Folding Designs Make the Most of Your Space

Remember folding tables? Many of us grew up with one in our homes. It had a simple design: Its two leaves could collapse down, leaving just a narrow central worktop, with legs neatly stowed beneath. When folded up, it left masses of space free, but could be flipped open to create a dining table to seat the whole family. What’s not to like?

Today this simple concept has been expanded and improved upon. Now folding designs crop up in every room of the home. From doors that fold away to reveal a pantry in a galley kitchen to ingenious flip-down storage, the foldaway concept works in both small spaces with confined dimensions and stylish bigger rooms with a streamlined look.

Here are 10 great ways to use designs with hinge benefits.

Conceal technology. A big TV would have disrupted the feel of this minimalist, contemporary space. So it’s concealed behind a single folding door, set in a slim wall. The door folds back neatly to sit discreetly against the white wall for an incredibly streamlined look.

More ways to hide the TV


Increase functional space. A whole pantry space, complete with shelves, drawers and a counter, is concealed behind a supersleek folding door here. A single door fitting this wide space would have protruded too far into the room when open. The folding design solves this problem, so that this kitchen in a cupboard can be left open while in use, with its slim door protruding only a little way into the room.


Revolutionize a small space. This blue unit is an entire storage, sleeping and work system, designed to fold back against the wall. One piece opens out to reveal a fold-down bed, and there is also a foldaway desk that can be used when the bed is out or stored. It’s an inspired solution to small-space living in a studio in New York City.

See more of this 400-square-foot apartment


Fit a folding bed. A folding bed allows a room to morph from an office, say, into a guest bedroom, when the bed is lowered. The design here does not compromise on comfort or style: It’s a double bed, which drops down to reveal built-in lighting and even a tiny artwork.


Find a classic secretary desk. The traditional bureau design has been used for hundreds of years. It’s basically a simple desk space for letter writing that can be pulled down from a larger unit and then folded away when not in use. This lovely example looks good whether open or closed and is a handsome piece of furniture in its own right.


Custom build it. If you are getting shelving built into your home, why not design it with a foldaway component? This will allow you to store some items out of sight — technology equipment, for example — and is a fresh take on the more traditional drawer.


Tweak tradition. On a classic storage unit like this, you might expect a pair of doors to open outward, but this beautiful design has a folding door instead. It’s a fun feature that folds back to reveal not the predictable shelves, but a surprising array of tiny drawers.


Reveal an office. The more slim and narrow your folding doors, the more neatly they will fold back, barely eating into floor space. The advantage of this is that a home office like this one, for example, feels part of the room when the folding doors are open. Larger doors that jutted out to each side of the desk would have produced an enclosed, slightly claustrophobic feel for anyone working here.

How to Turn Your Closet Into an Office


Hang it up. A freestanding drying rack takes up valuable floor space, while one suspended from the ceiling involves ropes, pulleys and perhaps too much fiddling about for many of us. This is a perfect solution — drying rails that fold down from the wall and can be stored flush against it when not in use.


Squeeze in a kitchen table. We all like to eat informally in our kitchen, and even the snuggest cooking space may have room for a folding table. This design can be dropped down against the wall when not in use, while the chairs can be collapsed and stored on hooks above. It’s a simple way to get more from a small space.

More:
10 Ways to Get More Storage Out of Your Space
Browse more small-space decorating ideas

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