Furniture Buying in Singapore – Guide to Cheap and Affordable Options

Furniture Buying in Singapore – Guide to Cheap and Affordable Options

It’s hard not to get a little excited at the prospect of furniture shopping in Singapore, especially when HGTV has been feeding us with gorgeous visuals of what a little creativity and imagination can do for our humble homes.

Who hasn’t dreamt of flipping their houses, going a little Property Brothers on our properties or doing a Fixer Upper number on our rooms?

If you’re in the market for a little home-makeover (or a major one), come furniture hunting with us. We’ll tell you where to get the best bargains so you can fuel your dreams of that perfect home.

Contents

1. What to buy? 4 steps to take before starting

2. Interior designer – yes or no?

3. Where to buy furniture in Singapore

4. Furniture prices at a glance

What to buy? 4 steps to take before starting

What to buy is the first question you need to ask yourself because the answer affects your budget.

Every room has a specific function and along with that function comes the furniture you need. It’s pretty standard. Your living room is where your family congregates (usually in front of the tv). So, you need a place to sit and maybe put your snacks. Naturally, a sofa and some kind of table – either a side table or a coffee table – come to mind. A dining room obviously requires a dining table and chairs. A bedroom needs a bed. Duh!

But what about a side table for the living room? Maybe some shelves? Would a credenza for your cutlery and fine china be nice in the dining room? Should you have a stand-alone wardrobe or build a walk-in one? What about an armchair for bedtime reading? Really, when you get going, there’re so many pieces of furniture you can buy. And we haven’t even talked about accents items, decorative pieces, wall hangings and lighting.

Now, asking what to get doesn’t seem so silly any more, does it?

Step 1: Consider the size of the room

The size of your room will determine the size of your furniture. A teeny sofa in a massive room will look ridiculously dwarfed just as too-large furniture in a small room will make it look cluttered.

The size of your furniture will then tell you how much (or how little) furniture you need. Design rules centre on the number 3 quite a bit. Colours follow the 60-30-10 rule where the primary colour of the room fills 60% of the room; the secondary colour, 30%; and accent pieces, 10%. In the same way, your coffee table or console table behind the sofa should be two-thirds the size of your sofa so the proportions balance.

This doesn’t mean that if your room is small, you are consigned to child-sized furniture. It does mean that your awareness of dimensions will guide your choices. So, if you have a tiny room but want a huge sofa, you have one of two choices: a) end up with a giant coffee table and forego everything else to avoid over-crowding b) forego the coffee table.

Step 2: Consider the spacing of your furniture

As part of the balance of your room, you should think about how your furniture is spaced. And there are design rules for that, too.

In your living room:

• leave about 45 cm between your sofa and your coffee table so you don’t bump into the table yet it’s near enough for you to put your drinks

• have about 9 – 25cm between seats to allow for conversation yet avoid crowding

• make sure your tv is at least 18cm away from your sofa

• get side tables the same height as the arm of your seats

In the dining room, there should be:

• about 90cm of space between the wall or any other furniture on either sides of your dining table so people can move to their seats

• about 120cm between the dining table and the entrance of the room so people can walk in and out easily

• at least 60 to 80 cm between the table top and the lamp or chandelier over it so the lighting will not block your view

Once you consider the spacing and size of the room, you’ll know how much furniture you need to buy. And how much you can expect to spend.

Step 3: Think about the focal point of the room

Every designer will tell you to create a focal point in your room. What this means is that you need to find the one thing you want people to take notice of when they walk into the room. Then, design around it. It could be a quirkily designed sofa, a feature wall, or even a gorgeously framed window over-looking the city. Once you have that, you will know what kind of furniture you need around the focal point.

Step 4: Apply design rules

Remember how design loves the number 3? It also loves odd numbers, especially when it comes to accent pieces and decorations. So, think three flowers, five wall hangings, seven seashells in a bowl, and so on.

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Interior Designer – yes or no?

Now comes the next budget question: do you need to engage an interior designer? What’s the difference between the contractor and the interior designer? If you have to ask, you haven’t been watching enough home décor shows. The contractor is the guy who does the heavy-lifting. He’s the one that does the renovations – breaks walls, puts them up, installs built-in cabinets and shelves, does the electrical and plumbing. He’s the doer, the brawn. He’s Phua Chu Kang, the Property Brother in plaid, Chip Gaines.

The interior designer is the one who co-ordinates your renovation and creates the look of your home. He works with the contractor to actualise your (or his) ideas. He tells you how to re-configure your space, providing you with 3-D renditions of your future home. He helps you achieve the theme you want or, if you’re clueless, offers you styles to choose from. He’s the planner who oversees the brawn so you won’t have to. He’s the Property Brother in the suit or Joanna Gaines.

