Most houses and apartments today are furnished with standard items that fit perfectly into the existing style of the premises. Modern unusual furniture is a rare occurrence, but such products add originality and variety to boring, same-type interiors. We suggest taking a closer look at the nuances of using such items in an apartment.
Peculiarities
The main difference between this filling and standard options is the presence of a highlight, which significantly distinguishes the products from a number of other interior items. An unusual approach to making furniture using a template gives it individuality, which is why such products are often made to order from reputable craftsmen.
The main features of unusual products are:
- curved shapes combined with strict lines;
- adding elements that are not typical for templates, for example details made from natural materials;
- Chipboard furniture has inclusions of solid wood elements;
- stylization of products to resemble the figures of animals and people;
- a combination of contrasting colors that at first glance are completely incompatible with each other;
- the use of non-standard materials, such as cardboard or plastic.
Do-it-yourself furniture fits perfectly into the unusual category, because when making it individually, the craftsman relies only on his imagination. There are no stereotypes or principles in this business, and the original appearance is harmoniously combined with functionality.
Among the items of upholstered furniture, sofas, armchairs and beds, decorated with non-standard upholstery, such as bubble, are unusual. Designer furniture of this type looks like a big fluffy cloud and is in demand among those who like to bask in soft fabric.
Eames chair
was designed by the couple several years before the appearance of the chair and became the most popular mass-produced furniture model.
This is a democratic, but very stylish analogue of work and dining chairs, the ergonomic shape of which obediently follows the curve of the body. Eames chairs are made from multi-colored plastic, complemented with wood or metal, which gives them a ticket to any interior.
What styles is it suitable for?
Products that are distinguished by originality will appeal to connoisseurs of innovation and uniqueness. Items made thanks to the creative thinking of the creators can be applied to the following interior styles:
- minimalism - a good option is a creative bench into which a floor lamp has grown. Made of white wood, this accessory is simple, but at the same time unusual. It’s a comfortable place to sit down, turn on the light and read a book. The product is positioned as furniture for the living room, but will fit perfectly into other rooms of the house;
- country - everything that belongs to this stylistic direction is good to place in the country house. For example, an interesting table made of wood, whose legs are so curved that it is difficult to understand what the object rests on. The product itself is made of many thin rods. Placing such a table in the country house would be a good solution;
- The most unusual furniture is represented by the expressionism style. This direction is characterized by a combination of the impossible and the non-standard. Pay attention to a striking example: a chest of drawers for the hallway or living room on high thin legs. Its peculiarity is that each box is made in a different size. The top one is the narrowest, the next one is wider. Having reached the middle of the product, the boxes change dimensions again, but in the other direction;
- hi-tech - in this style you can also find unusual furniture products that are good for use in office spaces. For example, the combination of several materials on one table: metal legs, a colored glass top, and a wooden finish create an excellent composition that fits into a meeting room.
Unusual wooden furniture can be found in almost any interior style, this also applies to luxury trends. Here the products are presented as elegant tables and chairs with supports in the form of animal heads or human silhouettes.
The Infinitum table forces you to clean up
Infinitum is a table with a plexiglass top with lighting that turns on the moment something is placed or placed on the surface.
In addition, the lighting does not turn off until everything is removed from it. The operation is controlled by a built-in piezoelectric element. Illumination of different colors serves as an excellent backdrop for any objects.
Unusual materials
Material is the basis for creativity, and skillful hands turn it into a work of art. Famous designers and simply those who like to create creativity today use the following raw materials for furniture:
- volcanic lava - products made from the material first appeared in Italy, where famous designers decided to try to make decorative items from it. By processing and pressing the lava, it turned out to be an excellent raw material for furniture. Among the products, it is worth highlighting wooden coffee tables with a volcanic tabletop; benches and chairs;
- plastic furniture is a new word in 3D modeling. Who has not come across such a concept as 3D printing? Today, this technology is also used in furniture production. A designer from Slovakia for the first time tried to realize the idea of creating plastic furniture that imitates doll objects. Polystyrene foam and epoxy resin were used for manufacturing;
- Non-standard upholstered furniture is made from a wide variety of materials. For example, furniture made from crystals was invented in Japan. Thus, the designer created crystal armchairs and stools using special solutions that were used to process furniture frames.
