Move over, Ikea – as people are growing more comfortable with relocating frequently and prioritising travel over having a solid home base, ready-to-assemble furniture is on the up-and-up. Notable design names such as Hay and Normann Copenhagen have come out with their own stylish takes. From sofas to shelving units, here are five pieces of flat-pack furniture we love.
Artifox’s Desk 01
Modeled after a traditional writing desk with an undoubtedly modern twist, Artifox’s Desk 01 retains a sleek, minimalist style that fits in easily with many different aesthetics in an office or home study. Its streamlined look belies its capacity for organisation and variation – it includes a mobile devices dock, storage cabinet for cables and drives, removable writable surfaces and a magnetic system in the legs for cable management. It also comes in standing and left-handed versions. Available in white maple.
Hem’s Key coffee and side tables
Designed by the up-and-coming Italian-Danish duo GamFratesi, the Key coffee and side tables are light, simple, and can be built in a matter of seconds. The process requires no tools; assembling and securing the table’s three parts takes only two steps. The round top is lacquered ash wood while the legs are powder-coated steel, and the pieces come in either natural ash or black.
Hay’s Can sofa
Designed by the Bouroullec brothers for Hay’s 2016 range just in time for Milan Design Week, the Can sofa is made from a tubular steel framework that can be easily constructed at home. Material is then stretched over the frame, and sofa cushions placed on top. It’s easily customisable: you can choose the colour of the powder-coated steel as well as the colour and fabric of the cushions. The Can collection also comes with matching armchairs.
Normann Copenhagen’s Ace collection
Also launched at Milan Design Week was this collection of seating. Designer Hans Hornemann claims that it only takes five minutes to assemble each piece. Upholstered in either soft velour in a colour of your choice or in an exclusive leather called Nist, which is developed in-house by Normann Copenhagen, the collection includes a lounge chair, a sofa and a footstool. The seats and the rounded backs screw into each other, while the legs slot into pre-made holes.
Vitsœ’s 606 Universal Shelving System
Furniture brand Vitsœ’s experts specialise in flat-pack shelves that are completely customised to fit a space. Consult with them and they’ll create a shelving unit according to your specifications. Thanks to their patented E-Track and pin system, the installation process requires only a screwdriver and a drill to slip the notched pins into position. And if you’re not keen on doing it yourself, an installation service is also available in many cities, not including Hong Kong at the moment though.
