Interior Design Ideas

Transforming Furniture; pieces which knock down, fold up and serve multiple functions

June 24, 2026

The phrase “turning the tables”, or tricking someone, originated in colonial times when one side of the dining table top was used for every day food preparation, but was flipped to other polished side for company.

Throughout history man has needed to squeeze the most function out of a small space. Whether it be in a tent in a military campaign, or in a one room log cabin, many ingenious furnishings were designed to serve multiple purposes. Benches turned into dining tables, boxes were placed on fold out bases to form night stands, trays detached from base tables and so on. Yet other pieces collapsed into a smaller portable form, or disappeared into the wall.

I own several of these “transforming pieces” and am always on the lookout for others because what could be more modern? Mine take up little space when not in use, I can carry each of them myself and transport them in the back of my Subaru. My favorite is an antique Dutch armoire which was designed for use in colonial Africa. It breaks down into seven pieces and currently serves as my linen closet.

Maybe you don’t relish the hunt for these old pieces but need the functionality in something new. Here are some furniture designs available to order and transform your interior.

Flying Beds makes elaborate Murphy Beds which can include a foldout table as well as the bed…

And here is the ultimate for the basement guest suite!

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Posted in: Furniture