Friday Furnishings: How Low Can You Go?

It seems to be a curiosity of Western society that we prize furniture that gets us as far off the ground as possible. Extra-deep, pillow-top mattresses? High-top tables and barstools? It’s all good. But throw us a tatami mat and we recoil in horror. Who wants to be close to the floor?!

Turns out a lot of people do, as some of the biggest trends in furniture bring us further down in the atmosphere, ’til we’re just a few inches about ground level. CB2 calls their new Matchbox Bed an “All-Time Low,” but in a good way. And I love it.

It’s available in lacquered red (shown, right) or white and barely hovers above the floor, leaving room for just a mattress – no box spring required. At $599, it’s definitely a bed you’ll want to make sure you’re committed to for a long time. And don’t even think about under-bed storage options!

One of the coolest couches I’ve seen in a long time is more or less a nubbly blanket that keeps you just shy of laying on the carpet. Called the Feel Seating System (don’t call it a sofa!) from Animi Causa, at left. It this collection of soft spheres that can be shaped and formed to suit your needs.

You have to check out the video on their website to truly appreciate how unique this, uh, thing, is. But don’t get too attached, dear readers, as the XL version shown here costs nearly $3000. Oops! I’ll have to wait for the knock-off version.

If storage is at a premium, aim low, as in the Jasper Morrison “Plan” series for Cappellini. Think of all the things you could stack on top of this! I love the low profile and bright colors. This series and others is available for purchase through Unica Home but, like all really cool stuff, doesn’t come cheap. Most of these cabinets will cost you anywhere between $1000 and $1800. Blargh. Where are the inexpensive furnishings?

Believe it or not, there are a few, you just have to look a bit harder. I like the Umbra Juxta Drawer, available at The Container Store for $39.99. And it does go on sale sometimes. The drawer can be used with or without the detachable legs and is only 14″ high on the legs.

You could stack a couple just sitting on the ground for a stylish, low-slung storage option. They come in black, blue, pink, and white, to fit a variety of decor. Even though they’re plastic, they’re pretty durable. I have a plastic Umbra chair that’s managed to travel to three or four different apartments with me, and it’s no worse for the wear.

Bigger is not always better, just as higher isn’t always mightier. Sometimes you wanna think low.

Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on ebay.com funds Goodwill’s mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities. Copyright Goodwill of Greater Washington, DC Goodwill Fashion Blog. All Rights Reserved.