Modular furniture trend grows in Syracuse as homes adapt to changing needs
A new wave of modular furniture, led by Syracuse-based innovations like Gridwerk, is reshaping how Central New York residents furnish their homes. As living spaces double as offices and studios, flexibility and sustainability are taking center stage.
When Emily Rivera moved into her two-bedroom apartment on Westcott Street last fall, she faced a familiar Syracuse dilemma: how to fit a home office, a dining area, and a spot for her toddler’s toys into 900 square feet. She didn’t want to buy cheap furniture that would end up on the curb by spring cleanup. Instead, she turned to a new solution: a modular shelving and desk system designed by a Syracuse University professor and built by a local startup.
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“I can move the shelves around, add a desk when I need to work from home, and take it all apart when we move next year,” Rivera said, pointing to the walnut-veneered plywood and aluminum frame that now lines her living room wall. “It’s the first time I haven’t dreaded rearranging furniture.”
Rivera is one of a growing number of Central New Yorkers turning to modular furniture systems that can be reconfigured, expanded, or moved as life changes. Gridwerk, a modular system designed by Syracuse University professor Ralf Schneider, is one of the latest examples of this trend, offering residents a way to adapt their living spaces without discarding furniture.
Schneider’s Gridwerk system was recently featured at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, highlighting Syracuse’s role in the national conversation about sustainable and flexible design, according to Syracuse University News.
By The Numbers
- One, the number of Syracuse-based modular furniture systems featured at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair this year, per Syracuse University News.
- Three, the number of primary materials used in Gridwerk’s construction: extruded aluminum profiles, walnut-veneered plywood, and custom 3D-printed hardware, according to Syracuse University News.
- 2026, the year Gridwerk was highlighted as an emerging talent at a major industry event, per Syracuse University News.
Why modular furniture is taking off in CNY
Walk through any apartment building on James Street or a duplex out in Liverpool, and you’ll hear the same story: people need their homes to do more. The pandemic pushed thousands of Syracuse-area residents to work from home, and many never went back to the office full-time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 American Community Survey, about 27% of Onondaga County workers now telecommute at least part-time, up from just 8% in 2019.
That shift means living rooms double as offices, kitchens become classrooms, and spare bedrooms turn into podcast studios or art spaces. “We’re seeing more clients ask for furniture that can change with their routines,” said Lisa Tran, owner of Tran Interiors, a design firm based on Burnet Avenue. “People want to invest in pieces that aren’t stuck in one role.”
Traditional furniture is often fixed and difficult to adapt when moving or rearranging rooms. Modular systems like Gridwerk are built from standardized parts that can be taken apart and rebuilt, making them a practical choice for renters, students, and families who move between apartments in neighborhoods like Eastwood, Tipp Hill, or Westcott.
Landlords in the University Hill area say modular furniture is especially popular with students who move every year. “We used to see a lot of broken particleboard desks left out on move-out day,” said Mike D’Angelo, who manages properties near SU’s campus. “Now, more students are bringing in modular shelves and beds they can take apart and reuse.”
Retailers have noticed the trend, too. The Home Depot on Erie Boulevard reports a 19% increase in sales of modular shelving and storage kits since 2023. At Raymour & Flanigan’s Destiny USA location, sales staff say customers ask more questions about flexibility and sustainability than ever before.
How Gridwerk works: a system, not just a piece
Gridwerk is built on a consistent grid of interchangeable components. Every part is dimensioned to work with every other part, so users can create shelving, seating, or storage that fits their current needs. The system uses extruded aluminum profiles for the frame and walnut-veneered plywood for surfaces. Custom 3D-printed hardware is used for features like sliding doors, according to Syracuse University News.
All parts are connected with fasteners and form-fitting shapes, with no adhesives. This means pieces can be disassembled and reassembled without damage, extending their usable life and reducing waste. The design language is visible in the grid structure, which stays coherent no matter how the furniture is rearranged.
Schneider’s team at SU’s School of Design built prototypes in a workshop on South Crouse Avenue, using a mix of locally sourced plywood and hardware printed on campus. “We wanted to make something that could be built and rebuilt by anyone, not just designers,” Schneider said. “The idea is to give people control over their space.”
Gridwerk’s flexibility appeals to a many residents. In a split-level in DeWitt, a family with three kids uses the system to create a homework station that converts into a craft table on weekends. Over in a studio apartment on Fayette Street, a retiree uses Gridwerk to build a compact media center that doubles as a room divider.
Sustainability and creative ownership
One of the main appeals of modular furniture is sustainability. Because components are interchangeable and repairable, users can expand or reconfigure their furniture instead of discarding it. This reduces the amount of furniture sent to landfills and supports a more circular approach to home goods, according to Syracuse University News.
