and efficiently produced in a one-line production. The Pentagon Stool comes in a flat-pack design and can be assembled with ease.

2. Sushant Vohra’s Stool

Designed by Sushant Vohra, this stool design is pretty cool! It features a concise circular platform that serves as a seating section, with a concrete and clear coated sheet metal volume inserted into it, functioning as a support for the seating area. The result is a visually and geometrically interesting stool with a burst of orange that counteracts the otherwise minimal and simple appearance of the stool.

3. The Balanco Stools

The Balanco stools by Tati Architects were designed during the pandemic to provide kids and adults with something to play and engage with! Besides being interesting playthings, the stools are great seating options, inspired by rocks and boulders. You can stack the stools in different forms and patterns, in turn creating art in the process. The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers.

4. The Fels Stool

The Fels Stool by OUT stands out from most of the stools on the market as they’re quite aesthetically pleasing. They’re a stark contrast to the boring wooden stools we usually see in homes. They have a sculptural appeal to them, and they’re also multifunctional! The Fels stool is excellent for a variety of reasons. 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!

5. The Drum

Called the Drum, this minimal yet elegant stool features an interesting stackable design. Designed by Teixeira Design Studio, it’s been built using cork and wood, rating it high on sustainability. The seat is built using cork, features rounded trimmed surfaces, and is supported by slim wooden legs that effortlessly blend in with the seat. The cork seat is quite comfortable to sit on and also provides grip while handling. Since the stool is stackable it ensures a secure stack that stays in place always.

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to start creating your own design and submit the design to us to get featured on the Inspiration Hub and the Yanko Design Instagram Page.

The post Top 5 stool designs to replace your traditional chairs first appeared on Yanko Design.

Minimalist stool combines wood and webbing to create a fresh and fun look

We probably don’t always think about how chairs and stools look as long as they’re comfortable. After all, you don’t exactly see their visual design when you’re already sitting on them. You won’t always be sitting on a particular chair all of the time, however, and those moments when these pieces of furniture are empty can have an impact on your space’s overall ambiance. They can make or break the particular theme you’re going for or enhance the atmosphere inside a room. They can even be conversation starters, depending on how distinctive it looks. This stool, for example, might not look like the most comfortable or stable thing to sit on, but it’s hard to deny how it injects a bit of character into an area with its color combinations and raw vibe.

Designer: found/Founded

Compared to chairs, stools don’t seem to be inherently designed for long periods of use. They don’t have backrests or arms to make you feel comfortable, but they do make up for it by making it easy to sit down on one and then get up again quickly. It’s as if this kind of seat was made for more transient and very temporary situations where you just need a few minutes to rest or chat but never to lounge or work.

The KNOT Stool seems to take that image to the extreme. It is flat all around with nary a curved surface or corner that would have made it look more inviting. You can even directly see the layers of wood that make up its parts, giving it an almost brutalist aesthetic if not for the painted surfaces. Two slanted legs make up the entire support, but their thin profiles don’t really inspire much confidence.

It’s probably still a usable stool, but it seems to be designed more for viewing rather than sitting. The three wooden pieces can be painted in the same or different colors, for example. The decorative webbing strap that wraps around the top of the stool’s legs can also come in complementing or contrasting colors, not to mention being made of different materials.

The result is a stool that looks more fun than ergonomic and more decorative than utilitarian. Of course, it might still be possible to sit on it for a bit, or it can be used to hold other objects if you’re not that confident about its stability. Regardless of the purpose it will ultimately serve, the KNOT Stool is clearly not a typical stool, especially in the way it adds a bit of whimsical fun to your interior.

The post Minimalist stool combines wood and webbing to create a fresh and fun look first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 5 stool designs to incorporate into your living room ASAP

I’m at a point in my life where I’m team stools over chairs, and I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t really overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a rustic stool made using leftover grain from beer – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum

The Drum stool is minimal, elegant, stackable, and not to mention sustainable! At first glance, the Drum stool looks like a cute little wine cork to me. But when you dig deeper, you realize it has much more to offer than its adorable good looks.

Why is it noteworthy?

Teixeira picked materials such as cork and wood to build the stool, instantly rating it high on sustainability. Cork was used to create the seat, while wood was the material of choice for the legs.

