Space-savvy solutions

As real estate prices skyrocket, many of us have to make do with living in small spaces. It’s only when we move into a compact space that we realise every inch counts! This is why it’s important to have sensible furniture. Space constraints have prompted furniture designers to think out of the box and create several multi-use furniture pieces. These quintessential pieces have been highly coveted both for their utilitarian aspects as well as the style statement factor. There are so many transformable pieces in the market that one might even have a hard time choosing the best fit.

Pieces that turn from a three-seater sofa into a queen-size bed come in handy for youngsters with a small budget and scarcity of space. Some of these even come with bells and whistles that turn the footboards of these beds into additional night-time storage units. Some of the brands have even come up with chairs that can be folded into storage spaces. These are indeed a boon when horizontal spaces are sparse. 

Another way to tackle the challenge of having a shortage of horizontal planes is to create them. The typical bunk beds, to start with, are simple examples. Whilst exploring this idea, if the floor to ceiling heights are considerably large then adding loft spaces are also a great way to solve the problem. Some Canadian-based brands that specialise in such transformable small-space solutions for bedrooms, home offices, extra storage rooms, etc. are worth checking out. 

Several kids’ furniture has also come into the market. These have paired bunk beds with kids study tables and wardrobes to be moved around according to the requirement, thus saving on space during the day. Pop-up kitchens have also made their mark in the high-end modular kitchen systems. Appearing to look like a stylish entertainment cabinet, a pop-up kitchen can open into a 90 or full 120-degree span with the appliances including dishwasher, refrigerator, waste disposal system, integrated hoods, sinks etc.  Similarly, open-up dining tables have also been designed to collapse into study tables during the day, which open up to almost 9 feet when required. The same concepts can be used for coffee tables in the living space as well.

It is a sombre fact that most of these transformable furniture pieces are often high-end ones and manufactured outside India. These are also not manufactured for long runs. As foreign furniture companies such as IKEA, which provide use and throw furniture, barge into our market, it is probably time for our India-based furniture brands rise to the occasion and solve the issues of middle-class India that cannot afford to splurge money on a dining table every two or three years.

(The writer is an architect who is passionate about the spaces she designs as well as dances in)