Everything needs a place. The best places are worth looking at.
In interior design, storage is usually treated as purely practical: somewhere to hide what we own. Yet some designers see it differently. For them, a credenza, a cabinet or a shelf is a chance to bring craft, color and character into a room, so the object that holds our things becomes a piece worth displaying in its own right.
This selection gathers ten pieces of storage furniture by independent designers, where form and function sit side by side: credenzas and sideboards, cabinets, room dividers, shelves and a magazine rack.
What makes storage furniture artistic?
Artistic storage furniture treats materials, proportion and making as seriously as capacity. Split wood, hand-dyed leather, woven wool, brass and recycled steel turn everyday cabinets and shelves into sculptural objects. Moreover, because many of these pieces are made by hand or in small editions, each one carries the marks of its maker.
How to choose storage furniture
Start with what you need to store
Dishes and linens suit a sideboard or credenza; books and objects suit open shelving; bottles suit a dedicated wine cabinet. Knowing what goes inside helps you choose the right depth, height and doors.
Choose one statement piece
A single sculptural credenza or cabinet can anchor a living or dining room. Keep the surrounding pieces simpler so it stands out.
Think about scale and placement
Measure the wall and leave space to open doors and drawers. Room dividers work best where a room needs zoning without losing light.
Credenzas and sideboards
A credenza or sideboard is the classic piece of living and dining room storage, with a surface for lamps and objects on top.
Rima Credenza by Peca Mobiliario
Handmade by Mexican studio Peca Mobiliario, the Rima credenza walks the fine line between practical object and art piece. Its mid-century proportions and careful joinery make it a modern credenza with lasting appeal. It is made to order.
€5.455 incl. tax
Rustic Rosa Morada Sideboard by Studio ORYX
Made from Rosa Morada wood, this rustic sideboard combines warm grain with generous storage. It suits a dining room or entryway equally well. As a result, it is a wooden sideboard with both style and function.
By Studio ORYX
€5.790 incl. tax
Storage and display cabinets
Cabinets protect what matters while letting the piece itself take center stage. Browse more storage cabinets for every room.
Splitted Round Cabinet Green by Teun Zwets
Dutch designer Teun Zwets splits Douglas fir beams with an axe, then reassembles the fragments into a round cabinet, leaving the raw joins visible. A high-gloss green lacquer deepens the texture. Presented at Dutch Design Week, each cabinet is unique, and it is in stock.
By Teun Zwets
€3.915 incl. tax
Succession – Leather / Textile Cabinet by FARG & BLANCHE
Part of FARG & BLANCHE’s Succession collection, this cabinet is dressed in leather and textile, brought to life through a series of hand processes. Its tactile surface makes storage feel almost like upholstery. Notably, it is in stock.
€6.000 incl. tax
Cava Salomón – Wine Cabinet by Kresta Studio
The Salomón wine cabinet is made from solid Rosa Morada wood, with a distinct character that sparks conversation while holding your favorite bottles. It is part of Kresta Studio’s Salomón family. In other words, it is a wine cabinet that doubles as a centerpiece.
€3.750 incl. tax
Room dividers and screens
A room divider zones an open space without closing it off, and can be as sculptural as any cabinet.
CERCA Screen by ALVA design
Made of solid wood and brass, the CERCA screen does not want to enclose anything, despite its name. Instead, it helps organize spaces by creating a gentle division between them. As a result, it is a folding screen room divider with real presence.
By ALVA design
€12.800 incl. tax
Wadi Screen by TheUrbanative
Named after the Swahili word for valley, the Wadi Screen sets a hand-woven wool panel with sculptural reliefs in a powder-coated steel frame on a cherry-stained Kiaat wood base. The textile adds softness and visual permeability. Consequently, it divides a room while bringing in warmth.
€2.200 incl. tax
Shelves and bookcases
Open shelving keeps books and objects on display, turning storage into a changing still life.
O.F.I.S Series – Tubular Shelf by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
This tubular steel shelf is part of Lucas Muñoz’s O.F.I.S series (Objects From Interstitial Space), an ongoing exploration of the narrative potential of industrial materials. It is a large, architectural statement piece for a living room or studio, and it is in stock.
€35.000 incl. tax
Cloud – Stainless Steel Stool / Bookcase by M’ama edizioni
Designed by Federica Zama, Cloud is a revolving stool made from repurposed stainless steel that doubles as a small container and bookcase. Its shiny, cloudy top adds texture. In other words, it is decorative storage at its most versatile, and it is in stock.
€600 incl. tax
Magazine racks and small storage
50 Pink Edition – Magazine Holder by Malvin Gaborit
French designer Malvin Gaborit describes his “50” as a functional sculpture: a magazine rack with the presence of an object. In pink, it brings color to a reading corner or living room. It is in stock.
€2.300 incl. tax
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
Both are long, low storage pieces. A sideboard traditionally sits in the dining room, often on legs, while a credenza is usually lower and sleeker and is also used in living rooms and offices.
How do I choose the right size sideboard?
Leave at least 30 cm of wall on each side and choose a height between 75 and 90 cm. Its depth should allow doors and drawers to open comfortably.
Can a room divider also be storage?
Yes. Some dividers include shelves, while folding screens zone a room and can hide clutter behind them.
What is the best material for storage furniture?
Solid wood is durable and repairable; metal suits industrial interiors; leather and textile add softness. Choose based on how the piece will be used and the look of the room.
Where should a wine cabinet go?
Somewhere with a stable temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat sources, such as a dining room or a cool corner of the living room.
Storage with a soul
From axe-split fir and hand-woven wool to tubular steel and Rosa Morada wood, these pieces prove storage can be as expressive as any sculpture. Choose the one that suits what you keep, and let it become part of how your home looks.
