10 Coolest Multifunctional Furniture Designs

Casulo boxed up transformer

credit: Casulo

It doesn't look like it, but hiding in this box are an armoire, a desk, a height-adjustable stool, two more stools, a six-shelf bookcase, and a bed with a mattress.

Casulo is a brilliant transforming furnishing system that fits an entire apartment's worth of furniture in a diminutive box.

Convertible Furniture in a Box

Casulo armoire, a desk, a height-adjustable stool, two more stools, a six-shelf bookcase, and a bed with a mattress.

credit: Casulo

Believe it or not, it takes two people 10 minutes (without tools!) to take Casulo from a box to completely unpacked.

Retractable Ceiling Bed

BEDUP retractable bed in the ceiling

credit: BedUp

Combining living and sleeping areas is one of those things that just makes sense: you don't need a bed when you're awake, and you don't need living space when you're asleep. BedUp offers an interesting take on the concept, utilizing the ceiling as storage space; see where the bed goes in sleep mode in the next image.

BEDUP retractable bed

credit: BedUp

One smart element of BedUp's design is that there is no furniture-moving required; depending on how you organize your space, the bed can just float down on your existing living space.

Mogga Transformer Chair

Mogga convertible table / chair by Olafur Omarsson

credit: Olafur Omarsson

Taking design inspiration from old breadboxes, Mogga is part chair, part table, and all transformer. See how it goes from chair to table and back in the next image.

Mogga convertible table / chair

credit: Olafur Omarsson

Designer Omarsson says, "Mogga was designed for small spaces. Imaginary scenario was created by the designer where people would need a chair that could be turned into a table without many problems."

Love Seat to Coffee Table

Akemi Tanaka convertible chair

credit: Akemi Tanaka

Akemi Tanaka's "Futaba" takes the chair-to-table transformation a step further, offering a folding love seat-coffee table combination; read on to see how it goes from seating to table.

Akemi Tanaka convertible coffee table

credit: Akemi Tanaka

"Futaba" earns additional green cred for Tanaka's shrewd choice of materials: bamboo.

Convertible Coffee Table to Dining Table

 Flipfurniture convertible coffee table

credit: Flipfurniture

If seating that transforms into a table doesn't fit your functional needs, check out the shape-shifting Flip table that goes from low coffee table (pictured above) to dining table (pictured below) complete with seating in a few deft moves.

Flipfurniture convertible dining table

credit: Flipfurniture

A slick sliding leg system allows one person to transform the Flip table into the dining configuration shown here; back in coffee table mode, the stools stow inconspicuously underneath. Smart.

Convertible Chair to Sofa

Roel Verhagen Kaptein convertible sofa

credit: Roel Verhagen Kaptein

Dutch designer Roel Verhagen Kaptein doesn't mince words. His transformer furniture concept Chair >to> Sofa is just that: A chair that transforms into a chaise, then a sofa, and then back again; get cozy in the chair; get comfy on the chaise; grab a nap on the sofa. Read on to see how it transforms to lounge and chair.

Roel Verhagen Kaptein convertible chair

credit: Roel Verhagen Kaptein

In addition to being cool, Chair >to> Sofa answers the question, "Why have three pieces when you can just have one?" Just imagine what your life would look like if all your stuff served at least three separate purposes...

Transform From Work to Play

Gruber + Schlager Work + Play combo furniture

credit: Gruber + Schlager

An important part of working from a home office is being able to keep work and play separate; the smart design of the Work + Play Combo makes it easy. The "work" version is pictured here; keep reading to see how it transforms to "play."

Gruber + Schlager Work + Play combo furniture

credit: Gruber + Schlager

As easy as turning a page, the freestanding Work + Play Combo transforms to "play," easing the transition from slaving away at your laptop to takin' it easy on the couch.

Home Office on Wheels

Creative Industrial Objects home office on wheels

credit: Creative Industrial Objects

If switching from a desk to a television doesn't do anything for you, Creative Industrial Objects has created a handy little home office on wheels that goes from side table to all-inclusive laptop desk in 180 degrees. See how it unfolds below.

Creative Industrial Objects home office on wheels unfolded

credit: Creative Industrial Objects

Its handy size make the folded version suitable for lots of different uses, and the lack of bulk means that anyone, no matter how much space you have, can have a home office. If you're tired of working with a sweaty lap all the time, this might be for you.

Mona Lisa Folding Chair

Kwang Hoo Lee's convertible Mona Lisa chairs

credit: Kwang Hoo Lee

Folding chairs are a great space-saving solution for seating, but where to store them when not in use? Designer Kwang Hoo Lee answers that question with artful Mona Lisa chair that hangs on the wall when you don't need it for seating.

Kwang Hoo Lee's convertible Mona Lisa chairs converted to a painting

credit: Kwang Hoo Lee

As long as you can get past sitting on Mona Lisa's face, this design is a great way to have extra seating (and a little extra art, too) without needing any extra storage space.

Transformer Clothing

C.P. Company's blue coat that converts into an armchair

credit: C.P. Company

Cool transforming furniture doesn't just have to go from one type of furniture to another; the C.P. Company shows us how to make a coat transform into an armchair, and back again.

C.P. Company's blue coat (top) converted to an armchair (bottom)

credit: C.P. Company

Bad turtle jokes aside, the concept is a strong one (even if this version isn't super-practical); no matter where you are, you can be dry and comfortable, thanks to the same piece of transforming clothing/furniture.