Flat-pack products changing the world
lovemoney staff
22 August 2019
DIY kits with the wow-factor
Homeware store IKEA might have made its name – and fortune – from flat-pack, but if you think furniture is where the phenomenon ends, think again. It turns out that even entire homes, cars and airplanes can be turned into a prefab kit, convenient and ready to build in next to no time. Here’s our round-up of the weirdest items you didn’t know could be flat-packed.
Virtual reality headset – from $7 (£5.80)
VR on a budget? Google Cardboard has you sorted. Allowing you to create a makeshift virtual reality headset which can be combined with technology on your smartphone, the cardboard viewers are available for as little as $7 (£5.80).
Virtual reality headset – from $7 (£5.80)
It can be assembled in just three steps and is compatible with Android or iOS phones with 4-6 inch (10-15cm) screen sizes. The gizmo features 45mm focal length lenses, plus there are a number of specially-developed apps to use with the VR viewer.
Solar light – from $17 (£14)
A prefab product designed with sustainability in mind, this nifty little solar light can be flat-packed and carried around in a pocket. Social enterprise Solight Design sells a variety of types, from the smallest and lightest TwiLight at $17 (£14) each, to the origami-inspired QWNN solar light complete with a phone charger at $110 (£91) each.
Solar light – from $17 (£14)
The flagship product, the SolarPuff (pictured), inflates into a lantern and provides up to 100 lumens of light for a maximum of 12 hours. Solight Design also runs a scheme called Give Light, which allows people to send SolarPuff lights to impoverished communities across the world.
Pocket stove – $34 (£28)
Flat-pack camping supplies are a big thing, apparently. This stove, created by German camping equipment company Bushcraft Essentials, can be folded down so small that it fits in a pocket.
Pocket stove – $34 (£28)
It's made from 100% stainless steel and can be used with different fuels, including wood and organic matter. Although you might not be able to heat much more than a can of beans or a cup of boiling water with it, it's still pretty impressive for a pocket-sized stove.
Bike caravan – parts from $39 (£32)
Meet the world's smallest, flat-pack, bike caravan. A tiny 47 x 24 inch (1.2 x 0.6m) shelter, the Foldavan is designed to be attached to the back of a bicycle, providing a (very) cosy sleeping space.
Bike caravan – parts from $39 (£32)
Designed by flat-pack plan company Wooden Widget, it takes around 50 hours to build once you have to source the materials yourself (the company only provides the building plans) so it's probably not one for prefab newbies. It's designed to be extra-aerodynamic and lightweight, so it can be easily towed by a bike for long distances.
Boombox – from $66 (£54)
Remember those hefty speakers people used to roam the streets with? Boomboxes are having a bit of a revival – although these flat-pack versions are a little more portable than their 1980s predecessors. Created by retro brand Berlin Boombox, the product comes as a handy kit which can be assembled in a matter of minutes.
Boombox – from $66 (£54)
It's made from 100% recycled cardboard and connects to a smartphone via Wireless Bluetooth. There's a range of funky designs available, as well as a customisable, colour-your-own boombox kit if you want to take DIY to the next level.
Shoes – $89 (£73)
Taking 'flat shoes' to a whole new level of meaning, Pikkpack sells flat-packed footwear in kit form, consisting of rubber soles, leather uppers and coloured shoelaces which can be easily assembled to create a unique pair of pumps.
Shoes – $89 (£73)
With either slip-on leather shoes or sandals available, you can customise the colour of each part. The eco flat-pack design saves on material and ensures the shoes have a low carbon footprint (no pun intended).
Computer – from $120 (£99)
The perfect flat-pack project for computer hobbyists, gamers and artists, this prefab PC comes at a very reasonable $120 (£99) for a basic kit. It’s created by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK-based charity which aims to provide low-cost, high-performance computers to get more people interested in computer engineering.
Computer – from $120 (£99)
You can choose how much RAM you want – 1GB, 2GB OR 4GB – and the computer also comes with a powerful processor and USB ports and has the option to run multiple monitors at once.
Table football – $259 (£214)
Designed by German company Kartoni, this table football game is crafted from cardboard and can be put together in next to no time without the need for glue, screws or tools.
Table football – $259 (£214)
It's made from recycled cardboard with sustainably-sourced beech wood rods, plus it's easy to assemble and take down, meaning it can be taken anywhere.
Bike – from $1,000 (£825)
This DIY bicycle by Dutch company Sandwichbikes consists of just three wooden panels bonded by a smart cylinder containing the head tube, crank axle and seat post. This makes it easy to build and fix any breakages.
Bike – from $1,000 (£825)
The prefab bike is created from sustainably-sourced plywood, coated with breathable, UV-resistant, waterproof varnish that makes it suitable for use in all weather.