What we like

  • The cork seat features round trimmed surfaces, giving it a rather fun and playful shape
  • The trimmed seat is further supported by slim wooden legs that effortlessly blend with the seat, creating a furniture piece with a cohesive and harmonious personality

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how comfy the trimmed cork seat would be to sit on for longer durations of time

2. The Plastic Translation Stool

Called the Plastic Translation Stool, this intriguing stool design attempts to reinterpret the lines of a plastic stool, creating a form that is similar and yet completely unique, allowing the wooden stool to possess its own unique character.

Why is it noteworthy?

The wooden legs alone, however, won’t be enough to offer the same stability as the plastic counterpart, so an additional element had to be added. This element comes in the form of Birch plywood buttresses. These buttresses distribute some of the force evenly across the beechwood legs, which, in turn, hold the buttresses together. The result is increased architectural stability and visual amplification, which gives the design an upgraded look.

What we like

  • Doesn’t require screws or nails to be assembled
  • A more sustainable option to the plastic stool
  • It’s like a fun design puzzle

What we dislike

  • Options to customize the stool are currently missing

3. Mask Stool

Design brand Mater designed the ‘Mask Stool’. Now, what makes the Mask stool so unique or special? It’s the fact, that it has been built using the spent grain from brewery Carlsberg’s beer production, at the Danish film festival 3 Days of Design.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Mask Stool is built using a sustainable design technology that Mater developed. Mater developed this technology alongside the Danish Technological Institute and the University of Copenhagen. The technology merges and mixes fiber-based materials with plastic waste.

What we like

  • Utilizes an innovative new sustainable technology

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the stool are quite odd-looking, and may not be appreciated by everyone

4. The Balanco Stools

The Balanco stools were designed during the pandemic to provide kids and adults with something to play and engage with! Besides being interesting playthings, the stools are great seating options, inspired by rocks and boulders. You can stack the stools in different forms and patterns, in turn creating art in the process.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers. Traditionally, the pebbles mostly consist of rounded forms, designers Lisa Lai and Joel Wong decided that chiseled rock-like shapes would create more visual dynamism while offering a variety of flat surfaces that are ideal for stacking and layering.

What we like

  • The poufs are deceptively light
  • The individual surfaces remain relatively flat, so they stack on each other rather beautifully
  • Inspired by rocks and boulders

What we dislike

  • Made from felt, there is a higher chance of staining this design

5. The Tie Stool

The Tie Stool is made up of three bent plywood strips that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a tripod form that is comfortable to sit down on. Besides its unique design, the sheer simplicity of the stool, and the use of minimal materials make the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

Fabricating the Tie Stool would require a few simple steps. The three plywood strips can, in fact, be split into 6 total parts (you can see the parting lines). The individual parts are formed using high pressure and temperatures that cause the plywood to bend and retain its shape, and cutting/finishing processes are performed on the parts to make them interlock into one another.

What we like

  • The entire stool can potentially be flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • It’s stackable

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

The post Top 5 stool designs to incorporate into your living room ASAP first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 seating solutions from the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub to provide you a dose of design inspo

At Yanko Design, we believe in constantly innovating, creating, and evolving. It’s a philosophy that serves as a lifeline for us, and one of the results of this lifeline is the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub! The Inspiration Hub is our ‘ever-expanding encyclopedia’ of design work for you to participate in, to inspire designers, and to get inspired by. Created in collaboration with KeyShot, the Inspiration Hub is your one-stop space for inspiration where designers like you can submit your impressive designs and be awarded to stand out in the crowd and to inspire other like-minded designers.

To kickstart your journey and send some motivation your way, we’ve curated some of our favorite seating solutions from the Inspiration Hub. These unique and uber-cool seating furniture designs will motivate you to create something spectacular and submit the design, as a gateway to sharing it with the best of the design world. Additionally, we will also be picking our favorite Design of the Week, Design of the Month, and Design of the Year – every week, month, and year from the submissions on the Inspiration Hub. Keep an eye on our Instagram page and the Inspiration Hub to see if your design gets picked. Fingers crossed!

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to take your sketch from concept to render!

1. The Tekron Chair

Called the Tekron Chair, this interesting and unique concept for a folding chair has a rather “unconventional structure”. Designed by (acasso), the Tekron chair attempts to improve and elevate the user experience, especially when one has to fold and store away the chair. Nylon straps and military-grade metal buckles were used for folding and storing the chair. You have to tighten the strap from behind in order to fully fold the chair and make it as flat as possible if you don’t need to use it. It will not unfold unless you release the buckle so there will be no accidental unfolding like with normal folding chairs.

