15 Modern Furniture with a Creative Twist
Modern furniture isn’t just metal and sharp angles it’s about clean lines, bold forms, and creative materials. These standout pieces show how diverse and expressive modern design can be, offering fresh inspiration for any space.
Hanging Chairs
Hanging chairs may have started as a boho kind of thing, but they have become more popular and have expanded in the range of styles available. This Swing from Point 1920 has an epoxy baked lacquered aluminum frame and the woven section is made from polyester rope. It comes in three different finishes and the cushions can be upholstered in a range of textile choices.
Modern Materials
The Naked chair uses the materials most often associated with modern furniture designs: glass and leather. Created by Giovanni Tommaso Garattoni for Tonelli Design, the sleek and stylish seat has a comfy sling seat that comes in black or white leather, suspended between the two thick side panels of glass. Two oval openings are more than just a design element and serve as armrests for when you’re nestled in the chair.
Iconic Flair
There’s a reason that iconic pieces take their place in design history and the Barcelona line by the renowned Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is a prime example. Companion piece to the iconic chair, the Barcelona Couch was designed in 1930 and has the same elegant form. This is also a super versatile piece of furniture because it can serve as your most comfortable lounging spot in the afternoon and as a perfect seating option for an evening of entertaining.
Unique Shapes
As already explained, a key element of modern design can be uniquely different shapes that turn a basic piece into a work of art. That’s the case with Holo, a line of tables from Kristalia that feature a shapely based with a glass or wood top. The material used for the base is also unexpected: sheet metal. Creator Kensaku Oshiro uses a process that uses a series of molding and bending procedures to make this softly rounded design.
All Curves
Most of the time, the term “Fatty” isn’t a compliment but in this case, it’s perfect as the name for this thick tabletop supported by three sensuously shaped legs. Designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Emmemobili, the Fatty table demonstrates “a new approach to minimalism in the essentiality of the structure and clean shapes.” The substantial table has unique design features, such as the way the legs join with base in a visible way at the top.
Storage as Art
This is the Arlequin C, also designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Emmemobili, and it has the most eye-catching silhouette. Triangle-shaped doors are paneled with more triangles, all inspired by the traditional harlequin pattern — but with a twist. It’s available in a tall version, like this one, and a lower version, as well as a wall-mounted option. All have tempered glass shelves inside. Crafted from oak, it comes in an optional all-oak finish, an oak and brass combination, or a mix of oak, brass and lacquered metals, which is shown above.
Statement Lighting
Modern design ideas don’t have to be all glitz and shine; the Excelsior lamp from Emmemobile features natural wood in a dramatic and very modern way. Designed by Ferruccio Laviani. Using a technique that curved, multilayer wooden bands that are mounted on a central base in a graduated form that creates a focal point for any space. Light spills from the center through the voids between the bands, creating warm illumination and highlighting the unexpected design.
Artful Mirrors
When it’s rendered as a piece of exquisite art, like this Sturm und Drang mirror designed by Piero Lissoni. GlasItalia’s mirror features an intricate Murano glass frame, created though a complicated hand-crafted production process. The result is that no two mirror frames are alike.
Unexpected Techniques
This is the case with the Liquefy coffee tables by design powerhouse Patricia Urquiola. Presented by GlasItalia, the tempered glass tables are made even more special with an organic look that resembles the veins found in marble. It’s a dynamic design because the image is altered when you change your viewing perspective.
Shine and Shimmer
Colorful accents certainly have their place in modern furniture groupings and the Shimmer tavoli is a glimmering but subtler way to add some pop to a room. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the Shimmer tables are constructed of laminated and glued glass that features a special iridescent multichromatic finish. The hue of the table segments changes with the angle of the light as well as the viewer’s vantage point.
Lean and Minimal
Minimalism meets warmth in the Beleos 3200 dining table by Bross. Designed by Giulio Iacchetti, it features an elongated oval glass top and a sculptural wooden base inspired by genetic forms. Available in walnut or oak with customizable finishes, its elegance lies in the details and shifting perspectives.
Supremely Comfortable
Some people don’t associate modern furniture ideas with comfort, but the Sienna armchair by Studio Balutto for Horm will convince them otherwise. Inspired by Swedish designs from the 1970s, the chair has a solid black ash wooden base that supports the padded and upholstered shell whose front is gently tipped upward for comfort.
Funky Silhouettes
Modern design thrives on bold silhouettes, and chairs are the perfect canvas. On the right, the Alieno Peacock by GamFratesi for Casamania makes a sculptural statement indoors or out, with a form that embodies contrast. On the left, the Pablita by Marcello Pozzi for Horm channels Picasso in a minimalist three-legged design, balancing art and function through suspended leather and sleek materials.
Retro Inspired
The Longing Cabinet by Nika Zupak for De Castelli is inspired by old sideboards where biscuits and candies were locked away from children. This cabinet is one of wishes and features a decorative key for each compartment, along with a selection of De Castelli copper finishes. Each separate compartment sports a unique finish and all meld together in an opulent yet minimalist piece of modern furniture.
Statement Furniture
The Polifemo cabinet by Elena Salmistraro for DeCastelli is one such piece. Slim legs support a rounded cabinet that appears to have a single eye in the middle like a cyclops. The central element is actually a pair of handles that open the cabinet to reveal three interior shelves. The overall visual is one of imbalance, due to the very slender base and ample rounded cabinet. made from solid wood, the Polifemo comes finished in stainless steel or copper, as shown here.