Koselig Table
5 weeks - Fall 2025
A side table inspired by Nordic Design and the principle of “Koselig“. Koselig is a Norwegian word that encompasses feelings of warmth, contentment, and togetherness. This table brings people together and inspires the feeling of koselig.
Skills Used: Sketching, Prototyping, Furniture Making, Fusion 360, Keyshot.
Nordic Design Principles and Influence
Design Goals
Proportional
Utilizing proportional relationships.
Golden ratio 1:1.618, rule of thirds.
Adaptable
A table than can convert in use to elicit function while maintaining elegance. Emphasize democratic design and promote “hygge” - a feeling of comfort and warmth brought by products that encourage community and a life well-lived.
Sustainable pratices
Utilizing sustainable practices such as, locally sourcing wood, carefully planing cuts to maximize efficiency and the use of joinery and high level of craft to make the piece last.
Initial Ideation Sketches
Explored different joinery archetypes, different styles, different trays.
CAD Iterations
Explored different shelfs, joinery, supports and tray options.
Final Koselig Table
Building Process
For the tray, I created a custom router jig that allowed me to carve cosentric circles at different depths. To create the taped sides, I created a jig for the belt sander and sanded the sides.
The legs were the largest piece to cut, so to conserve wood I carefully planned the cuts. Each leg had a halving joint for the shelf and a peg joint in the top. To finish the legs, I routered the edges and sanded them.
To create the shelf, I used the table saw to create the halfing joint where it would slot into the legs. I added a batten on the bottom to prevent splitting.
Full Scale Drawing
Patern to Print
Pattern to be printed on 11x17 paper. The leg piece will be cut and put back together.
Full scale drawing calling out features and key measurements.
Review of Goals
Proportional
Within the design, I used the Golden ratio 1:1.618. I rounded this to be 15:25.
Adaptable
The tray can be removed and used as a charcuterie board promoting community, gathering and “hygee“.
Sustainable pratices
Mindfulness of piece placement, using maple wood (locally sourced and sustainable wood), and carefully crafting the piece all led to a sustainable outcome.
Final Table Photos
Feature call outs: Removable serving tray, Halving joint on shelf, Tri-meeting floating tenon joint for tray support, Batten beneath shelf.
