What’s the first thing you think of when you envision a futuristic home? Whichever impression you come up with, within every futuristic home are pieces of functional furniture that look seamless and serve more than one function.
These furniture pieces include cutting-edge features, namely pop-up mechanisms, concealed storage, and minimalist designs.
With pieces like these in your home, your living spaces transform into the epitome of aesthetic and functional living that many would deem to be “ahead of the times.”
And if you’re looking for a way to create futuristic interiors boasting functional furniture, this post is for you.
Learn more about creating a futuristic vibe in homes with sleek and functional furniture.
Futuristic and Minimalist: The Evolution of Design
“Futuristic” is a broad term to many, and basing an entire design concept on this one word can lead to confusion. However, at SOSS, when we talk about futuristic designs, just think minimalist.
Now, you may be wondering how it came to be that minimalism became the guiding principle for modern interior design.
Let’s travel back in time and delve deeper.
It Began With Ornamentation
When you look at the evolution of interior design, there’s a departure from the elaborate and ornamented aesthetics. Ornamentation played a key role in the Neoclassical and Victorian periods, so homes designed during these times boasted sculpted beams and had furniture pieces with numerous curves and protrusions.
This design approach remained prevalent for over 120 years, so it’s no surprise that we see elements of it to this very day. However, times have changed.
Modernist Design: The Departure From Ornamentation
Fast-forward to the 1900s, and you’ll discover a growing appreciation for less elaborate design features.
The early 1900s saw the emergence of Modernist design.
Modernism was characterized by a departure from the artistic and elaborate design elements of the Neoclassical and Victorian periods. This design principle was the brainchild of the Bauhaus School of Design and became the guiding principle for designers between the 1910s and the 1950s.
Guided by this design principle, more builders and architects began to favor symmetry and simplicity over Gothic and Victorian-inspired elements.
There also came a greater emphasis on less striking visual lines, resulting in furniture, decorations, and architectural elements with straighter visual lines and fewer protrusions.
Postmodernist Design: The Beginning of Minimalism
After the 1950s, the movement towards minimalism came in full swing with the emergence of Postmodernist design.
Postmodernist design featured the minimalism that was introduced during the early 1900s and some of the artistic elements prevalent in the earlier period.
The result was a design paradigm that enshrined minimalist aesthetics with some of the artistic elements prevalent in the Victorian period (albeit neutral).
Besides this, sleeker and more flawless lines became the new gold standard for what counts as modern pieces and architecture.
Minimalist and Futuristic: What It Looks Like Today
So, if you were to add a contemporary twist to Postmodern minimalism, what would it look like?
You can summarize minimalism’s elements in the following words:
- Cleaner visual lines
- Pop-up elements for appliances
- Atmospheric lighting
All of these elements are applicable to how you design interiors, and they also apply to the furniture pieces you’re incorporating into a home.
With these elements, you’ll create interiors that give off a futuristic vibe.
Incorporating Innovative Aesthetics
As you can see, there’s a bit more to contemporary minimalism than just “simplicity.”
Besides keeping things simple, today’s minimalist approach calls for the addition of some artistic elements, which is what the atmospheric lighting and showy pop-up elements are for.
There are also other elements you can introduce to give your interiors and furniture a more futuristic appeal.
Built-In Storage
Let’s begin with built-in storage spaces.
These spaces are essential to modern furniture since they enable pieces to serve multiple functions. Besides the purposes they were made for, they can also become alternative storage spaces for smaller items.
For example, you can add a futuristic twist to a simple divan by adding a storage compartment at its base.
Doing this gives the furniture piece a dual purpose, elevating its aesthetics and saving space.
Pop-Up Mechanisms
Homes will likely have large electronics like flat-screen televisions and gaming consoles. These smart appliances will require furniture pieces that facilitate storage and access. This is why pop-up mechanisms are a feature of futuristic furniture pieces.
Pop-up mechanisms like the ones you’d see in television lifts can add a futuristic appeal to your spaces. These mechanisms not only elevate storage and access to appliances but are innovative additions to furniture pieces.
Hidden Compartments
There’s nothing like a set of hidden compartments to add a futuristic appeal to furniture. Hidden storage spaces are game-changers when trying to create that sleek appearance in most modern homes.
