Floating Furniture: Can You Handle the Suspense?
Take your furniture off the floor with the illusion of these gravity-defying home furnishings
Floating furniture is so called because the objects appear to hover just above the floor. With a few clever design tricks that make use of wood, metal or magnets, you can raise your cabinets, suspend your seating and cantilever your tables. Floating furniture looks smart and contemporary and often evokes a minimalist appearance. Plus, it saves space, makes cleaning much easier, and enhances the feeling of airiness in an indoor room or outdoor space.
Here are some ways you can incorporate floating furniture into your home. It’s time for lift-off!
Here are some ways you can incorporate floating furniture into your home. It’s time for lift-off!
Never lose your keys again! This strategically-placed and purposefully-designed floating console is ideal for leaving keys, mobiles, sunglasses, mail and other bits and pieces. Located by the front entrance of the house, its wood grain is elegant against a white backdrop and dark wooden floor.
As this example shows, floating furniture can be useful without taking up valuable floor space. And in small apartments, rooms or spaces – the more floor you can see, the larger the rooms appear.
As this example shows, floating furniture can be useful without taking up valuable floor space. And in small apartments, rooms or spaces – the more floor you can see, the larger the rooms appear.
Everything has the illusion of hovering just above the floor in this living space, including a long and rectilinear floating cabinet that mimics and elongates the shape of the room. With very little furniture actually touching the floor – even the couch is on short narrow legs – the room has a sense of levitation and lightness. Just think how easy it is to vacuum in here!
Bathroom vanities
This vanity is all about making a small bathroom feel large, and it does that simply by allowing space underneath and on either side of the vanity. Secured to the wall with steel brackets attached to studs, the vanity does not consume floor or side wall space. Additionally, the colour palette is both subtle and complementary for a clean, contemporary feel.
This vanity is all about making a small bathroom feel large, and it does that simply by allowing space underneath and on either side of the vanity. Secured to the wall with steel brackets attached to studs, the vanity does not consume floor or side wall space. Additionally, the colour palette is both subtle and complementary for a clean, contemporary feel.
Rendered in dark wood against a light background, this cabinet could appear heavy and traditional if it sat on the floor. But positioning it above the ground makes it seem lighter and more modern, while still providing plenty of storage and bench space. Plus, the shelving and medicine cabinets above cleverly enhance the feeling of light and space as they are recessed rather than protruding from the wall.
Kitchen, dining-room and coffee tables
This table is cantilevered from the kitchen island, evoking a sense of floating mid-air. It can be used for a number of purposes, including dining, food preparation, reading, working, or simply as a place for the kids to do their homework. It would also be ideal as an informal place to mill around during cocktail evenings or dinner parties. Store some stackable chairs in a cupboard or corner nearby and it’s ready for any purpose you need.
This table is cantilevered from the kitchen island, evoking a sense of floating mid-air. It can be used for a number of purposes, including dining, food preparation, reading, working, or simply as a place for the kids to do their homework. It would also be ideal as an informal place to mill around during cocktail evenings or dinner parties. Store some stackable chairs in a cupboard or corner nearby and it’s ready for any purpose you need.
This dining table is cantilevered from the kitchen bench in the same material, giving it a monumental and solid feel despite floating in the room. Its informality is enhanced by bench seats, and could again be used in a number of ways.
Stabilised at one end and suspended at the other, this coffee table seemingly defies gravity. It’s slick, black and contemporary in a room that pops with saturated colour and a retro feel. Who needs coffee table books when you have this statement piece as a conversation starter?!
Outdoor seating
Minimal maintenance is required for timber, which makes this entertaining area informal and easy to look after. Floating bench seats are attached to concrete flower boxes, with accent lighting underneath. With or without the table and chairs, this is an effective use of a small space for entertaining or relaxing.
Minimal maintenance is required for timber, which makes this entertaining area informal and easy to look after. Floating bench seats are attached to concrete flower boxes, with accent lighting underneath. With or without the table and chairs, this is an effective use of a small space for entertaining or relaxing.
And finally, one very simple poolside bench. This backyard is all about mixing textures and patterns – tiled walls, timber fence, printed upholstery and a marbled bench – and it works. This bench is ideal for sitting or lying down, catching the sun or enjoying the shade. And by floating it up the timber wall it has a lightness and airiness that harmonises with its surroundings.
This floating buffet is a modern take on the Mid-century sideboard and it proves to be an effective use of a corner space. It provides drawers and cabinets for storage, and surfaces for ornamental display, while still allowing for plenty of room for people to move. In a timeless design, its organic wood blends seamlessly with the nearby table and chairs, and it has a feeling of simplicity and lightness as air can flow underneath and around all the surfaces.