Folding Furniture Ideas: 14 Space Saving Pieces That Vanish When You Need Room

Folding furniture ideas are suddenly everywhere, and it all started with one simple wooden chair. A handmade wooden folding chair reel posted on October 23 picked up 190,000 reactions, 573 comments and 11,000 shares in only a few days. People could not stop watching a plain set of boards fold flat and then open into a sturdy seat. It makes sense. Homes are getting smaller, and the holidays are coming with extra guests, extra plates and never enough chairs. Furniture that folds away gives you room when you need it and a seat or a table when company arrives. Below are 14 clever pieces for every corner of the house, from a wall desk to a picnic bench. A few need basic tools, so ask an adult helper for any cutting or drilling. Let’s make some space..

Folding Furniture Ideas for a Small Home

Picture one bright little apartment where almost everything can fold away. A wooden chair, a desk that drops down from the wall, a dining table that tucks flat, a step stool and a slatted screen that hides the bed. Each piece earns its spot, and each one disappears when you need room to move. That is the whole magic of folding furniture ideas. You do not need to change everything at once. Start with the piece that solves your biggest daily problem. Which corner of your home feels the most crowded right now..

You will need: a measuring tape, a notebook, painter’s tape.

How to make it: 1. Measure the empty wall space in your busiest room. 2. Mark the size of a fold down piece on the wall with painter’s tape. 3. Live with the tape for a few days to see if it fits your routine.

The Wooden Folding Chair Everyone Is Sharing

This is the chair that got everyone talking. A simple set of boards, a few hinges and a smart pivot, and suddenly you have a seat that folds as flat as a picture frame. When it is closed, it can hang on a wall hook or slide behind a door. When guests come, it opens in a second. If you are new to woodworking, a kit or a simple plan with precut parts is the safest place to start. Who in your home would build one with you?

You will need: a folding chair kit or plan with precut boards, wood glue, screws, a drill (adult use), sandpaper, finish.

How to make it: 1. Sand all the precut parts smooth. 2. An adult drills the pilot holes and joins the frame with glue and screws. 3. Add the pivot bolts, test the fold and finish with oil or paint.

A Wall Mounted Fold Down Desk

A fold down desk is one of the best folding furniture ideas for anyone who works or studies at home. Open, it gives you a real work surface. Closed, it looks like a slim cabinet on the wall. It is perfect for a bedroom corner, a hallway or a guest room. The key is a strong mount, so the desk must be anchored into wall studs. Keep pens and notebooks on the shelves inside so everything closes up neatly. Where would yours go?

You will need: a fold down desk kit or plywood panel, sturdy folding brackets, stud finder, screws, a level, a drill (adult use).

How to make it: 1. Find the wall studs and mark them. 2. An adult screws the brackets into the studs with the level. 3. Attach the desk top, test the fold and add small shelves above.

Folding Furniture Ideas for a Tiny Kitchen Table

If your kitchen has no room for a table, try one that folds down from the wall. It can be wide enough for two plates in the morning and fold flat once breakfast is done. Pair it with two stools that tuck under the counter. This is one of those folding furniture ideas that can change how a small kitchen feels every single day. Make sure the hinges are made for tables and the wall anchors can hold the weight. Would you eat breakfast here?

You will need: a wooden board for the top, a wall cleat, two folding table brackets, screws, wall anchors or studs, a drill (adult use).

How to make it: 1. Mount a wooden cleat into the studs at table height. 2. Hinge the top to the cleat and add the folding brackets underneath. 3. Seal the wood so it wipes clean.

A Folding Step Stool for the Pantry

Every home has that top shelf no one can reach. A small folding step stool fixes the problem and slips into a gap beside the fridge when you are done. Wood looks warmer than plastic and lasts for years. Look for wide steps and rubber feet so it stays steady. Kids love having their own stool too, but they should use it with a grown up nearby. What is hiding on your top shelf?

You will need: a folding step stool kit or plan, sandpaper, rubber feet, paint or wood oil.

How to make it: 1. Build the stool from the kit and check every joint is tight. 2. Stick rubber feet on the bottom of the legs. 3. Paint or oil it and store it folded beside the pantry.

A Folding Wall Drying Rack

A folding drying rack on the wall is one of the most useful folding furniture ideas for a laundry room or bathroom. Pull it open and you have room for sweaters and towels that should not go in the dryer. Push it closed and it is only a few inches deep. It saves energy and keeps delicate clothes in good shape. Mount it into studs or with strong anchors, because wet clothes are heavier than you think. What would you hang on yours?

You will need: a wooden accordion drying rack, a stud finder, screws or wall anchors, a level, a drill (adult use).

How to make it: 1. Find a spot with room for the rack to open fully. 2. An adult mounts the base plate level and tight. 3. Open it and test it with a few damp towels.