2. Elsa Sofa

Designed by naishform, the Elsa sofa is a sturdy and bulky furniture design defined by modules of grey cushions supported by solid steel legs. Aesthetically the Elsa sofa is simple, functional, and minimal. It gives the impression of a solid sofa that can support a good amount of weight and can withstand multiple bumps and grazes. The large cushions that form the body of the sofa are arranged in ascending order, with each cushion being large than the previous one.

3. Drum

Designed by Teixeira Design Studio, the Drum stool is minimal, elegant, stackable, and not to mention sustainable. If you don’t look at the Drum stool too carefully at first, it may look like a cute little wine cork to you. But once you gaze more deeply, you’ll realize that it is a smartly designed stool using cork and wood, making it good-looking and eco-friendly. Cork was used to build the seat, while the long legs were built using wood. The wooden legs fit perfectly into the grooves on the cork seat.

4. The Easy Chair

The Easy Chair by designer @u__bean05 really does have an easy and free-flowing vibe to it. It looks like a free wave crashing on the shore, or a melodious musical note. The curved section functions as the seating surface, where one can curl up and read their favorite book. This curved backside functions as a cozy lounging surface. A spherical ball-like volume provides support to the chair and allows it to stand firmly in one position on the ground.

5. The Fortune Chair

Designed by Hyeyoung Han and Hanyoung Lee, the Fortune Chair is a mix between a bean bag, a chair, and a pod, and it also happens to look like a fortune cookie. The outer shell of the chair is much like a fortune cookie and works as a covering frame that surrounds and protects the user. This outer wall helps create a space that is comfortable and private.  So, irrespective if you’re working in a corporate office or at home, the Fortune Chair functions as a little oasis for you to work in peace, much like the office pods we find today in commercial offices.

6. The Form Single Sofa

Designed by SUNRIU Design, the Form Single Soa is a fluid-looking sofa defined by a chunky bold form marked with flowy lines. The sofa is quite visually intriguing and looks like a hunk of concrete. The seating section is a smoothly carved dent, that looks like it will perfectly seat someone’s buttocks. The rear portion of the sofa seems like it could function as a neat hanging spot for your pet as well, allowing you and your pet to sit and chill together.

7. Kenneth’s Sofa Chair

This bulbous sofa concept by Kenneth is fun, bold, and quirky! It features a round form with a comfortable seating section nestled in the center of it. An outer shell-like volume forms a protective layer around the seating section, giving the chair a sense of privacy and calm. The headboard will cover you from both sides, so you feel like you’re nestled within a pod.

8. Sado Chair

Martin Luu designed the Sado chair as an experiment in unconventional design. Sado’s intriguing form reminds you of a horizontal tree log or horseback, suited for a straddled seated position that encourages a healthy posture. When positioned atop Sado, the chair’s seat rotates freely to enable 360-degree accessibility to nearby objects within arm’s reach. Adjustable leg supports also provide a place for your legs to rest while helping to sustain a leveled spinal position. Sado is an incredible ergonomic option if you’re looking for a chair that encourages and support a great posture.

9. Carrera’s Couches

Designed by Bonny Carrera, these beautiful AI-generated sofas are fun, quirky, and colorful. Created on Midjourney, the couches are a pop of color and burst of excitement and the kind of designs that would truly light up our homes. The first couch seems to have drawn inspiration from lettuce and avocado, as it looks like a healthy veggie that’s ready for us to eat. The second armchair looks like a lovely conch shell, defined by streaks of different colors.

10. The Pentagon Stool

The Pentagon Stool is a minimal and simple low stool that comprises of five identical pieces of hardwood. Designed by Designerd ™, the five hardwood pieces serve as the legs of the stool, which quite funnily gives the stool its name ‘Pentagon’. The legs are woven together and held together using a star plate. The designer states that the leg element of the stool can be swiftly and efficiently produced in a one-line production. The Pentagon S

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for a full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to start creating your own design and submit the design to us to get featured on the Inspiration Hub and the Yanko Design Instagram Page.

The post Top 10 seating solutions from the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub to provide you a dose of design inspo first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 stool designs all furniture lovers need in their home

I’m at a point in my life where I’m team stools over chairs, and I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t really overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a sculptural multifunctional stool made from wood to a rustic horse-riding saddle-inspired stool – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. The Plastic Translation Stool

Called the Plastic Translation Stool, this intriguing stool design attempts to reinterpret the lines of a plastic stool, creating a form that is similar and yet completely unique, allowing the wooden stool to possess its own unique character.

Why is it noteworthy?