Products made from unusual materials are in demand in modern society. People strive to stand out from the crowd and purchase expensive furniture that is made in a single copy.
Nelson bench
Nelson platform bench appeared in 1946, and, contrary to the expectations of skeptics, it became a design legend.
The designer of the bench is one of the “pillars” of American modernism, architect and journalist George Nelson. The bench he invented is absolutely simple, even, straight. However, the clear design, conciseness, reference geometry and authenticity of the raw materials (the bench is made of light wood) ensured its cultural immortality. Nelson platform bench is an impeccable element for the design of public and residential interiors focused on high functionality and pragmatism.
Color solutions
Original furniture is characterized not only by unusual materials, styles or sizes, but also by its color palette. If the designer has decided to distinguish himself from others, then why not create a product with original colors.
Unusual is always bright, so most furniture is presented in multi-colored style solutions. Playing with contrast is also considered popular - to emphasize the effectiveness of the product, it is decorated with contrasting colors. Photos that clearly demonstrate this color scheme can be seen in our article.
The most popular color options are:
- orange - the color is used on bright upholstered furniture, this is where it is most noticeable due to the wide perimeter of the upholstery;
- combination of red and black - the favorite classic harmony of these colors can be found in original furniture walls with a niche for a TV or stools in a minimalist style;
- in modern products of a non-standard type, one can trace the use of yellow: chairs with outwardly curved backs, tables with a triangular tabletop, decorated with bright colors attract even more glances;
- The use of a rainbow combination of several colors at once is also used by world designers - usually this is furniture for a children's room in the form of unique soft armchairs and cozy corner sofas.
Pieces of unusual furniture are produced in any colors, and for lovers of natural palettes, we invite you to take a look at the creativity of craftsmen who prefer to make furniture only from solid wood.
Products made from solid wood will always thin out their natural smell of wood, which will fill the room with the aroma of the forest.
Panton chair
Another brainchild comes from Denmark. Its creator is the architect and revolutionary in the field of furniture design Verner Panton.
The chair he invented in the late 50s is unusual but impressively comfortable. It remains not only a hit in furniture sales, but also an exhibit in museums of modern decorative and applied arts.
You can easily recognize the Panton Chair by its special curvature (it resembles the number 5) and bright plastic. These chairs are good as dining chairs and excellent for the office.
Designer novelties
Every day, designers bring to our attention hundreds of products that are characterized by the presence of zest and a unique approach to creation. Among the latest innovations, it is worth paying attention to modular furniture based on the Egyptian triangle system. Such elements can interact with each other and change places, without changing the configuration and ideas of the author.
A good idea was implemented by a designer from Israel. The woman combined felled trees with aluminum elements. Thus, we got tables and stools with a top made of natural wood, and the legs of the products were made of cast aluminum.
Laminated chipboard is also used by designers. Due to the pliability of the material, products of original shapes are cut out of it: curved or straight. Letters and numbers from such raw materials are widely used for the interior of a children's room.
Before purchasing unusual tables, chairs, sofas, stools, think about where best to place them. So that guests can fully appreciate the owner’s creative approach to the interior, install the products in the living room or kitchen.
Monstera Flowerpots – “Aerial Roots”
Anyone who has ever grown tropical monstera at home knows what powerful aerial roots this vine has. It was this feature that inspired the Dutch designer Tim van de Weerd to create a series of Monstera flowerpots.
The white, glossy ceramic pots seem to have taken root on their own – long, sinuous, they serve as both a support and an elevating stand for the plant. And Monstera flowerpots are very reminiscent of human teeth...
Top 25: Incredible pieces of furniture that are not boring
People generally think of furniture as a necessity, a mediocre and boring part of their home. However, furniture is not always boring. In fact, your sofa, bed, table and bookcase can be surprisingly original and creative! If you are thinking about furnishing your apartment with unusual and new pieces of furniture, be sure to check out this post. From sofas on the wall to ping pong doors, we present you with 25 unusual pieces of furniture.
