Modular furniture for a new freedom in home living

Many people see an open transition between the kitchen and the other areas of the home as the epitome of modern home living. Expansive one-room apartments and the blurring of indoor and outdoor areas are further indications that the requirements that we place on the use of our homes are changing. At the same time, a new need is emerging to restore a degree of privacy, at least temporarily, with flexible boundaries – for instance, to separate the home office or shared spaces. Adaptable furniture systems or room dividers provide solutions for a new form of application-based modularity. But despite all this functionality, there is a growing demand for an overarching language of form in this furniture that fosters a coherent interior aesthetic.

Open architecture

Boundary-free floor plans and an open arrangement of space define the layouts of modern homes. Built-in cupboards provide storage and free the rooms from an excess of different items of furniture, creating an uncluttered atmosphere that exudes well-being. Standalone furniture positioned freely in the space lends this openness a minimal touch of structure and gives the eye something to fix on. The upholstered furniture system Curt by Ambivalenz , for example, consists of rectangular cuboids that can be adapted into an armchair, a conventional sofa or an expansive sectional sofa thanks to a patented connection system. Rugs, floor coverings and sliding room dividers offer further quick and flexible ways to define areas of the home.

Outdoor living

The boundaries between indoors and outdoors are blurring. Whether they take the form of floor-to-ceiling windows and a barrier-free transition to the terrace or a small urban balcony, high-quality furniture concepts suitable for both areas are gaining ground. They combine the functionality of outdoor furniture with the aesthetic of the interior. Modern water-repellent surfaces are scarcely distinguishable visually or haptically from conventional fabrics, and a concrete table blends seamlessly into the living room. One successful example of this is the robust New Wave rug by kymo, which looks every bit as stylish on the balcony as it does in the kitchen or the bathroom. The Noa daybed by Auping is effortlessly easy to move from the terrace into the living room thanks to its wheels.

Living in the loft

Hardly any piece of furniture is better suited to the openness of a loft apartment than a floor-hugging sofa. Deep, comfy upholstered furniture that can be positioned anywhere in the room makes the perfect centrepiece in these airy living spaces with high ceilings. The organic design of the Bongo Bay series by brühl and the Jalis21 sofa collection by COR convey precisely this feel for life. Combined with an open-concept kitchen, the dining table is the second linchpin of social life, whether this is with family or friends. The Richard Herre Collection by e15 is inspired by the New Objectivity and offers a design that suits modern industrial lofts perfectly, both functionally and aesthetically.

The modular home office

Furnishing a multifunctional living and working space is always a question of perspective: Should the work furniture be integrated into the living area, or should the living furniture provide options for working? Today manufacturers offer solutions for both needs with elegant designs that transcend the conventional boundaries. Take the Leadchair by Walter Knoll , for instance, which also works brilliantly outside a familiar office aesthetic with its warm colours and large selection of fabric options. On the other side of the coin, the S 5000 Retreat by Thonet , a furniture system with a high back panel and an integrated table and power socket, creates a distraction-free place for work projects or periods of concentration. Concepts like these make compromises a thing of the past when it comes to furnishing the home office. Concepts like these make compromises a thing of the past when it comes to furnishing the home office.

Instead of fixed demarcations, the present day calls for flexible interior concepts that would have been inconceivable in the past. Manufacturers are responding to the changes in everyday needs with innovative developments that satisfy the desire for freedom. This trend clearly reveals one thing: Home living is increasingly an expression of individuality and social interaction.

Do you want to transcend boundaries? Discover other furniture systems, room dividers and modular sofas that are moving the boundaries in interior design as we know it on the ambista network.