In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris an other parts of the world, Scottish company Osdin Shield has come up with a new bespoke range of bulletproof sofas and chairs. These made-to-measure pieces will come with armor-plating sewn into the cushions, ensuring ballistic protection during a shooting.

“Unexpected gun attacks are becoming more and more frequent all over the world,” founder Darren Osdin said. “We designed the furniture with the natural human reaction to unexpected gunfire in mind: to duck and hide behind a barrier.” So in the event of a firearm attack in a hotel or any other indoor public space, people can immediately dive behind Osdin Shield sofas for cover.

“I was in a hotel lobby in London about a year ago, and I thought it was a bit exposed,” Osdin explained. “That was what gave me the idea – there is nothing else like it on the market at the moment. It won’t save everyone, but it might save someone.”

The stylish, high-end sofas are ideally suited for use in hotels, embassies, museums, and other similar locations that have been targeted by terrorists in the past year. They are covered in a range of top quality fabrics that do not give away the armor plates concealed inside. These plates perform to internationally recognized ballistic standards, deflecting a variety of bullets ranging from 9mm to 0.44 magnum and even offering protection against the dreaded AK-47 rifles.

As you can imagine, this sort of made-to-measure bulletproof furniture is not cheap. A sofa, for example, is expected to cost up to £5,000 ($7,000) with the armor plating alone contributing to 40 percent of the price. But I guess money is no object when it comes to personal protection.

Speaking to security experts, The Telegraph discovered that there has actually been a rise in inquiries about safety measures and additional insurance cover from hotels, cinemas, restaurants and shopping malls in the wake of the Paris attacks. When asked if bullet-proof sofas were a good idea, one expert said: “My initial thought is that it sounds like a bit gimmicky. Then again, if the bullets are flying around, it is better to have something to dive behind than nothing at all.”

But another expert had a different suggestion to offer. “It would be cheaper and quicker for hotels to build in bullet-proof obstacles to hide behind, like low-rise walls or pillars,” he said.

Photos: Osdin Shield