Besides adding a futuristic appeal and elevating your furniture, hidden storage compartments can keep valuable items away from view. As a result, your items remain safe and sound and free from damage or theft.
Of course, the keyword here is “hidden.” This means that you need concealed components so as not to give away their location.
When it comes to concealed components or parts, you’ll need invisible hinges.
Invisible or concealed hinges boast hardware that retracts from view upon closure. As a result, these hinges won’t be visible, unlike adjustable hinges with protruding hardware.
If you’re in the market for the finest-quality concealed hinges for furniture or doors, look no further than SOSS invisible hinges.
Beyond Aesthetics
There’s more to futuristic and functional furniture design than keeping things minimalistic. As you may have noticed, there’s a lot of overlap between futuristic aesthetics and functionality.
For instance, television lifts don’t just look like pieces from a sci-fi novel — they also save space and protect the televisions they house.
When designing spaces and furniture for maximum function, the following additions and integrations can bring out the best in your home.
Secret Compartments
Secret compartments in your furniture or even walls are vital to the sleekness of your spaces. Hidden compartments reduce the number of visible hardware like hinges. As a result, your spaces and furniture will boast cleaner and more flawless visual lines that are unique to futuristic interior design.
For designing hidden compartments, adjustable or European hinges aren’t the best options due to their clunky and visible hardware.
Instead, choose concealed hinges like the SOSS Invisible Hinge.
Stain and Odor-Resistant Materials
Whether you’re designing functional furniture or futuristic interior spaces, use stain and odor-resistant materials. These materials are a must because they help retain the pristine appearance of your spaces. Most importantly, they retain your space’s allure by reducing unpleasant odors.
Perhaps the most underrated benefit of stain and odor-resistant materials is their low maintenance needs. Because these materials won’t attract dust or dirt easily, you won’t need to clean them too often.
There are various options for low-maintenance furniture materials on the market. If you’re unsure, you can look into microfiber, polyester, or even outdoor fabrics.
For sturdier options, consider olefin and vinyl — not only are these materials resistant to stains and odors but they’ll also hold up to the demands of heavy usage.
Smart Home Integrations
Nothing says “futuristic and functional” better than smart integrations. Integrations like smart television sets, automatic thermostats, and internet-connected devices can add convenience to daily living.
How To Create Futuristic and Functional Furniture and Spaces
When designing functional furniture pieces, concealed hinges are a must. Here are some practical ways to incorporate invisible hinges into your furniture.
Use Concealed Hinges
Unlike traditional hinges, concealed hinges are hidden from view which enables you to create discreet furniture pieces that add to the sleek appearance of your spaces.
When incorporating hidden hinges, use them in places like furniture with storage compartments. You can also add them to:
- Cabinetry
- Closets
- Hidden doors
Incorporate Smart Technology
When we say smart technology, we mean internet-connected devices. These devices must be interconnected throughout the household with one readily available interface (often a mobile phone).
Choose Innovative Materials
Innovative materials not only look aesthetically pleasing but also prioritize sustainability and performance.
Sustainable materials are the way to go, especially when it comes to surfaces. For furniture, choose stain and odor-resistant materials.
Futuristic and Functional Furniture With SOSS
Functional furniture is clean, flawless, and sleek. For your pieces to tick these boxes, choose components that remain concealed while bringing out the best in your furniture and spaces.
At SOSS, we offer premium-grade and precision-engineered concealed hinges for functional furniture pieces and futuristic home fixtures.
Check out our invisible hinges and design your home for the future today.
FAQs
What Are the Best Materials for Functional Furniture?
Functional furniture must be durable, long-lasting, and resistant to odors or stains. For this reason, select fibers like polyester and microfiber. Besides these materials, vinyl and olefin can be excellent options for commonly used furniture pieces like couches.
Are Concealed Hinges Essential to Functional Furniture Designs?
Indeed, you can design functional furniture pieces without using concealed hinges. However, keep in mind that invisible hinges can elevate the sleekness of your pieces. The results are more flawless visual lines you won’t get from using traditional European or adjustable hinges.