Take a "Green" Seat

"Softseat" made from kraft paper and recycled cardboard (By Molo)

Recently, I was in Milwaukee visiting a friend. We went to the Milwaukee Art Museum. One of their current exhibits is "Green Furniture Design". This exhibit highlights how current furniture designers are changing aesthetics and incorporating recyclable materials. Walking through the exhibit, I saw stools made from rolled up newspapers fastened together by old belts, recliners made out of old bike tires, footrests crafted out of old sweatshirts and other recycled material. How many old sweatshirts and t-shirts do we all have stuffed in our closets? So before you toss all your old newspapers think twice.

Being a college student with little furniture in my house, I typically do not have enough chairs to seat everyone while entertaining.  People end up sitting on the floor or sharing seats, which first of all is not comfortable and has lead to the destruction of a few chairs. Although new furniture looks nice, it can be so expensive. That is why I have been brainstorming alternative methods for people to take a load off.

 This exhibit gave me some great ideas of how to solve my seating shortage all at a very low cost! "Green Furniture Design" will be on exhibit until March 14, 2010. The exhibit is curated by Ethan Lasser and guest curator Hongtao Zhou. 

Photo credit: Hongtao Zhou http://hongtaozhou.com