The wooden legs alone, however, won’t be enough to offer the same stability as the plastic counterpart, so an additional element had to be added. This element comes in the form of Birch plywood buttresses. These buttresses distribute some of the force evenly across the beechwood legs, which, in turn, hold the buttresses together. The result is increased architectural stability and visual amplification, which gives the design an upgraded look.

What we like

  • Doesn’t require screws or nails to be assembled
  • A more sustainable option to the plastic stool
  • It’s like a fun design puzzle

What we dislike

  • Options to customize the stool are currently missing

2. Paco y Paco

Paco y Paco is a design concept that tries to check all the right boxes for a low-cost school furniture solution that is also sustainable and, to some extent, fun. Both the desk and the stool share the same basic shape of wooden planks connected in a row.

Why is it noteworthy?

The basic idea is for these to fold into trapezoidal form, with the two sides serving as legs while the middle one is the actual tabletop or seat. When no longer in use, they can lay flat for easier carrying and storage until their next use.

What we like

  • It can be easily carried and stored away
  • Uses ropes as the primary mechanism to fold or collapse the two

What we dislike

  • Not sure if this furniture design is going to be comfortable

3. Altura

Patricia Perez designed the Altura, a minimal and sturdy step stool, for Case Furniture. An interesting fact about the stool is that it doubles as up as a side table and a plant stand.

Why is it noteworthy?

Described as a “sleek yet sturdy design”, the stool has been equipped with two stepped tiers that serve extremely handy in holding and storing all kinds of items – from lamps, and books, to an entire person! It enables users to reach those high-up places in their homes that they usually aren’t able to get.

What we like

  • Altura’s minimal and neutral aesthetics make it a great addition to any modern living space
  • Feature a clear polyethylene lacquer that helps to protect and save the wood from external damage

What we dislike

  • The stool has 2 levels to it, so it doesn’t occupy too much space width-wise

4. The Pepe Stool

Designed by Raffaella Mangiarotti, the Pepe Stool is deeply inspired by a ‘horse-riding saddle’! Raffaella drew inferences from the saddle, especially its aesthetics and ergonomics to create the sturdy-looking Pepe Stool.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Pepe stool is a rather playful and amusing twist on saddle stools. Saddle stools are popular for promoting good posture, and for helping users strengthen their core since they feature no back support, and enable you to tilt your pelvis forward.

What we like

  • Inspired by a horse-riding saddle
  • Promotes good posture

What we dislike

  • Its rustic aesthetics may not complement modern interiors

5. The FELS Stool

The Fels Stool by OUT stands out from most of the stools on the market as they’re quite aesthetically pleasing. They’re a stark contrast to the boring wooden stools we usually see in homes. They have a sculptural appeal to them, and they’re also multifunctional!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Fels stool is excellent for a variety of reasons. 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.

What we like

  • It functions as a side table as well
  • Looks like it’s been carved from stone

What we dislike

  • The stool may be too bold and quirky for some people

6. The Balanco Stools

The Balanco stools were designed during the pandemic to provide kids and adults with something to play and engage with! Besides being interesting playthings, the stools are great seating options, inspired by rocks and boulders. You can stack the stools in different forms and patterns, in turn creating art in the process.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers. Traditionally, the pebbles mostly consist of rounded forms, designers Lisa Lai and Joel Wong decided that chiseled rock-like shapes would create more visual dynamism while offering a variety of flat surfaces that are ideal for stacking and layering.

What we like

  • The poufs are deceptively light
  • The individual surfaces remain relatively flat, so they stack on each other rather beautifully
  • Inspired by rocks and boulders

What we dislike

  • Made from felt, there is a higher chance of staining this design

7. The Tie Stool

The Tie Stool is made up of three bent plywood strips that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a tripod form that is comfortable to sit down on. Besides its unique design, the sheer simplicity of the stool, and the use of minimal materials make the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

Fabricating the Tie Stool would require a few simple steps. The three plywood strips can, in fact, be split into 6 total parts (you can see the parting lines). The individual parts are formed using high pressure and temperatures that cause the plywood to bend and retain its shape, and cutting/finishing processes are performed on the parts to make them interlock into one another.

What we like

  • The entire stool can potentially be flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • It’s stackable

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

8. The Flightable Closet

The Flightable Closet is a pretty interesting concept as it is not just a suitcase but is also a mini closet (as the name states) with a clothes rack. It can even function as a stool in case you would need one while at the airport or in the room where you’re currently staying.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea is to make your carry-on suitcase more than just an accessory where you try to fit in as many clothes and toiletries as possible. It is conceptualized both for frequent travelers and those who are living in small spaces and need extra space for their stuff.

