Trendy Interior Design Ideas In Korea Inspired By Its Floor-Sitting Culture

Source: Instagram @iican__

Have you heard about the floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화) in Korea?

Recently, there has been a rise in popular furniture that combines traditional floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화) and trendy modern interior design!

Shall we learn more about it?

The Origins Of Floor-Sitting Culture

Source: tvN D STUDIO on YouTube

Preference for sitting on the floor is rooted deeply in Korean culture.

Nowadays, the culture has changed greatly because of the increased presence of western furniture like chairs. But there are still many people who prefer sitting on the floor in the comfort of their homes.

The origins of the floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화) date back to many years ago when ondol (온돌), a traditional Korean underfloor heating system, was developed.

Source: Naver Encyclopedia

Ondol (온돌) is used in traditional Korean homes. Historically, a lit fire would power a furnace, this furnace warms the room by generating heat under the floor.

Nowadays, the floor is heated by hot water passing through a boiler tube that's installed under the floor.

Since ondol heats the floor of the rooms, Koreans are accustomed to sitting and sleeping on the floor to directly feel the warmth.

So one of the biggest traits of Koreans is that we prefer to sit on the floor even if there is a sofa! In Korea, it's an inside joke that this is how to tell if someone is a true Korean.

Even for us, no matter how soft or comfortable a sofa is, we still find ourselves sitting on the floor and leaning our back against the sofa.

Most modern furniture has shifted to higher tables and chairs. But there is still a lot of furniture available that allows for Koreans to sit on the floor.

Lately, there have been many trendy low furniture on the market.

Pros Of Low Furniture

1. Flexible space utilization

Source: tvN D ENT on YouTube

We'll discuss this more later in this blog, but unlike other furniture, low furniture doesn't have to be fixed in one area.

In most households, once desks and chairs are set up, they usually stay that way until you decide to renovate. But, furniture inspired by the floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화), such as low tables, has more mobility.

This type of furniture is advantageous because it allows for more flexibility. 

2. Makes your space look bigger

One of the biggest advantages of using low furniture is that it makes your room look (and feel) a lot bigger.

Having your furniture set low can make your room look more spacious.

This is why many single-person households living in one rooms (원룸) choose this type of interior style.

The smaller the space, the more cautious you want to be when selecting your furniture. The wrong decisions can make your space look too full and stuffy.

If you choose low furniture, it exposes more walls which help make the space look wider!

Cons Of Low Furniture

But there is a major disadvantage of having low furniture. Most Koreans sit cross-legged on the floor just like the photo above.

So, if you sit in this position for a long time, it can worsen posture, low back pain, and cause joint problems.

We are so used to sitting cross-legged that we do it when we are sitting on a chair. We can definitely feel that it's not good for our joints.

So for the sake of your posture, it's better to sit in a different position!

Types Of Furniture

Below we will list types of furniture that are commonly used in floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화).

Let's take a look at what styles are popular through different examples!

1. Low Table

First, let us introduce low tables. There are many different types!

The most common and traditional type is one that looks like this. Its main advantage is that it can be stored for most of the day, and set up when it's time to eat.

Whenever we visit our grandparents' house, we usually set up this table and have a big feast around it!

Recently, these folding tables are being made in more modern and trendy shapes and designs.

In the past, these tables were usually made of wood but now there is a lot more diversity.

Source: Instagram @kjkk.love3

Source: Instagram @kjkk.love3

In a blog about the trends of living alone in Korea, we introduced wall art desks.

When it's not in use, you can fold the legs of the table and put it aside to use as interior decor!

The biggest perk is that it doesn't take up a lot of space.

Source: Instagram@eotteonharu

Depending on your personal needs such as studying, eating, or a side table, you can choose a design of your choice!

It can be a really pretty and practical addition to your room.

2. Low Vanity Table

Similar to the low tables, low vanity tables are also popular in Korea!

Source: Instagram @taeroro__o

If you want a vanity table in your room to store your makeup collection, but don't have a large space, this is a great option!

You can also add small decorations like lights to upgrade your room.

We've been using these vanity tables for a while, and it's great! When we aren't actively using it, we can close the lid and use it as a side table.

Not to mention it's stylish and pretty!

We even gifted it to a friend as a housewarming present and they loved it! They found it very practical and stylish.

3. Low Chair & Sofa

If you have a low table and a low vanity, it makes sense to also have a low chair and sofa right?

Rather than just sitting on the hard floor, sitting on a chair or sofa is comfortable and improves your posture.

Source: @sennim (@megahertzx) on ohou.se

If you set up a low table and a soft low chair like the way pictured above, it's very practical and will complete your room.

We also moved a while ago and bought a low table and chair. Doesn't it look like a nice place to rest?

Since our room is pretty small, it was hard to find a table of the right size. So it's nice to have this set up which makes our room much more spacious.

No need for a matching dining set. Simply get a low sofa like the one shown above.

As we mentioned earlier, a lot of Koreans prefer to sit on the floor even if they have a sofa, so if you have a low sofa, you can sit more comfortably.

4. Seat Cushion

Source: Instagram @iforu8282

If you don't feel comfortable buying low chairs or sofas, you can opt for a seat cushion!

A seat cushion is a flat cushion that you can sit on to give a bit more padding.

Sitting on a cold hard floor for a long time is not good for your posture. If a low chair or sofa is out of your budget, we recommend considering seat cushions.

All you have to do is place it wherever you want to sit.

A seat cushion can even be placed on a chair. In Korea, students and workers who sit in a chair for a long period of time use this often.

If you feel like your chair is uncomfortable or too hard, it's a good idea to get yourself one!

5. Low Bed

Source: Instagram @iican__2

The final item on our low furniture list is the low bed!

If your room is small, having a full bedding set may take up too much space.

In this case, you can remove the bed frame and just place a mattress on the floor.

Source: Instagram @2yujjin22

However, if you don't feel comfortable placing a mattress directly on the floor, you can add a bed pallet specific for low beds.

Most of the popular bed pallets are made of wood, which helps your room look warm and cozy.

Source: Instagram @sik_zip

Why not unify your room with low furniture? Bed, table, chairs, etc!

We explored floor-sitting culture (좌식 문화) and its role in Korean society today.

Is there any particular furniture or interior that you would like to try? Let us know down in the comments below!

I'll be back with more interesting content next time, thank you for reading.