25. This futuristic living room was designed by Benjamin Rollins Caldwell, an American artist best known for his unique pieces of furniture and unusual designs in which he uses everyday objects to create unique furniture.
24. Wine lovers will definitely appreciate this unusual wooden bed made from a wine barrel.
23. Known as the Emperor 1510, this chair has a very stable steel structure, tilting capability, integrated audio system and even LED lighting to create a complete technical ambiance. It can be yours for $6,000.
22. This creative table, capable of folding out from small to large and vice versa, was called the "Capstan Table" by its creator David Fletcher.
21. If you turn this elaborate table upside down, you'll have two picnic benches.
20. If you're not sure what this piece of furniture is or how to use it, let me introduce you to Loopita. This unusual sofa/sofa sleeps two people and is a great place to relax with your partner.
19. What looks like a pile of plush volleyballs is actually a very comfortable sofa known as the Feel Seating System Deluxe. This sofa can be molded into any desired shape, and then lie down on it and relax.
18. The aptly named Evolution Door, designed in a futuristic style, was designed by designer Klemens Torggler. As you can see in the GIF, operating the door requires almost no effort.
17. With these unique bookshelves, you can easily redesign your living room. Combine as many of these shelves as possible and shape them into the shape you want.
16. Speaking of bookshelves, one cannot fail to mention this one, which will become a welcome decoration for any patriotic American who likes to look at a map of the USA.
15. This incredible sofa design is a combination of furniture and an ingenious optical illusion. The sofa was created by Japanese. This piece of furniture will definitely surprise and shock your guests.
14. This shelf is another rather unusual piece of furniture that is made from six flexible wooden planks.
13. This is one of the masterpieces of Pablo Reinoso, a French-Argentine artist and designer. This spaghetti bench will definitely add some creativity to your porch.
12. This bookshelf, named Bilbao and designed by artist Sebastian Errazuriz, may seem a little crazy, but make no mistake - thanks to the boards hidden behind the limbs, this structure is perfectly functional.
11. This intriguing chair concept was created by Flavio Scalzo and is called “a chair within a chair.” The unique design of this chair allows its owner to choose between a small compact chair and a chair with a wider side table.
10. This book hugger may not hold much weight, but it will still show your books how much you love them.
9. This chair-bookcase hybrid, designed by Tembolat Gugkaev, allows you to have your favorite book at hand while sitting comfortably in your chair.
8. A great idea for those who miss having a playroom in their apartment. This ping pong door was invented and designed by German designer Tobias Franzel.
7. This piece of pop style seating furniture was designed by an Italian design studio called "Baldessari e Baldessari" and is called "Molletta Bench". It is made from a single piece of wood.
6. This sofa "On the border of East and West" was designed by Tonio de Roover. The idea behind the original design is very simple - a frame made of wood and metal, covered with a Persian carpet.
5. For those people who don't have much space in their living room but still want to add something extraordinary, they might like the design of this sofa by Lila Lang.
4. This striking set of book shelves may be a perfectionist's nightmare, but it can definitely give your room an unconventional and whimsical look.
3. If you are single and do not change your body position while sleeping, then this revolutionary bed design is made especially for you.
2. This artistic concept of a table that appears to be soaked in red paint will make a great Halloween decoration.
1. This is the best space saving furniture concept. The set consists of four chairs and a table and is known as the “Obelisk”. When assembled, it looks like an art sculpture. This is interesting top 10 furniture design unusual creative things
Flying bed Ruijssenaars Magnetic
The next product is the result of many years of effort by its creator, the Dutchman Janjaap Ruijssenaar, who spent more than 7 years developing a flying bed. He succeeded in this thanks to the use of magnets of different poles. The bed is capable of floating in the air 40 cm from the floor and can withstand up to 900 kg of weight. Only after purchasing such a structure, you should carefully ensure that there are no metal objects nearby. Cost: $1,600,000. You can really pay that kind of money for technologies from the future.
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Top Original and Simple Furniture Designs
In this article I will show you interesting furniture designs that you can make yourself. Some of them cannot be brought to life without drawings and specialized tools. But friends, try, create and you will succeed! Don't spend a lot of money on designer tables. They were also made by people. Why can't you?