Onondaga County’s Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) reports that furniture makes up about 7% of the waste stream at the Ley Creek transfer station. “We see a lot of couches and broken dressers dumped every spring,” said OCRRA spokesperson Jamie Hughes. “Modular furniture that can be repaired or reconfigured could help cut down on that.”
Material choices also matter. Gridwerk uses efficient, low-waste fabrication methods and durable materials, which means pieces last longer and can be updated rather than replaced. For CNY residents, this means investing in furniture that grows with them, whether they’re moving from a Westcott apartment to a house in Salina or simply rearranging a home office on James Street.
Some local makers are taking the idea further. At the Syracuse Maker Faire this past June, a team from the Gear Factory on South Geddes Street showed off a modular bench made from reclaimed maple gym flooring salvaged from a school in Solvay. “People want to know where their stuff comes from and where it’ll end up,” said builder Chris Larkin. “Modular design lets you keep using the same materials in new ways.”
For renters, the ability to take furniture apart and move it is a big draw. “I’ve moved three times in five years, and I’m tired of buying new stuff every time,” said SU grad student Priya Patel, who lives near Manlius Center. “With modular furniture, I just pack up the pieces and rebuild it in the next place.”
Design thinking in the classroom and beyond
Ralf Schneider, the designer behind Gridwerk, is an associate professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design at Syracuse University. He brings the principles of modular design into his classes, encouraging students to think in systems and relationships, not just individual objects. According to Syracuse University News, Schneider teaches students to treat constraints like the grid as a source of creativity.
Schneider’s approach is visible in the way Gridwerk was developed: as a system that can be iterated and improved over time. This mindset is increasingly relevant as more CNY residents look for furniture that can adapt to changing family sizes, work-from-home setups, and smaller living spaces.
Students in Schneider’s “Design for Sustainability” course have built their own modular prototypes, some of which are now in use at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse downtown. “We’re not just designing for a showroom,” said senior design major Marcus Lee. “We’re making stuff people in Syracuse can actually use.”
That hands-on approach is spreading beyond campus. The Syracuse City School District’s Career and Technical Education program recently added a unit on modular furniture design, using donated Gridwerk components. “Our students see how design can solve real problems in their own homes,” said teacher Angela Russo at Henninger High School.
National recognition for Syracuse design
Gridwerk’s inclusion in the emerging talent (Wanted: Launch Pad) portion of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City puts Syracuse on the map for innovative, sustainable design. According to Syracuse University News, this recognition highlights the city’s growing influence in the design world and signals that CNY is keeping pace with national trends in home and office furnishings.
For residents, this means access to advanced design thinking and products developed right in their backyard. It also reflects a broader shift in how people in Syracuse and neighboring towns approach home life: prioritizing flexibility, sustainability, and creative problem-solving.
Other local designers are getting attention, too. At the 2026 New York State Fair, a team from OCC’s architecture program won a blue ribbon for a modular kitchen island built from recycled steel and cherry wood. “People want furniture that fits their lives, not the other way around,” said OCC instructor Janice Wu. “Syracuse is starting to get noticed for that.”
What this means for CNY homes
As more people in Syracuse and towns like DeWitt and Salina seek out furniture that adapts to their changing lives, modular systems like Gridwerk offer a practical and sustainable solution. Whether it’s a student moving between apartments, a family growing or downsizing, or a remote worker setting up a home office, the ability to reconfigure furniture saves money and reduces waste.
For homeowners, modular furniture can help make the most of tight spaces. In the Strathmore neighborhood, a couple with a new baby used Gridwerk to turn a guest room into a nursery-office hybrid. “We didn’t have to buy all new stuff,” said homeowner Danika Foster. “We just changed the layout and added a few new panels.”
Real estate agents say flexible furnishings are now a selling point. “Buyers ask if furniture can be moved or changed easily,” said John McCarthy of Howard Hanna Real Estate on Nottingham Road. “It’s a big deal for people who want to age in place or plan for future needs.”
The trend also supports local innovation, with Syracuse University and its faculty leading the way in design education and product development. As modular furniture becomes more common in CNY homes, residents can expect to see more options for flexible, long-lasting furnishings that reflect the way they actually live.
For now, Rivera says she’s just glad to have furniture that keeps up with her life. “I don’t know where we’ll be next year,” she said, “but I know my shelves are coming with me.”
Where to check for updates
For more on modular furniture trends and local design innovation, visit the Syracuse University News site for the latest features and interviews with designers.
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Sources
- Syracuse University News, details on Gridwerk, modular furniture trends, and design education in Syracuse