A Fold Flat Holiday Guest Table

Holiday dinners always need more seats than we have. A fold flat table that lives in a closet most of the year can be set up in minutes when family arrives. Dress it with a linen runner, white plates and some greenery and no one will guess it was folded behind a door yesterday. For more ways to get ready for company, see our holiday hosting hacks. How many guests are you expecting this year?

You will need: a folding table, a long tablecloth or runner, folding chairs, plates, greenery for the center.

How to make it: 1. Set the table up in the room the day before to check the space. 2. Cover it with the cloth and runner. 3. Add plates, chairs and a simple line of greenery down the middle.

A Folding Bench That Becomes a Picnic Table

Of all the folding furniture ideas here, this one feels like a magic trick. Most of the time it is a simple garden bench for two. Flip the back over and it becomes a small picnic table with seats on both sides. It is great for small yards, patios and families who love eating outside. Plans for this kind of convertible bench are easy to find, and building one makes a great weekend project with adult help for the saw. Would you use it more as a bench or a table?

You will need: a convertible bench plan, outdoor lumber, outdoor screws, carriage bolts, a saw and drill (adult use), outdoor sealer.

How to make it: 1. An adult cuts the boards to the plan. 2. Build the two bench frames and the flip top. 3. Bolt the pivot points, test the flip and seal the wood for outdoor use.

Folding Furniture Ideas for a Kids Art Corner

Kids need a place to color and paint, but a big table can take over a small playroom. A fold down art table mounted low on the wall gives them a spot of their own. Open, it holds paper and paint cups. Closed, it hides the mess. Choose rounded corners, keep the hinges covered and mount it firmly into studs so little hands cannot pull it down. What would your little artist make first?

You will need: a birch plywood panel with rounded corners, folding brackets, a stud finder, screws, a drill (adult use), washable paint.

How to make it: 1. An adult mounts the brackets into the studs at kid height. 2. Attach the top and test that it folds smoothly. 3. Paint the wall behind it with washable paint and add a cup of crayons.

A Folding Ladder Plant Stand

A ladder style plant stand gives your plants three levels of sunshine in the space of one pot. Because it folds, you can move it from window to window as the seasons change, or tuck it away when you need the floor. It is one of the prettiest folding furniture ideas for plant lovers. Place heavier pots on the bottom shelf to keep it steady. Which plants would go on top?

You will need: a folding ladder plant stand or plan, sandpaper, wood oil, potted plants, saucers.

How to make it: 1. Sand and oil the stand so water will not damage the wood. 2. Open it near a bright window. 3. Put the heaviest pots on the lowest shelf and trailing plants on top.

Folding Furniture Ideas for the Couch: a Tray Table

Among simple folding furniture ideas, a folding tray table is the cozy friend every couch needs. It holds your tea, a snack and a book, and it folds flat to lean against the wall when you are done. They are often cheap at thrift stores, and a fresh coat of paint or stain makes them look brand new. Have one for each person on movie night. What color would you paint yours?

You will need: a thrifted folding tray table, sandpaper, paint or stain, a brush, clear sealer.

How to make it: 1. Sand the old finish lightly and wipe off the dust. 2. Paint or stain the frame and the tray. 3. Seal the top so spills wipe right off.

A Fold Down Entryway Seat

Putting on boots is so much easier when you can sit down. In a narrow hallway there is rarely room for a bench, but a fold down seat fixes that. It drops down when you need it and folds up flat against the wall when you do not. Add a row of hooks above and a basket below and your entry gets a lot more organized. Who in your home would use it the most?

You will need: a solid wood board, two heavy duty folding shelf brackets, a stud finder, screws, a drill (adult use).

How to make it: 1. An adult mounts the folding brackets into the studs at seat height. 2. Screw the board onto the brackets and test it with your weight. 3. Add hooks above and a basket for shoes below.

A Folding Screen Room Divider

In a studio apartment, one of the best folding furniture ideas is a folding screen. It is the easiest way to make a bedroom without building a wall. It blocks the view of the bed, lets light through the slats and folds away when friends come over. It also works well to hide a desk or a messy corner. You can buy one or hinge together three slatted panels. Would you paint yours or keep the wood natural?

You will need: three slatted wooden panels of the same size, six small hinges, screws, a screwdriver, paint or wood oil.

How to make it: 1. Lay the panels side by side on the floor. 2. Screw two hinges between each pair of panels. 3. Stand it up in a zigzag so it stays steady.

Folding Furniture Ideas for a Hidden Craft Station

We end with a crafter’s dream. A closet with a fold down work surface and a pegboard on the back wall becomes a full craft station that hides behind two doors. Open it and everything you need is right there. Close it and the room looks tidy again. It is one of the smartest folding furniture ideas for anyone who loves to make things in a small home. What would you hang on your pegboard first?

You will need: a pegboard panel, hooks, a sturdy board for the work top, two folding brackets, screws, a drill (adult use), bins.

How to make it: 1. An adult mounts the pegboard on the back wall of the closet. 2. Fix the folding brackets and the work top at table height. 3. Hang your tools and fill small bins with supplies.