5 Reasons Why Vintage Furniture Is Perfect for Small Spaces

The 5 reasons in brief

Designed for small spaces - then and now
Multifunctionality was the challenge.
Storage space heroes! Many vintage pieces are true storage space wonders.
Built to last - Quality you can feel.
Vintage pieces have a soul - important in small spaces.

Why small spaces are a reality today

At the end of the last century, owning a house was a big dream for many Europeans. In countries like Germany, land was affordable, and banks were happy to offer loans. Even today, about 65% of people dream of living in a detached house. But things have changed. Nowadays, not many people can afford large plots of land, and some simply don't want to for environmental reasons.

Average living space per person:

Italy: approximately 31 m²
France: 33 m²
Austria and Switzerland: approximately 45 m²
Germany: approximately 47 m²

City dwellers usually have even less space than people who live outside the city.

Small spaces are therefore a reality for many of us. This raises the big question: How can you furnish a small apartment so that you feel at home?

What many people don't know is that after the Second World War, people had to live in even smaller spaces, and that designers at that time developed some really clever furnishing ideas. Ideas that still work wonderfully today.

Reason 1: Designed for small spaces - then and now

In post-war Europe, people lived in cramped spaces with limited resources and faced the great, hopeful challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch. This led to a high demand for smart, multifunctional furniture to help this generation make the most of their homes.

Vintage furniture comes from a time when people had less space and fewer resources. Apartments were small, but the furniture had to do a lot. Designers responded with creativity and intelligence – they designed pieces that not only looked good but could also do a lot.

The furniture wasn't just about looks – it had to serve many purposes. The furniture was designed to meet the demands of sleeping, working, studying, and socializing all in one. Imagine a wardrobe that wasn't just for clothes, but also included a built-in desk, a hidden bar compartment, and a modular daybed.

There was even a lingering sense of security and readiness – furniture that could quickly adapt to different environments or be easily moved, in case people had to move again. Everything important was cleverly combined in a few, versatile pieces.

Reason 2: Multifunctionality was the challenge - The clever furniture makers of Europe

Post-war Europe was vastly different from the booming United States, where people enthusiastically embraced newfound prosperity and new design trends. In contrast, Europe had to rebuild itself in every respect. The furniture of this period was heavily influenced by the Bauhaus movement, which emphasized the social responsibility of designers and manufacturers to improve people's lives through good design and make quality products affordable.

The designers and manufacturers of the mid-century focused on multifunctionality. They designed furniture for working, sleeping, and socializing - all in one.

Typical multifunctional pieces of furniture from this period:

Bar cabinets were used to store bottles and glasses, but also books and magazines.
Wardrobes were not only intended for clothing, but also contained built-in bar compartments and desk surfaces.
Coffee tables could be converted into dining tables.

That changed from the 1960s onwards. From then on, transformable furniture increasingly focused on promoting social interaction - such as extendable dining tables and convertible sofas. The urgent need to build a new life gave way to a desire for connection and exchange, which promoted personal growth.

Reason 3: Storage space heroes - A love letter to Flötotto

Besides vintage furniture that amazes with clever features, there are also pieces that offer extensive and flexible storage solutions. In the 1970s, the manufacturer Flötotto launched its Profile System – a line of furniture that's like Mary Poppins' carpet bag, but for your living room.

The furniture series by Flötotto, which already anticipated the colorful 80s, was characterized by bright, striking colors. And there is hardly anything that can brighten up a room as much as a lemon-yellow piece of furniture.

The ingenious concept

The concept is brilliantly simple. Like wooden building blocks, the modules of the profile system can be combined in countless ways. They transform into:

Functional walls
Islands
Towers

The modules can be easily separated and rearranged at any time. If you want to open the door from the other side, simply turn the container upside down. It's that simple. Like Lego for adults.

Originally, these storage wonders could be found in children's rooms, kindergartens and schools. Today, the originals from the 1970s adorn living rooms, bedrooms and hallways all over the world - and make life easier for adults.

Reason 4: Built to last - The timeless quality of vintage furniture

Vintage furniture isn't made for fleeting trends; it's made to last. Many vintage pieces arrive in our warehouse in remarkable condition, having been cared for and loved. And thanks to their quality, they can be restored time and time again.

In the 20th century and long before, furniture was made to last a lifetime. Owners treated their pieces with care, and many of them have stood the test of time remarkably well. When these treasures arrive in our warehouse, they are often still in excellent condition.

What distinguishes vintage furniture from others is its exceptional quality, which allows for restoration and gives these pieces a new life. While the 21st century is often referred to as the age of "fast furniture," more and more people are rediscovering the value of craftsmanship and durable materials.

Therefore, investing in vintage furniture makes perfect sense. People are starting to buy more than just furniture. They appreciate pieces with history, lovingly and carefully crafted in an era where good design and quality mattered more than mass production, low prices, or compact shipping.

Reason 5: Soulful Style - Vintage Furniture Brings Meaning to Small Apartments

Vintage pieces have a soul. And in small spaces, where every item counts, an emotional connection is important.

As we have seen, vintage furniture initially arose out of necessity. It was designed to be multifunctional, space-saving, and durable. So, apart from the variety of functions they offer, why are these pieces still so popular with younger generations today, especially in living and working spaces that are often even smaller than in the 1950s and 60s?

The difference to built-in furniture

If one can afford it, most small rooms today are equipped with built-in furniture. Pragmatic, effective and intelligent solutions. When moving, one simply leaves them for the next tenant or owner.

In contrast, the multifunctional vintage furniture is not custom-made and yet blends seamlessly into modern spaces. It is compact, cleverly designed, not too bulky, and invites you to think outside the box and live life to the fullest.

More than just functionality

Vintage furniture is more than just functional pieces; it has a soul. It tells stories, evokes nostalgia, and creates emotional connections, even if you don't share its history. It's not about furnishing your entire tiny apartment in mid-century modern style, but about adding meaningful, purposeful pieces that still make sense today.

The space-saving ideas from the past continue to prove themselves and help us to make the most of our homes in a stylish and thoughtful way. And of course, sustainability also plays a crucial role. These timeless pieces already exist, and by giving them a second life through restoration, we reduce waste and appreciate the craftsmanship.

Conclusion

Ultimately, vintage furniture offers more than just clever design – it gives us the opportunity to live consciously, beautifully, and with a touch of magic from the past. A win-win situation!