A mat that can be folded into a two-seat sofa by California designer Yumi Yoshida was inspired by the ancient Japanese art of paper-folding (+ slideshow).

The Origami Sofa by Yumi Yoshida comprises a series of upholstery panels sandwiched between two layers of fabric. Each piece is separated by a fold allowing the segments to be manipulated into a self-supporting seat.

The concept uses different colours to highlight the duality of the Origami Sofa's function as a mat and sofa, and also to mimic the traditional origami paper that lends the concept its name.

"The two different colours resemble the sides on a sheet of origami paper and emphasise the change in both function and form as it folds from a flat rug into a couch," said the Austrian-born furniture designer.

To convert the mat into a sofa, one end is folded into a pair of right-angled triangular boxes while the other is pinched into the beginnings of a box shape that will become the seat section.

The triangular boxes are then folded inward to create the back and armrests that will form the upper section.

The seat is then rolled into the centre to create a supporting structure shaped like a trapezium.

To complete the sofa, the back section is stacked on top of the seat. The completed piece of furniture retains a few flashes of orange to serve as a reminder of the seat’s dual use.

We've recently reported on a number of designers and architects inspired by the ancient Japanese art of paper folding.

Last month, Paris-based accessories designer Qi Hu created paper headdresses based on Chinese mythological creatures for the Printemps department store, and in January German designer Jule Waibel created 25 folded-paper dresses for fashion brand Bershka's shop windows around the world.