Behind the Design: The Making of King FreeForm

From 1977 to today: The evolution of comfort  

Every so often, a design comes along that changes everything. For King Living, that moment began in 1977, when David King and his mother Gwen set out to revolutionise comfort, handcrafting original foam furniture from their family home and selling it at Sydney's Paddy's Market. 

“I was eager to create something innovative and unique,” David reflects. “When my mother and I first discussed furniture made from foam, I didn’t know it would be a life-changing moment for us.” 

Over five decades, that spark of innovation evolved into what we now know as comfort engineering — a foundation of craftsmanship, technology and design thinking that continues to shape every King Living sofa today.  What has changed is how we achieve it, refining the way layers of foam are combined. 

"Foam has been integral to King Living since its conception," says Chris. "David has always been passionate about comfort, and was one of the first to utilise foam in that way. The very first pieces that David created were simple foam designs." 

By 1979, the introduction of the steel frame marked a game-changer in sofa design, with the King Steel Frame and patented Postureflex Seating System setting new standards in durability and comfort. Fast forward to today, FreeForm takes a different approach.  

The frame-free collection returns to those early foam beginnings. Compressed for fast delivery, the designs reimagine material through modern technology and sustainable design. This means the comfort King Living is known for is now more accessible than ever before.  

The design process: From sports shoe to sofa 

Innovation often starts in unexpected places. For FreeForm, one of those moments came from looking down at a sports shoe.   

The sole of high-performance footwear inspired the FreeForm Base, a ridged foundation that enhances grip and adapts to uneven flooring. Crafted from recycled materials, it creates a subtle shadow line that gives each design a beautiful architectural lift.  

"We were really inspired by the directional nature of the chevron symbol,” explains Chris. "The ridges allow the base to flex and adapt to your floor, so the sofa sits perfectly balanced even on uneven surfaces." 

Unlike most foam sofas that sit on the floor, this elevation promotes airflow beneath, reducing the risk of mould and supporting easy cleaning. 

Inside the sofas, a fusion of responsive springs and multi-layered high-rebound foam compresses fully and recovers instantly, ensuring cushions always return to their perfect form. 

"King Rebound Technology uses high resilient foam throughout, with ultra soft foam on the very top layer to provide that luxurious comfort," says King Living Designer Dominic Harrison. "It’s what gives that cloud-like feeling with a really good rebound. You sink in, but it comes back, which makes your furniture last much longer."  

Together, Rebound Foam and the dual KingCell® spring system create the perfect balance of softness and support, delivering lasting comfort that endures over time. 

Inside the design studio: Meet the makers  

Behind FreeForm is an in-house design team who worked collaboratively with Founder David King to bring the collection to life. Here, we introduce a few of the creative minds who helped shape its story. 

Working with David, Chris guided the vision for the collection. Dominic focused his energy on the Quantum Sofa, working through over 20 iterations to perfect the comfort engineering. King Living Designer Zara Fong brought her expertise to the Lumo Sofa Bed and KING Kube Sofa, designing with sustainability and modularity at the forefront. 

"David came to us with a brief for a compression sofa that was super comfortable, just as comfortable as the rest of the furniture we produce," says Dominic.  

"Quantum was designed from the inside out. We did a lot of experimenting to get as much support as we could out of our foam base and springs." 

For Zara, sustainability was built into every decision.  

"We were really interested in using crumb foam because it utilises waste material made during the manufacturing process," she explains. "With all of the premium foams we use at King Living, we take the offcuts, cut them into smaller pieces and use them as cushion filling." 

At the heart of the process was a shared philosophy.  

"Good design is about designing for a lifestyle, not just for an aesthetic," says Chris.  

And that's exactly what FreeForm delivers. 

The future of furniture 

Fifty years ago, David King started with a simple idea: make better furniture. That idea hasn't changed. 

What has changed is how quickly it can arrive, how easily it adapts to different lifestyles, and how accessible it's become. The FreeForm collection of sofas and sofa beds brings the same comfort engineering and craftsmanship, now compressed into a box and ready when you are. 

"We want everybody to experience King," says Chris. "If you value quality, comfort, speed of delivery, and flexibility, then this collection is for you." 

Direct from the designer and maker to your front door — and now yours to explore: 

• Explore which design is right for you in the FreeForm buying guide 

• Shop the King FreeForm collection online 

• Discover FreeForm in your nearest showroom