21 Convertible Furniture Finds That Will Help Your Space Do It ALL

Has a quaran-second even passed if you haven't seen the phrase the new normal at least thrice? Our short answer: likely not. Such is life in the year 2020 where, contrary to what it suggests, our new normal doesn't provide much newness at all. We've been relegated to carry on working, eating, exercising, and grasping at something vaguely akin to what we once called a social life all in the same 550-square-foot apartment. So, for the sake of our dwindling sanities, we culled together a list of our favorite forms of convertible furniture in order to open things up and introduce some real newness into our normals.

Apparently, the fact that we've suddenly found ourselves in need of a home office set-up does not equate to us having actual space for the sprawling vintage desk plus premium ergonomic chair. Nor does it mean we'll be enjoying the shared meals with our roommates at the coffee-turned-dining-room table while all three take simultaneous Zoom calls. Luckily, the finds we sourced ahead are all designed to make any small space as fluidly adaptable to whatever kind of new normal is thrown our way: from sleeper sofas and shelf-desks to collapsable stools and rolling carts. Scroll on to discover the best multi-purpose home buys we could wrangle up out there in the Wild Wild Web.

We’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.

Urban Outfitters Rooney Entryway Storage Mirror

It's a mirror! A hanging planter! Coat storage! A shoe rack! And whether you use it as foyer organization, a bedroom staple, or sitting room decor, it's as aesthetically pleasing as it is handy. 

Urban Outfitters Rooney Entryway Storage Mirror, $, available at Urban Outfitters

West Elm Mid-Century Pop-Up Storage Coffee Table

This coffee-table-turned-desk transformer is a godsend for when working cross-legged on your living room floor gets...tired. Plus, the elevated platform doubles as a supplementary dining surface, too.

West Elm Mid-Century Pop-Up Storage Coffee Table, $, available at West Elm

Society6 Primary Colors Folding Stool

Not only is this vibrant statement stool uniquely designed by talented independent artist, Kalypso Harvey, but it also happens to water-resistant and fold-up-able (which means storage couldn't be easier).

Use it as an accent table, plant stand footrest, transportable park seating— or, drag it up onto the kitchen counter for a DIY standing desk extension.

KalypsoHarvey Primary colors Folding Stool, $, available at Society6

Latitude Run Fairbank Sofa Bed

This convertible sectional sleeper sofa bears no resemblance to a futon. But, lo and behold, it folds out into a dreamy sleep space with bonus storage to boot.

Latitude Run Fairbank Sofa Bed, $, available at Wayfair

AllModern Middlewich Upholstered Flip Top Storage Bench

Use your bench/footstool/daybed to its fullest potential and stuff it with linens, blankets, and other large items you're not *totally* certain where to hide.

AllModern Middlewich Upholstered Flip Top Storage Bench, $, available at AllModern

Urban Outfitters Rooney Wall-Mounted Desk

As it stands, 2020's most practical dilemma involves requiring an at-home desk and objectively lacking the space for said fixture. Hence: This wall-mounted piece, designed to take up as little space as, well, humanly possible.

Urban Outfitters Rooney Wall-Mounted Desk, $, available at Urban Outfitters

HAY Portable Lamp

The summer of the mushroom lamp is in full swing, so why not go with a version that's entirely mobile? Sans wires, this little light fixture can travel from your bedside to your desk to your kitchen counter and right out into the socially distant world without requiring that you track down an available outlet.

Hay Pierre Chapin Portable LED Lamp, $, available at Food52

Winston Porter Leaning Bookcase Desk

Pull up a chair and WFH at this small, wall-mounted bookcase-meets-workstation, or step back and let it lean as a handy decorative shelf for all your prized apartment baubles.

Winston Porter Walnut Tyriq Ladder Bookcase, $, available at Wayfair

Casterly Todd Sofa With Storage

Back to the whole modular furniture thing: This cloudy gray sectional sandwiches a wooden side-table meets coffee-table meets tray-top storage unit that you can move about your space as freely as it will (or will not) allow.

Castlery Todd Sofa with Storage Table, $, available at Castlery

Levenger Magazine Side Table

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the Clark Kent of side tables! Aka it has hidden-magazine-rack superpowers.

Levenger Magazine Side Table, $, available at Levenger

Open Spaces Entryway Rack

Designed to live wherever you might need it, this plenty chic moveable shelf operates as a spice rack, shoe storage, a desk organizer, or just a cute place to arrange plants.

Open Spaces Entryway Rack, $, available at Open Spaces

Bed Bath & Beyond Snack Table

Pair your handy folding stool with this even handier folding snack table and you've got yourself a convertible solo-dining setup your Zooming roomies will envy.

Bed Bath and Beyond Single Stand Snack Table in Natural, $, available at Bed Bath and Beyond

Anthropologie Workspace Monitor Stand

It's not a regular monitor stand, it's a cool monitor stand. And if your WFH set-up has been commandeered by a massive, hulking monitor, at least snag this stand for convenient notebook and pen storage.

Anthropologie Workspace Monitor Stand, $, available at Anthropologie

Urban Outfitters Marte Vanity

You'd be hard-pressed to find a chicer AND more functional vanity. With a broad, flat surface and three spacious storage segments (two drawers and a middle console with a fold-down mirror-top), this pretty piece can double as everything from a stylish workspace to a serene set for filming all your quarantine beauty vlogs.

Urban Outfitters Marte Vanity, $, available at Urban Outfitters

World Market Studio Day Sofa

Sofa by day, bed by night — and chaise lounge on the weekends.

Cost Plus World Market Graywash Studio Day Sofa, $, available at Cost Plus World Market

Burrow Bento Coffee Table

Inspired by the convenient compartmentalized sections of a bento box, this coffee table offers plenty of built-in, segmented storage — while the tabletop is made of three removable and rearrangeable trays (all of which make great lap desks or drink trays when they're not resting on the table).

Burrow Bento Coffee Table, $, available at Burrow

Mercer41 Velvet Storage Ottoman Set

It's not one but two poufs — that you can hide all your mostly-functioning extension cords and miscellaneous throws inside.

Mercer41 Macgregor Velvet Round Storage Ottoman Set, $, available at Wayfair

World Market Galvin Rolling Cart

What could be more convertible than furniture on wheels? Slide this mobile tiered cart next to a desk or a table to maximize storage space; let it live bedside as a nightstand, or scoot it beside the couch as a convenient accent table; heck, wheel it on into the kitchen and use it as a rustic bar cart for your burgeoning booze collection.

Cost Plus World Market 4-Shelf Wooden Gavin Rolling Cart, $, available at Cost Plus World Market

In This Space Entryway Storage Ottoman

Get you an extra seat that can also discretely hide your dirty shoes in space-saving fashion served with a side of minimalist-chic aesthetic.

In This Space Moso Entryway Storage Ottoman, $, available at Wayfair

Floyd The Floyd Shelving System

All hail the era of modular furniture: This Floyd shelf is built to expand and scale down at your leisure. Tack on adjoining pieces when you've got space to build up, or allow your lower shelves to live side by side for additional desk or counter space. Feel free to mix, match, and rearrange when you're in desperate need of a refresh.

Floyd The Floyd Shelving System, $, available at Floyd

from refinery29