Sofa Togo
- the personification of home well-being and complete relaxation.
Appearing in 1973 at an exhibition in Paris, the sofa received a medal for innovation and almost immediately became a bestseller in the furniture industry.
How could it be otherwise, because its design does not contain a single rigid part. And the highly elongated silhouette, designed by Michel Ducaroy, is filled with polyurethane foam with varying degrees of elasticity.
In the 1970s, togo sofas were produced in the millions and graced the living rooms of middle-class people and rock stars alike. And today this furniture is the best tool to make the environment soulful, peaceful, and conducive to relaxation.
What furniture can be considered interesting
Not every set of furniture can be called interesting. Usually, this concept is associated with works of design art that differ from standard furniture models. All interesting furniture is produced in limited editions and is not widely distributed. Even the release of two identical sets is very rare for elements of this style.
Very often, people who want to give their apartment an unusual look resort to the help of designers. Professionals can offer truly unusual solutions for arranging a home or room. If you do not limit the flight of imagination of a competent designer, you can get a high-quality project with very unusual elements made to order.
When choosing a suitable model, you should first of all learn to distinguish unusual interior details from simply ill-conceived cabinets and sofas. A truly high-quality table, even the smallest one, will be easy to use, and the manufacturer will most likely try to supplement it with convenient functions. Such furniture sets will be easily transformed into something else, or their strange appearance simply will not interfere with their intended use.
Armchair Swan
- another, no less famous work by Arne Jacobsen. Truly this is an icon of design, an example of comfort and fashionability. And also aesthetics: the back, seat and armrests of the swivel chair form a single, smooth and rounded contour, reminiscent of a swan.
Swan Chair is ideal for the office and home; it can decorate both a workspace (for example, an office or a student’s room) and a lounge area.
Varieties
There are several types of original furniture that can decorate the home of creative and artistic people.
Transformers
Transformable furniture no longer surprises anyone, but modern designers, armed with technical innovations from furniture companies, are able to add something completely new to their works. For example, sleeping areas can very uniquely include storage spaces, and work desks can easily be converted into large eating areas.
Such original solutions allow small apartments to have full-fledged areas for relaxing, working, sleeping and meeting guests. The main feature of interesting transformable furniture is its complete transformation. Looking at the bed, none of the guests will guess that the podium on which it is located hides a huge amount of things. A desktop with a full-size computer or all-in-one computer may provide means for hiding equipment in a niche.
Bookshelves and storage systems
Furniture models with unusual shapes allow designers to come up with the most innovative and daring solutions. This subspecies includes a wide range of amazing bookshelves, unexpected shapes (in the form of animals, superhero emblems, abstractions) that allow you to display not only paper publications, but also many souvenirs.
Shelves can be made up of round, twisted or irregularly shaped pieces. They are distinguished by the lack of symmetry or, conversely, by its obvious emphasis. Modern shelves are often equipped with built-in sockets for recharging e-books or other gadgets.
Smart mirrors
High-tech solutions do not bypass the furniture industry. For people accustomed to living in the frantic rhythm of megacities, every minute saved is important, which is why “smart mirrors” are especially popular these days. They allow owners to check the weather or read reminders about important matters before heading out.
This is possible by equipping the reflective surface with an invisible screen that displays information on a plane without compromising the image. The software allows you to enter information into the mirror using a smartphone.
Cushioned furniture
Sofas and soft corners can have unusual designs (a ball, a car body, a cut-off bathtub, a spaceship) or have hidden features. Some models have built-in speaker systems, retractable TVs and even houses for pets.
