Almost all tables have tops that are flat and horizontal mostly because of the function they serve. You wouldn’t want your glass to tilt over or your phone to slide down just because of an uneven or inclined surface, right? But as long as you are able to place things down on the table without having them wobble, fall, or roll off to the side, then the tabletop can almost be open to any design or shape. That seems to be the reasoning behind these fun-looking side tables that, at first glance, don’t look reliable or functional, at least until you realize that using them is almost like playing that educational game of fitting shapes inside the right holes.
Designer: Chien Yuoning
Many parents or even kids might be familiar with that toy where you have holes in a geometric shape and you’re supposed to drop matching geometric blocks inside them. This side table collection might immediately remind people of those toys and, unfortunately, might also give them the wrong impression of the practicality of such a design. Fortunately, it isn’t just a whimsical decision as these geometric holes can actually act as helpful organization aids in addition to being quite interesting to look at.
The Designated Table collection has geometric shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, and even pills cut out from the tabletop. While they might look like a loss in terms of usable space, they act as designated containers for things like glasses, phones, books, or whatnot. These compartments let you separate different things while also providing a bit of support to some extent. It’s harder for a glass to topple over if its area is constricted.
At the same time, the shapes add a playful character to the tables, especially since the shapes have a different color from the natural finish of the rest of the wooden table. The tables themselves come in different shapes, including a hexagon and a half circle, doubling the fun factor of each side table. That, however, also determines where some of these side tables can be placed, like the hexagon-shaped side table making a poor fit for a nightstand or anywhere the table needs to be flush against a flat surface like a wall, a couch, or a bed.
Another interesting aspect of the Designated Table’s design is that the legs follow the shape and orientation of those seemingly random shapes. That makes it feel like the wooden legs flow from these geometric indentations or vice versa, giving the tables an almost whimsical flavor that doesn’t sacrifice their stability. The gaps between the legs can even become a place for magazines, taking advantage of the narrow space. The geometric design of the Designated Table feels jovial and delightful but still makes the side tables completely functional and, perhaps, even more effective in keeping your things in their proper places.
