SPACE-SAVING FURNITURE IS THE FUTURE
Space is a perennial issue in any kind of property, whether a house-and-lot or a condo unit. A spacious unit allows the dweller to accomplish a multitude of tasks and goals and, thus, live a convenient and obstruction-free domestic life.
But if there’s hardly any space in your home, instead of moving into a bigger abode, it’s better and more economical to invest in space-saving furniture.
The idea of space-saving furniture isn’t necessarily new. With tiny houses and micro-apartments recently becoming hot properties in the US and Europe, space-saving furniture has experienced a renaissance. And it could very well see a renaissance here if you simply consider some of the few spacesaving furniture ideas below.
1. MURPHY BEDS
Murphy beds have been around for more than a century after enterprising inventor William Lawrence Murphy invented one in 1912 and dubbed it The Disappearing Bed. One story was that he invented the Murphy bed so he could hide it in his bedroom wall and convert his bedroom into a parlor so he could bring
women into the bedroom, a practice that was looked down on at that time.
The Murphy bed gradually fell out of favor because of newer bed designs and incidences wherein the folding beds were not secured properly and fell on the owner. But there are plenty of Murphy bed designs today that guarantee safety, comfort and durability.
2. Wall-mounted tables
Tables are one of the few pieces of furniture that eats the most space inside a home and yet, these are only used for at least two to three times a day for dining or working. Wall-mounted tables were designed to enable the property owner to reclaim space the table occupies when not in use. A common misconception, though, is that wall-mounted tables aren’t sturdy enough and could collapse. But there are many new designs of wall-mounted tables these days that use stronger materials and could carry different weights if installed properly.
3. Storage under stairs
Another portion of the house that eats a lot of space is the stairs. It’s difficult for homeowners to utilize the space the stair’s angle offers because of the low headroom. But for the imaginative interior decorator, this isn’t a problem. These angled spaces can be converted into cupboards, storage drawers, bookshelves, hidden workstations and even dwellings for your pets at home.
4. Coffee table storage
Coffee tables are medium-sized furniture that only serve one purpose: to carry whatever that’s placed on top, whether it’s coffee mugs, tea cups, books, picture frames, even lamps. The space underneath is largely underutilized and merely collects dust that makes for a cleaning headache. Go around this predicament by purchasing coffee tables that double as storage boxes. While mostly made of wood, there are other designs that combine other materials such as metal and glass. Opt for the design that allows for easy access in the storage underneath.
5. Extending center tables
Center tables serve the same purpose as coffee tables, aside from being a decorative centerpiece (and the occasional footrest!) in the living room. And being in the center, owners usually have to bend while sitting on the sofa in order to reach objects placed on it, causing quite an inconvenience if not back problems. The answer: extending center tables. These nifty tables enable the owner to pull out a portion of the table’s surface for use as an instant laptop or snack table. Pulling out the tabletop reveals ample storage underneath, which are perfect for hiding magazines and other items.
6. Paintings that store things
Okay. Paintings don’t occupy floor space. They add color and character to a house that might otherwise be bleak and ordinary if it’s just a plain wall. But more than tickling our artistic sense, the spaces behind paintings can also serve as a handy cupboard or safe to stylishly keep your valuable curios and trinkets.