Unusual colors
Nowadays it is difficult to surprise someone with interior colors. Technically, it is possible to produce parts of any color; interesting ideas can influence the combination of shades, textures and materials; it will be very difficult to come up with something new. There are several unusual ideas for creating beautiful interiors:
- Bright accents on a dark or light background allow you to highlight some interior elements and make the space more lively. Dark rooms can put pressure on people, so this solution can be implemented in a large room and generously diluted with bright colors - then the space will lift the mood. It is very difficult to sleep in a bright bedroom, but a kitchen or living room with many bright spots will make a person wake up immediately and charge them with energy for the whole day;
- Orange and red colors are distinguished by their ability to increase appetite and improve digestion, which is why many cafe owners decorate their establishments in these shades. Apartment dwellers can add “delicious” colors to their kitchen furniture and make it a little brighter. Indoor plants in neat pots will go well with this interior. They should be dim, but juicy;
- Bedrooms are traditionally decorated with furniture, carpets, curtains and wallpaper in conservative shades. This is associated primarily with the inability to fully rest in the presence of visual stimuli. But often the bedroom also serves as a place for work, meeting with friends or just having a good time, and in a conservatively decorated room it can become boring, so people resort to little design tricks. One of them is a screen that separates the sleeping area from the rest of the space. Inside they may be beige, but outside the choice of colors is limited only by the personal preferences of the occupant of this room;
- Very often in interiors they try to combine materials of opposite origin, for example, metal can successfully harmonize with wood, natural fabrics or stone.
All combinations of colors and materials must be very well thought out; without proper planning, the room will seem tastelessly decorated and will not bring joy to the owners.
House for cats and dogs of small breeds “Fishbone House”
A fish skeleton seen on the market inspired designers from the South Korean studio POTE to create this development – a house for small breed cats and dogs, the Fishbone House.
An environmentally friendly and simple material - birch wood - made it possible to create an interesting ribbed structure.
The gaps between the sections of the house allow air to circulate through the structure, and provide the animal with the opportunity to monitor the environment while inside.
We recommend reading:
10 most unusual buildings in the world
Recommendations for combination with the interior
The use of interesting solutions will be appropriate in any home, but it is necessary to arrange non-trivial elements wisely. There are several tips for competent interior planning using original ideas:
- You cannot oversaturate the room with an abundance of unusual elements. If the piece of furniture is large, for example, a table or a massive cabinet, then one will be enough. The remaining parts of the room are decorated based on the general style;
- Small parts of the furnishings in the house should be evenly spaced and, at the same time, ideally combined with each other;
- Furniture with a large number of decorative elements should be the main thing in the room, large and intricately designed things should be in a modestly decorated room, where the discreet interior will further highlight them;
- If necessary, you can highlight the original furniture using lighting.
These tips are not rules that must be followed unconditionally. A creative approach allows you to create a room that will look good and its photos can be proudly shown to friends.
Decoration stages
Regardless of what material the furniture is made of, the main stages of painting will be the same:
- Prepare the surface using high-grit sandpaper. This will create rough spots that the paint will fill in, making it last longer.
- A primer is necessary to ensure that the paint goes on smoothly and does not crack or crumble over time.
- If necessary, apply background paint. Moreover, it is better to make a two-layer coating with thorough drying after each stage.
- Drawing a sketch of the image with a simple pencil (if a stencil is not used).
- The main stage is creating the drawing itself. If multiple shades are used, it is important to dry each layer.
- Finish coating with protective varnish. It is advisable to do it twice.
Only following the correct technology will allow you to create furniture with a pattern that will not fade or lose its attractiveness even after many years.
Creating a Sketch
Choosing a design or design can be quite a difficult process. Hand-painted furniture itself can look very original and, of course, will be a unique item. But the main thing is that it fits harmoniously into the interior. Therefore, first of all, you need to build on an already existing style.
The simplest drawings to perform are:
- geometric ornaments and patterns;
- butterflies, for drawing which it is advisable to use stencils;
- abstractions in the form of circles, squares or curls;
- vegetables and fruits - suitable for painting kitchen furniture.
Today, the use of ethnic motifs in the interior is very important, so you can opt for national ornaments. But, most likely, drawing such a drawing will require artistic skills from the author. For example, painting furniture in the traditional Russian style can refer to folk crafts from different regions of Russia. These include such recognizable Russian paintings as Khokhloma, Gzhel, Zhostovo, Palekh and Gorodets.
To create a sketch, you can print a suitable drawing on paper of the required size and transfer it with a simple pencil to the surface, observing the proportions. The easiest way is to use ready-made or self-created stencils and templates, which are suitable for painting not only furniture, but also walls.
