Like a candle to a flame, sustainability breeds invention. From cutting-edge technology, to outlandish furniture, to politically incorrect decor, green inventions for the home are a hot commodity. But, in a sea of ideas, what jumps out? Here is a look at three pieces that made the chopping block.
Inflatable furniture
So, what’s the big idea? Furniture full of air means that it isn’t full of other potentially scarce or difficult-to-dispose material. The pros and cons are just as straightforward as the fact that the furniture is, very apparently, transparent, according to a very basic list of pros and cons by Buzzle.com.Pros:• They are cheap. “You can get plain sofas for two at about $30, while the more jazzily printed ones could go up to $50,” the site brags. Even the large beds are obtainable at well under $50. • They are portable and easily stored. • They require no maintenance. No need to polish, wax or spray. Polyvinyl carbonate is also resistant to pests, fading and other wear and tear.
Cons:• They are delicate. If poked or hit by something sharp, a couch or bed will pop like a balloon. • They are light and do not stay rooted in place. Be careful, or the couch may scoot across the room as you plunk down on it. • The lifespan of the furniture isn’t very long. • As the list puts it, “They are considered inelegant.” Pretty straightforward — inflatable furniture looks like the plastic that it is. But, just because plastic furniture is cheap looking doesn’t mean that it can’t make a big statement. Sitting at the cutting-edge end of the recent reboom of the plastic furniture trend, Germany set the record for the largest inflatable furniture earlier this year. According to Guinness World Records, the record for the largest inflatable furniture was broken in Bremen, Germany, on April 14, 2009. The largest inflatable furniture has an internal volume of 28,287 feet³; and is 67 feet 3 inches long, 26 feet 9 inches wide and 26 feet 5 inches high!
