Multi-Functional Mid-Mod Chair

As our world shifts to become focused on practicing sustainability and mitigating overconsumption, items that serve multiple purposes are vital. These products are not only cost-efficient and convenient, but compact, too. Space-saving is extremely important in places like New York City, Seattle and Portland—where apartments can be as small as 690 square feet.

This item aims to serve three main functions: storage space, table space, and a place to sit. Using movable hinges, the piece can be turned from a chair into a coffee table or nightstand, meeting the needs of a diverse user base. My goal in designing this piece was to create an item that is not only adaptable, but visually appealing, too. The piece is ideal for places like dorms and small apartments, where it can transition from an everyday piece to one suitable for large gatherings.

Autodesk Software Used

1. AutoCAD
2. TinkerCAD

For this project, I took a lot of inspiration from vintage and mid-century modern pieces. Staying within the realm of sustainability, I wanted the piece to be timeless and clean. Mid-century modern is a design movement that emerged in the 20th century, one that prioritizes functionality, simplicity, and natural materials (like teak, ash, and oak). All of these elements are ones I wanted to highlight in my own work, so it made sense to align with this style.

For this project, I chose dark oak and walnut as they are both extremely durable and long-lasting wood types. The dense, tight grain of walnut wood allows it to resist wear and tear, preventing any long-term damage. While I did not actually build this piece, if someone were to, I would also recommend using wood conditioner & finisher. This will protect the wood from any possible scratching or staining, and give it the glossy look many MCM pieces tend to have.

In my sketch, I drew out the basic concepts for each function and how they might look while in use. After deciding how I wanted the piece to be designed, I researched the standard measurements of chairs, nightstands, and coffee tables. I took the most average/common dimensions for each piece, while also accounting for adjustments in function. I tried to keep the piece on the smaller side so that it would be lighter for moving between rooms/places. All measurements below are in inches.

Nightstand Measurements

Height — 23.5"

Width — 19"

Depth — 16.5"

Height of Legs — 9"

Table Leaf/Armrest Measurements

Height — 9"

Width — 15.5"

Depth — 1"

Backrest Measurements

Height — 16.5"

Width — 19"

Depth — 1"

I modeled my piece in AutoCAD and TinkerCAD to show both simplicity and depth. The armrests will sit on top of the piece so that they can have full mobility. To prioritize comfort while being used as a chair, the drawers have cut-out pull handles so as not to disturb whoever is sitting down. The armrests/table leaves and backrest will be folded all the way up in this form for support.

In this form of the piece, the armrests will be folded halfway down to act as table leaves/extensions, while the backrest will be folded all the way down. These two table leaves will extend the length of the piece by a foot and a half, creating a large amount of table space. This form of the piece is most appropriate for larger gatherings to accommodate for as many people as possible.

When being used as a nightstand, the armrests and backrest will be folded all the way down so that it can fit in smaller spaces/next to beds. In addition to storage space in the drawers, there is also room for storing items both on top of and underneath the piece. A mid-century modern piece like this would look great in rooms with warm lighting, natural materials, vintage items and greenery/plants.

I really enjoyed working on this project as I have no prior experience with furniture design. What struck me most was finding the right combination between purpose, functionality, and aesthetics. I wanted to balance solving a problem with designing an artistic solution. Furniture design is definitely a field I would love to explore again in the future.

This was also a project that helped me to further develop my CAD skills, in both 2D and 3D. I had not used TinkerCAD for such detailed work previously, but I really learned from the experience. Overall, this project allowed me to broaden my design skillset and add relevant work to my portfolio. Thank you for reading this far, I hope you enjoyed :)