Preparing the structure
How long an object with an image printed on it will remain presentable and the colors will remain bright depends on the preparation. If new furniture is to be used, the preparation process only includes sanding the surfaces with sandpaper and priming.
Assortment of furniture lamps, examples of design and placement
If the product has already been used, preparation will take longer. The surfaces need to be processed more thoroughly with sandpaper to remove all dirt and old paintwork. It is also necessary to inspect the furniture for cracks and nicks. To eliminate the former, you will need a special putty, and nicks can be removed by careful sanding with sandpaper. As a result, the surface should be absolutely smooth and even.
Sanding Primer
painting
The choice of paint is very important. After the sketch is approved, it is necessary to select the full palette of colors that are present in the drawing. If acrylic paint is used, it will be much more convenient and economical to buy different colors, which are mixed into the main white composition in order to obtain the desired shades.
The painting process itself can take a couple of hours or several days. For example, if you use stencils and spray paint, applying the design will be easy. It is only important to secure the stencil to the surface so that it does not “move” during the process of spraying paint. If the image is complex and includes many shades, before applying each layer it is necessary to allow the previous one to dry thoroughly.
The decoupage technique is quite simple to implement. The method of applying an image in this way involves the use of napkins with a beautiful pattern. Moreover, if the paper is three-layer, only the top layer is left, which is transferred to the furniture surface using PVA glue. If necessary, additional elements are drawn.
Consolidate the result
This step is mandatory. If the applied pattern is not fixed to the furniture, even the most durable paints will eventually wear off or fade under the influence of sunlight. To fix the result on surfaces of any material, it is most convenient to use colorless acrylic varnish. The composition is applied to the furniture in an even layer using a brush. It is important to ensure that there are no smudges or drops. It is better to varnish twice - since acrylic varnish dries very quickly, it will not take much time.
Hand-painted furniture will become a truly exclusive piece of furniture. As you improve your skills, you can gradually move from simple drawings to more complex ones, mastering new techniques.
Interesting facts about furniture
Interesting facts about furniture indicate different rates of development of production technologies among different nations. The furniture industry dates back to the times when people began to lead a sedentary lifestyle and stopped carrying all their things with them. In countries with harsh climates, the development of furniture production technologies proceeded much faster. People living in the north needed to equip their habitat with reliable protection from bad weather. Thick walls could provide it, and to protect against the cold and make the room comfortable, they began to make simple flooring and benches.
Another criterion pushing furniture production to develop was the availability of materials for its production. In forest regions, any parts of the interior can be made from wood; this material is easy to process and, if necessary, parts that have become unusable can be easily replaced. Stone benches are much more difficult to make, but they also last longer than their wooden counterparts. From time immemorial, people have tried to surround themselves with expensive things that show the status of the owner; the history of furniture remembers the most outstanding products:
- Beds with mattresses stuffed with feathers and down were considered elite in Rus'. At that time, people slept on floors made of straw or horsehair. Neither of the sleeping places were as comfortable as modern mattresses made using modern technologies;
- Chests of drawers were also once considered interesting furniture; they were invented in Charleston and people liked them for their portability and the ability to constantly move several small items, rather than one large one. The most expensive chest of drawers was named a piece of furniture made in 1726 in Florence; it is made of ebony and has not been destroyed for more than 200 years;
- First appearing in the Wild West, the high bar counter was also considered original, but thanks to its convenience and practicality, it spread throughout the globe. At first, this element was designed to protect the bartender from stray bullets, which are not uncommon in such establishments, and then only made it possible to conveniently pour drinks and communicate with visitors.
Outstanding works of the furniture industry are still being created; they meet all customer requirements and make people’s lives as comfortable as possible.
The most expensive office bureau
And finally, in first place is the most expensive furniture in history - the 18th-century Badminton cabinet, commissioned by Henry Sommerset. 30 craftsmen worked on this bureau for six years, so that centuries later, in our time, the descendants of Sommerset sold it at auction for 36.7 million dollars. But the work looks truly magnificent: the ebony is inlaid with amethyst, opal and other stones, and the exquisite decoration indicates a noble origin. Cost: $36,700,000. At the top of the structure is the gilded coat of arms of the Somersets.
