There’s something about wood as a material that instantly puts you at ease. Wood radiates a certain warmth, and sense of zen, that no other material can exude. And, sometimes a wooden piece of furniture is what your living space truly needs. I feel a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces! Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps a space radiate an aura of warmth and calmness. They instantly make you feel at home. From a wooden desk that embraces minimalism through a simple build and removable storage space to a bent wood veneer and leather armchair – these quintessential yet stunning wooden furniture designs are all you need in your home.
1. The Diag Desk
This beautiful, minimal, and modern desk is called the Diag Desk. It’s built to optimize storage space while integrating storage elements such as removable leather compartments. As simple and minimal as the desk is, it doesn’t lack in functionality or practicality in any form.
Why is it noteworthy?
Considering its minimalist build, more space can be devoted to the desk’s tabletop, where most of the desk’s purpose is reserved. The Diag Desk from Polish designer Marek Błażucki is one kind of minimalist design that integrates storage systems into its build, ensuring that users have ample desk space while still keeping their necessary stationery within arm’s reach.
What we like
- Integrates ample storage systems into its build
- Ensures stationery doesn’t fall off
What we dislike
- There are a lot of visually similar desks on the market
2. The Fly armchair
This Golder Winner of the A’ Design Award, is an intriguing armchair created as a result of studies of deconstructivist compositions with the objective of building a product with disconnected elements that paradoxically result in a harmonious object. All its parts are contrasting elements, that somehow come together to create a seamless and minimal furniture piece called the Fly armchair.
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s a common assumption that a chair is a singular frame of wood, lined with cushions at strategic places to make seating comfortable. The Fly Armchair shatters that notion by, instead, opting for multiple disconnected pieces of wood that are magically connected by the cushions and armrests. The wood frame isn’t a singular cohesive unit but is rather a fractured form that’s united by an unlikely hero – the ‘soft’ cushion. To an extent, that too was true with the Eames Lounge Chair’s design, although Lima made a more conscious effort to adopt that style here.
What we like
- Clean + minimal aesthetics
- It’s almost as if the chair’s ‘actual’ frame is wearing a leather cloak, while the armrests, legs, base, and back panel are taking the credit for bringing the chair together
What we dislike
3. The Donner Digital Piano
The Donner Digital Piano is a stunning and eco-friendly piano that looks more like a modern furniture piece than a musical instrument. It’s equivalent to a French grand piano acoustically, but since I don’t know much about musical intricacies, for now, its minimal yet stylish looks have completely won me over.
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s stylish but remains affordable while able to offer premium audio. The minimalist style makes it an eye-catching addition to any room. It’s a modern furniture item that can make lovely music. When played right, it offers pleasure to the ears. It’s designed to be pleasing not only to the ears but also to the eyes. The piano’s aesthetics will meet any minimalist’s standards with its wood finish. It comes with 88 full-sized weighted keys, so it feels like a real piano.
What we like
- Merges seamlessly with modern living spaces
- Looks more like a furniture piece than a musical instrument
What we dislike
4. The Pessoa Table
Minimalist desks are great at sneaking organizational features into hidden nooks and crannies, but this striking work table has those compartments and spaces hiding in plain sight.
Why is it noteworthy?
Given the desk’s simple yet beautiful appearance, it might come as a surprise to learn that its form is actually inspired by three very different people with very different personalities. Or, to be more precise, the desk is named after the famed Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa, whose different “heteronyms” (he doesn’t want to call them pseudonyms) have different and sometimes extremely conflicting ideologies. But almost like a metaphor for that situation, the Pessoa table still retains a unified appearance and beauty, just as all of Pessoa’s seventy-five heteronyms spring from the same man.
What we like
- Minimal + vintage looks
- Features two containers that float in the back panel
What we dislike
5. The Nodding Chair
As someone who loves to read, and read for long periods of time, I know that wooden chairs are the least comfortable ones to sit on while finishing a good book. And I’ve also tried to read while on a regular rocking chair and that made me dizzy since the constant big movements are a bit too much for my poor eyes. But staying put in a chair can still be uncomfortable and you need some type of motion while you’re reading. This product concept seems to be the perfect one for bookworms like me.
Why is it noteworthy?
