Personal Data and Digital Security Seven Everyday Habits

Introduction | Similar at first glance, very different in daily use

Kartell’s Componibili and B—Line’s Boby trolley both use rounded plastic forms and the playful spirit of Italian design from the late 1960s and early 1970s. In photographs they can look like close alternatives, but they solve different problems. Componibili behaves like a compact stationary cabinet and side table. Boby is a mobile organizing system designed to separate tools and move them to the place where the work happens.

For a bedside, living-room corner or dry bathroom area where visual calm matters, Componibili is usually the easier fit. For stationery, cosmetics, craft supplies or children’s art materials that need to be sorted and moved, Boby is generally more capable. Both are recognized design icons, but the best choice depends less on fame than on what you store and how often you reach for it.

Left : B-Line Boby Trolley  |   Right three-tier Kartell Componibili Classic

Front view of the three-tier Kartell Componibili Classic | Kartell

1. Introducing the Kartell Componibili

Componibili is a cylindrical storage system created by architect and designer Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell. Kartell dates its first appearance to 1967. Today’s Classic line has a 32 cm diameter and is sold in fixed two-, three- and four-element configurations. Each door slides sideways along the curved body and uses a circular opening as its handle.

Its strength is the way storage can sit in a room without looking heavy. The rounded body softens a tight circulation path, while the shallow rim on top is useful for glasses, a phone or a cup. Close the doors and everyday clutter disappears, which is especially valuable in a bedroom or living room.

Curved sliding doors and recessed top detail | Kartell

2. Where Componibili works well

·     Bedroom: use the two-tier version as a low bedside table or the three-tier version when more storage is needed.

·     Living room: place it beside a sofa and hide remotes, chargers and tissues.

·     Children’s room: separate small toys or art supplies by level, while keeping the unit on a flat floor and preventing climbing.

·     Vanity or dry bathroom zone: organize towels, paper goods, a hair dryer or skincare, while controlling moisture and allowing ventilation.

The cylindrical silhouette keeps the footprint visually light | Kartell

3. Componibili: advantages and limitations

Advantages

·     A 32 cm diameter makes it easy to place in a small bedroom or studio.

·     Closed doors conceal the contents and create a tidy visual impression.

·     The rounded form and color options allow it to work as storage, side table and accent piece.

·     The simple exterior is relatively easy to wipe clean.

Limitations

·     The cylindrical interior is inefficient for large books, documents and square organizers.

·     The current Classic line has no casters, so it is not intended to move frequently when loaded.

·     Current two-, three- and four-tier Classic units are fixed structures and cannot be separated or reconfigured after purchase.

·     Fine scratches and dust may show on glossy plastic, so a soft cloth is safer than abrasive cleaning tools.

Componibili used as a colorful interior accent | Kartell

4. Introducing the B—Line Boby trolley

Boby is a mobile storage trolley designed by Joe Colombo in 1970. B—Line describes injection-molded ABS drawers and compartments arranged in vertical modular configurations, supported by polypropylene casters. Its 430 × 420 mm footprint is offered in heights of 315, 525, 735 and 945 mm, allowing users to choose a working height and storage capacity.

Unlike a conventional drawer cabinet that opens in one direction, Boby combines rotating drawers, open shelves, side compartments and a divided top tray. It therefore behaves more like a compact mobile workstation. The Museum of Modern Art describes Boby 3 as an all-in-one organization system on wheels with shelves, bins and trays, highlighting its early vision of multifunctional, customizable furniture.

Boby’s multi-directional storage structure | B—Line

5. Where the Boby trolley works well

·     Home office: divide pens, cables, notes, drives and desk accessories by function.

·     Vanity: keep short bottles in rotating drawers and frequently used brushes in the top tray.

·     Craft room: collect sewing tools, scissors, tape, brushes and paint in one mobile station.

·     Children’s art area: separate pencils, paper and making materials, with adult supervision around the wheeled unit.