Boat – from $1,900 (£1.6k)
Owning a boat is a dream for many, but how about building your own? Innovative Australian firm The Balmain Boat Company sells a range of prefab sail- and motor-powered vessels, with kits including everything that's needed to create your very own DIY boat.
Boat – from $1,900 (£1.6k)
Prices start at $2,799 AUD ($1,900 US/£1.6k) for a rowing boat and go up to $6,950 AUD($4,700 US/£3.9k). It's estimated that the sailboat takes around 30 hours to make, while the motor boat takes around 100 hours to construct.
Glamping pod – from $2,660 (£2.2k)
Forget tents – glamping pods are the way to go. UK-based company Landpod produces a range of the cute and super-cosy portable dwellings that come flat-packed and ready to assemble.
Glamping pod – from $2,660 (£2.2k)
They're complete with all the mod cons, including solar powered electricity, LED lights, Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging ports. Assembly takes around 45 minutes and the pods are suitable for a variety of locations, plus the modular design means any broken parts are easy to mend or replace.
Homes – from $12,000 (£10k)
Prefab homes are becoming a serious hit with the property world, famed for their uber-quick construction times, high energy efficiency and low cost. However, they’re not always cheap – a prefab home created by German brand Huf Haus recently went on sale in the UK for $6 million (£5m).
Homes – from $12,000 (£10k)
You’ll be amazed by how many prefab homes exist. From a Georgian family home to a castle and even a Hobbit-style house (pictured mid-build) by Green Magic homes which start from $12,000 (£10k), the flat-pack options are endless.
Read more about the Flat-pack homes that you can build in a flash
Tractor – from $7,877 (£6.5k)
The UK's first flat-pack tractor firm, Siromer produces nifty DIY kits for farmers, significantly cutting the cost of these pricey agricultural vehicles. They can either be ordered in kit form, ready to be built by the user, while some of the larger models come pre-assembled.
Tractor – from $7,877 (£6.5k)
Manufacturing prefab farming wares since 2011, the company has sold more than 4,000 tractors to date. Used on everything from Alpaca farms to vineyards, the versatile vehicles are a hit with farmers and smallholders.
Car – from $12,480 (£10.3k)
Electric car manufacturer Open Motors sells a flat-pack modular car kit that can be pimped out to the buyer's specifications. The Nika city car (pictured) can be built in just one hour, with the majority of the functions you'd usually find on a dashboard controlled from a tablet.
Car – from $12,480 (£10.3k)
The self-build electric vehicle, which has a top speed of 62mph (100km/h), is available in both two- and four-seater versions.
Truck – est. from $12,850 (£10.6k)
The brainchild of ex-fighter pilot Sir Torquil Norman, OX is the world's first flat-pack truck. Targeted at markets in the developing world, the unique low-cost vehicle is mostly made from lightweight plywood and can be assembled in just 12 hours.
Truck – est. from $12,850 (£10.6k)
When it came to developing the vehicle, Norman recruited none other than Formula One designer Gordon Murray with the task. It's been designed for driving on rougher surfaces, equipped with sturdy suspension and front-wheel drive, for ease and simplicity.
Vehicle armour – prices on application
Perhaps not the kind of flat-pack you can make in your garage, military supplier Plasan creates prefab vehicle armour kits which can be tweaked to almost any vehicle, from SUVs to trucks. They are popular with the US military and security-conscious private clients.
Vehicle armour – prices on application
The bulletproof armour can be assembled in as little as 17 minutes for smaller vehicles, with the company selling more than 20,000 vehicle kits to private buyers in the first decade of the 21st century.
Washing machine – price TBC
Wave goodbye to constant washing machine breakages with this flat-pack gem. Designed to last 50 years, the modular design by French company L'Increvable, which means 'the unbreakable one', allows for each part to be replaced easily when needed, with the manufacturer's website providing helpful tutorials so customers can fix it themselves.
Washing machine – price TBC
The washing machine is still being developed and isn't available for purchase at the moment, although the brand hopes it will sell for around €1,000 ($1,110/£915).
Toaster – price TBC
Created by engineer and designer Kasey Hou, this flat-pack toaster might not be hitting stores anytime soon, but it does show how far the flat-pack phenomenon has gone. The idea is that it can be both assembled and repaired by users, with easy-to-repair parts increasing its lifespan.
Toaster – price TBC
Intended to reduce the enormous amount of e-waste that is produced worldwide, the final prototype can be packed into a small drawer. Speaking about the project on her website, Hou writes, “I tried to approach this problem with the concept of emotional design. If people could be more emotionally attached to products, perhaps they would be less likely to throw them away.”
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