What we like

  • The telescopic handle of the suitcase can also serve as your clothes rack
  • Multipurpose design
  • Perfect for frequent travelers and those who are living in small spaces and need extra space for their stuff

What we dislike

  • Need to test the actual weight it can withstand when an actual life-size prototype will be created

9. Rice Husk Stool

This reading stool is ‘rice-inspired’, which basically means that rice husk became the designer’s inspiration and material for this product. Agriculture is not something that is usually linked with furniture, so this stool is really quite a special one.  The round shapes of the actual chair seat and the stand itself give off a “harmonious emotion” between the bionic design and the human who will be sitting on it.

Why is it noteworthy?

When it comes to sustainable materials, he proposes using a mix of rice husk and carbon, breaking them down and mixing the materials together and then using perfusion molding to shape it into the final chair design. The seat surface itself is made from braided straw but with the rice husk used as the base for the cushion. At the bottom of the stool, the straw is used as well. This brings the idea of sustainable design full circle, so to speak.

What we like

  • The stool looks like a sculpture with an agricultural spin to it
  • Sustainable + eco-friendly design

What we dislike

  • As a reading chair, it looks uncomfortable to sit in for a long period of time

10. The Bond

Bond Stool 2022

Bond 2022 Designer

This is just a stool, but its particular purpose is to make two persons live in unity. How? You open the stool system and separate the parts to seat two persons. Some people will probably not understand the point because the stools are too close, but the Bond can be perfect for couples who change residences frequently.

Why is it noteworthy?

If you and your partner love going out, you can sit together on the stools while you wear your shoes and before you head out the door. Bond is just to be closer to one another because, you know, some couples just can get enough of each other. The Bond stool system also features some storage space inside. You can put anything inside, like maybe your shoes or your laptop. Likewise, you can probably put there your purse or just about anything you don’t want to forget.

What we like

  • The Bond is mainly made of wooden material, so you know it’s durable enough to withstand the test of time
  • Space-saving form
  • Allows you to get closer to your partner

What we dislike

  • Standalone design that cannot be added on or increased

The post Top 10 stool designs all furniture lovers need in their home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Foldable stool and desk concept is a low-cost solution to school furniture problems

While most people recognize education as a basic human right, the painful truth is that, just like many other rights, it isn’t universally available everywhere. There is always a resource problem, from books to teachers to even rooms to hold classes in. While that last one might sound superficial compared to the lack of books, a good and comfortable environment can go a long way in improving children’s reception to lessons. In some cases, a permanent classroom isn’t even an option, so makeshift rooms are the only recourse. Of course, that still requires proper desks and chairs for use, but you don’t have to go overboard with these. While cheap plastic furniture sounds like the easiest solution, this design concept shows an alternative that isn’t only more sustainable but also more flexible when it comes to storage and portability as well.

Designer: Claudio Larcher

In areas with no fixed rooms designated as classrooms, being able to move around or clear out desks and chairs is just as important as having school furniture at all. Typical tables and chairs are single solid pieces that are difficult to move around, not to mention keeping them in storage. A good portion of time is wasted in setting and cleaning up such rooms, presuming they even have rooms or furniture. Even simple school furniture can be expensive, and cheap plastic options have hidden costs that actually make them more expensive in the long run.

Paco y Paco is a design concept that tries to check all the right boxes for a low-cost school furniture solution that is also sustainable and, to some extent, fun. Both the desk and the stool share the same basic shape of wooden planks connected in a row. The basic idea is for these to fold into trapezoidal form, with the two sides serving as legs while the middle one is the actual tabletop or seat. When no longer in use, they can lay flat for easier carrying and storage until their next use.

The design of the furniture is also quite interesting in how it uses ropes as the primary mechanism to fold or collapse the two. Many people, kids included, will be familiar with such cords used to loosen or tighten bags. A wooden ball acts as the stopper to keep the knot from slipping, while metal grommets keep the rope from fraying. With perhaps the exception of the rope, the entire desk and chair could be made from 100% sustainable materials that can be easily made or procured anywhere.

It’s probably arguable whether such a furniture design is going to be comfortable, but for schools or villages with meager budgets, it’s definitely better than nothing. Perhaps a bigger question is the stability of the design, especially the chair, given how a rope is probably the only thing that will keep it from collapsing beneath a child’s weight.

The post Foldable stool and desk concept is a low-cost solution to school furniture problems first appeared on Yanko Design.