Boby as a functional color accent in an interior | B—Line

6. Boby trolley: advantages and limitations

Advantages

·     Casters let you move a complete set of supplies for cleaning or changing work areas.

·     Rotating drawers, open storage and a top tray support detailed organization of small objects.

·     Multi-directional access allows use away from the wall and in the center of a work zone.

·     Several heights and drawer combinations suit both professional studios and homes.

Limitations

·     At 43 × 42 cm, it takes more floor space than Componibili and may feel large beside a narrow bed.

·     Placing it too close to a wall or cabinet can block access to some drawers and shelves.

·     Open shelves and the top tray provide fast access but collect dust and expose visual clutter.

·     Because configurations vary, buyers must check the exact model and drawer count; the system may be excessive if a simple bedside table is all that is needed.

Casters reinforce Boby’s role as a mobile workstation | B—Line

7. Componibili vs Boby: quick comparison

Category	Kartell Componibili	B—Line Boby trolley
Core role	Stationary cabinet and side table	Mobile work-storage trolley
Designer / debut	Anna Castelli Ferrieri / 1967	Joe Colombo / 1970
Basic size	32 cm diameter; fixed 2, 3 or 4 tiers	43 × 42 cm; 31.5–94.5 cm high
Mobility	No casters on the current Classic line	Polypropylene casters
Storage access	Concealed storage behind curved sliding doors	Rotating drawers, open shelves and top tray
Best spaces	Bedroom, living room, small corner	Home office, studio, craft or art area
Main watch-out	Circular interior and fine surface scratches	Dust on open areas and access clearance
Best for	People who want clutter hidden	People who sort and move many small tools

 

Boby is available in several heights and storage combinations | B—Line

8. Which one should you choose?

Choose Componibili when you want a compact bedside surface for a glass, phone and glasses, with tissues or chargers hidden inside. It also works well beside a sofa or anywhere that needs a small, visually calm accent cabinet.

Choose Boby when cables and stationery gather around a desk, or when cosmetics, nail tools, sewing supplies and other differently sized objects must be found quickly. The more important it is to organize by workflow and move everything together, the more valuable Boby becomes.

Before buying, mark the footprint on the floor with masking tape: a 32 cm circle for Componibili and a 43 × 42 cm rectangle for Boby. Check the walkway and the clearance needed to open the storage. Boby needs particular attention because access from several sides is part of its usefulness.

FAQ

Q. Can casters be added to Componibili?

A. Kartell describes the current Componibili Classic as a fixed unit for direct floor placement and states that casters cannot be fitted to this line.

Q. Can I separate or add tiers later?

A. Current official Classic two-, three- and four-tier products are fixed structures, not separable modules. Do not assume that features of vintage or earlier versions apply.

Q. Can Boby work as a bedside table?

A. Yes, but allow for its 43 × 42 cm footprint, casters and multi-directional storage. For a simpler, smaller bedside role, Componibili may feel neater.

Q. Which is better for children’s storage?

A. Boby suits frequently moved art materials; Componibili is better when the goal is to hide toys. Prevent climbing or hanging and use either unit on a level floor.

Q. Are they suitable for bathrooms?

A. They can work in a dry bathroom zone, but avoid standing water and poorly ventilated interiors. Follow the manufacturer’s care guidance and use a soft cloth with gentle cleaning methods.

Conclusion

Componibili is strongest when compact size, concealed storage and side-table function matter. Boby is strongest when mobility, detailed organization and rapid access to work tools matter. Both have substantial design pedigree, but the decision is practical: choose Componibili to keep one spot calm and tidy; choose Boby to divide supplies and move them wherever they are needed.

Sources and fact check

Kartell official Componibili Classic page: https://www.kartell.com/no/en/ktno/shop/product/componibili-classic/kar0496703

B—Line official Boby page: https://www.b-line.it/en/prodotti/boby/

The Museum of Modern Art, Boby 3 collection page: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/2281

MoMA Design Store, Componibili 2-tier: https://store.moma.org/products/kartell-componibili-2-tier-storage-white