Eindhoven-based designer Satomi Minoshima designed leather-covered inflatable furniture to increase their value and thus their lifespan.

Inflatable products are light and portable. With only the need for a pump or just your mouth, furniture like chairs and beds can be put up in a short amount of time. However, because inflatable products are generally made from plastic like vinyl, they look cheap and used temporary, even if they are quite durable.

To add value and aesthetics to inflatable furniture, Minoshima covered an inflatable couch, chair and ottoman with real leather. “Leather is a natural material, rich with texture and has a long lifespan,” the designer explains. “The more it is used and aged, the more the value increases. This makes the value of the inflatable furniture rise with time.”

Photos: Ronald Smits