As kids, many of us played with toys that we could build, tear down, and rebuild in different ways the next time we grabbed them from our toy chests. With the same pile of bricks and blocks, we could follow the blueprints and build something just like the designers told us to, or we could create something straight out of our wildest imagination. There was a certain freedom in being able to mix and match and change our builds in unique ways while still using the same pieces.

What if we could bring this creativity that we once found in our toys into our homes through our furniture? One option that encompasses this is modular furniture, which is specifically designed to be changed, mixed around, and made to fit your ever-evolving spaces.

Photos above and left courtesy of Joybird

What is modular furniture?

From a design perspective, modularity is a principle seen in architecture, interior design, and furniture. The principle revolves around individual pieces, otherwise known as modules, that are combined to make one larger structure, element, or piece. The modules can typically be combined in a variety of ways and are often more easily interchangeable than traditional designs. For example, a modular office is one with walls and desks that can be moved, removed, or generally adapted according to the current needs of the office space. It makes for a flexible space rather than a rigid one since it can be updated in many ways.

Modularity is a popular approach for furniture since buyers aren’t stuck with a piece with one design and purpose. Instead, modular furniture gives consumers the chance to update their pieces in different ways since they can buy additional modules or remove modules as needed. This concept can increase the longevity of your furniture because it allows your pieces to adapt and evolve with you and your housing situation. And now that more people than ever are working from home, there’s a higher demand for flexibility in home furnishings. So if you’re in the market for new furniture for your home, here are a few different pieces and companies to consider.

Photo courtesy of Joybird

Couches

One way to create a flexible seating area is to invest in a modular sofa or couch. These pieces often consist of individual seats that can be placed together in multiple configurations. For example, companies like Joybird and Lovesac offer a variety of modular sofas that give you the chance to change around your space without replacing your couch entirely. You can essentially build your own sofa by purchasing individual modules and configuring them in a way that works for you and your home.

The beauty of these kinds of modular couches is in your ability to add to or take away pieces when you need to. For example, if you end up moving from a smaller apartment to a larger house, you can add another section to your couch to better fit your new space. You can also simply change the configuration of the couch when you’re looking to give your room a refresh without spending a lot.

Photo courtesy of Black and Steil

Tables and shelves

One popular example of a flexible table is the standing desk. These desks can be raised and lowered to your needs and desires on any specific day, giving you the flexibility to encourage the most productivity.

It’s this kind of adaptability that more people are reaching for, so companies like Loose Parts have now created flexible coffee tables, shelves, and bookcases to adapt to your needs. Loose Parts describes its products as a system rather than individual pieces since consumers have the freedom to customize their furniture. It sells a product called the Assembly Kit, which includes various-length rails, shelves, and clothing rods that you can combine to create a personalized shelf, table, or combination of the two that fits with your own design interests and shelving needs. The company also offers individual furniture pieces that you can easily assemble, disassemble, and reassemble in a new way as your spaces change.

Overall, this reinvention of what furniture can be offers a more sustainable approach to the industry since you can add to an existing piece rather than buy an all-new shelf or table when the old one no longer suits your home.

Photo courtesy of Bend Goods

Home accessories

Modular home accessories are a great way to organize and decorate your spaces while giving yourself the flexibility needed to change your style. There are a variety of ways to do this, including storage solutions and wall decorations. For storage, you can look for modular or stackable containers such as those at the Container Store. The company offers a variety of systems to help you stay organized, and you can easily change the configurations by adding new pieces to your system.

There are also more decorative modular options for your home like flexible art designs. Bend Goods sells a Modular Art Piece that consists of individual curved and straight wire segments that can be arranged in any number of ways. It offers a flexible design and various colors that can then be mixed and matched according to each person’s style.

Styles always change, and your furniture can too. When you take the time to research modular furniture and accessories, you’re allowing yourself to find interesting pieces that you can adapt according to your own evolving lifestyle and interior design style.