While rocking chairs are good for relaxation, they’re not always good for floors and if you’re like me, for our eyes and peace of mind. The designer thought of a new way to have a chair that can be comfortable and still let your body have its range of natural motion while reading, resting, or even writing (if you’re used to that). The Nodding Chair can be tilted forward and backward, letting you make smaller movements that won’t make you too nauseous.
What we like
- Creates less pressure on the floor so you won’t get marks and scratches
- Allows the chair to move with you as you occasionally change positions while reading
What we dislike
- The seat itself doesn’t seem to be that comfortable as it’s just plain wood and there’s no cushion
6. The Bogdan Collection
There is something about Italian furniture that sets it apart from others. We love that furniture design can be elegant, luxurious, and modern at the same time. That is for most of the contemporary pieces we are being introduced to, like the Bogdan Collection by Studiointervallo.
Why is it noteworthy?
The studio’s founder, Andrea Ghisoni, designed this series of furniture that includes a bench, a console table, a coffee table, and a side table. You may want the whole collection as every piece can go well with the minimalist aesthetics of your home. Every unit is made of a single carved solid linden wood and boasts a single line of color defining the shape and the perimeter.
What we like
- Features colored milled-edge ribs for a bit of style and accent
What we dislike
7. The Migo Chair
A result of personal reflections during the pandemic, the Migo Chair is a minimal and well-designed furniture piece that functions as a chair, as well as a side table. It was created based on one’s perspective and experiences during the lockdowns because of COVID-19 and was finally brought to life at BENCHMARK’s workshop and was showcased at The Design Museum in London.
Why is it noteworthy?
We can’t really say which is the front or back but you can use the chair in several ways. The material used is American red oak so you know it can be very durable. What makes this more interesting is that it can be cut from just a single plank of wood, giving off a consistent grain. A chair made from a single piece of material also offers less wastage.
What we like
- Made from a single plank of wood
- Created from a universal personal experience
What we dislike
8. The Nook desk
The Nook desk right from its appearance and thereafter has a story of material molding, matte finish, and a simple idea that’s still more than an ordinary desk. The Nook desk surface, and nifty selves at the edges, hold key to the table’s idea of maximizing productivity with minimalistic use of material.
Why is it noteworthy?
New desks surfacing on our computer screens day in and day out are generally drenched heavily in the wave of maximizing gadgetry on the tabletop courtesy of cable organizers, built-in wireless chargers et al. Atkay keeps it simple and not distracting. His idea of a desk will therefore not revibrate with most hybrid/work-from-home taskforce. However, if you’re someone like me who loves the desk clear of clutter and only wants a book or two in close proximity; this is where the search can end.
What we like
- Nook desk’s personalized design aesthetics shall help you have most of your reading/writing material well within your reach
- The personalized design is achieved by separating multiple layers of plywood at the edges of the table, creating storage layers on the bottom of the tabletop
What we dislike
9. The Circus coffee table
The Circus coffee table is a far cry from the boring old coffee tables you’ve gotten so used to seeing. The unique coffee table was designed to bring people together, and create a more active and interactive space for them. The table is built using a jumble of different shapes, sizes, and materials, creating a chaotic yet harmonious furniture piece that instantly attracts you to it!
Why is it noteworthy?
The table’s jumble of shapes and materials is almost chaotic, just like a circus. You have a predominantly wooden table with metal components that add functionality to the table. The large circular hole in the middle turns the disc into a donut and reveals two triangular shapes that form the legs of the table. Instead of a solid cylindrical base, the table has metal bars and doors on opposite sides, creating further contrasts in terms of design.
What we like
- Gathers people around in an interesting yet fun way
What we dislike
- The design may be too chaotic for some people
10. The Cloth Coffee Table
Characterized by its curved bookstand that works as the table’s centerpiece, the Cloth coffee table’s curvy personality is echoed throughout its build. The bookstand also finds a balance between boldness and elegance, offering a weighty centerpiece that helps ground the coffee table, without dominating the available tablespace. Featuring softly bold elements like an undulating table edge that mimics the look of a live edge, the Cloth coffee table keeps a dynamic profile without dominating the room.
Why is it noteworthy?
Doing minimalism before it was cool, Japanese and Scandinavian share a lot of common design principles, including a focus on warmth, groundedness, and a subdued color scheme for an overall calming effect. With aim of merging these principles together to design Cloth, Teixeira hoped to find a “balance between boldness and elegance, depending on the angle.”
What we like
- An artful blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies
- The curved bookstand is a distinguishing feature