The contractor you know you’ll need, unless you want to channel your inner Phua Chu Kang. But do you want to fork out more to hire an interior designer? To help you decide, let’s do our calculations.

When deciding on the price tag of their service, interior designers looks at the size of the space, scale of the project (how much work needs to be done), and type of materials used. But how you are charged depends on which fee structure is used:

Interior Designer Fee Structure	Estimated Cost
Per square metre or footage	$400 – $20,000 (inclusive of materials to realise your dream design and labour) This fee structure is based on the size of the home. e.g. $11,000 – $15,000 (4-room flat)
Pre-fixed rates	20% – 30% mark-up of actual cost of material and labour Homeowner and interior designer negotiate and agree on a fee at the start.
Hourly	$50 – $200 per hour This structure is how much work is expected to be put in.
Percentage over cost	20% above cost of item When your interior designer orders items to fulfil the dream look of your home, he charges you a fee. He might also get a referral fee from the retailer (5% – 15% of what’s spent at the shop) when he takes you to shops he has chosen to buy furniture and accessories.
Combination	Sometimes, your interior designer may go with a combination of fee structures, charging hourly rates for the design work and percentage over cost for helping you procure items.
Shop on your own	10% discount off the ID package If you decide to do your own shopping sans your interior designer’s input or referrals, you can save a little.

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Where to buy furniture in Singapore

If you’ve decided to go solo in your furniture hunt, where should you go? We’ve put some of our fave picks into categories for easy browsing.

Scandinavian

If you love the simple, minimalist functionality of Scandinavian design but want to go beyond the Billy bookshelves and Kivik sofas Ikea has to offer, try Castlery. It’s Singapore’s answer to sleek, functional pieces that are pocket-friendly, and the range is mind-boggling – everything from the usual furniture to lighting, rugs, cushions and even mirrors.

Then, there’s Scanteak. It’s the go-to place for quality teakwood furniture that is stylish and sturdy. It’s not exactly cheap but considering the material is teak, known for its elegance and durability, the furniture is quite affordable.

Where to shop for Scandinavian furniture:

• Castlery

• Scanteak

Modern

Clean, simple lines with the use of natural material like wood and leather, this is a look characterised by simplicity and unadorned spaces. To recreate the look, there’s Comfort Design where you can pick up designer replicas at prices regular folks can afford.

Nook and Cranny is another place for chic, modern pieces that is luxury minus the intimidating price tag (think leather armchairs for under $700). We love their modern take on fabric sofas and the fact that you can pick up Chinese antique pieces and Art Deco items there as well to mix and match with your modern rooms.

Where to shop:

• Comfort Design

• Nook and Cranny

Luxury

Plush, bold and bling – luxury style living is all about ornate pieces, rich textures and striking colours. Finn Avenue offers premium material from France, Italy and Spain; and trendy items that take sophistication to a new level. True, they aren’t the cheapest but luxury style tends to be steeper. At least their prices won’t have you hitting the roof. You could, for example, get a two-seater for under $1,000.

Novena is a familiar name to most local households. Known for their leather sofas at reasonable prices, properly selected, their pieces can add to your luxury-style home.

Where to shop:

• Finn Avenue

• Novena

Indonesian

Want to create a laid-back tropical hideaway in your home? Natural material – teak, bamboo, rattan – matched with bits of Balinese art and Oriental accents is the way to go. Both Elements Concept and Originals incorporate Indonesian craftsmanship into their items so you can feel like you’re on holiday every day.

Where to shop:

• Elements Concept

• Originals

Vintage

Retro charm with an edge is how we would describe the vintage style of home décor. Scatter your room with furniture that harkens to a glorious era past and open shelves to display bric-a-brac you’ve collected over the years and you’ve mastered vintage style.

At sustainable furniture store, Knots Living, you can recreate the vintage style with antique-looking mantel clocks and wooden chairs and that will transport you back in time.

Where to shop:

• Knots Living

Online

Online shopping is definitely one of the major perks of 21^st-century living. It saves time and the furniture tend to be cheaper. There are quite a few of these e-stores you can browse at.

The most popular are HipVan and FortyTwo. Both have impressive catalogues boasting a wide selection of items. FortyTwo is especially helpful because they categorise their products according to design styles. Shipping is free if you spend above $150 at HipVan and $300 at FortyTwo. To help you keep costs down, FortyTwo lets you pick up the smaller items at their warehouse.

FurnitureSG is another place you might want to try, if for no other reason than to buy two-seater sofas for just $88.

Where to shop:

• FortyTwo

• Furnituresg

• HipVan

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Furniture Prices at a Glance

Living Room

Sofa

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$299 – $1,499 (single), $599 – $2,999 (2-seater), $649 – $3,891.50 (3-seater)
	Scanteak	$699 – $1,299 (single), $1,059 – $2,199 (2-seater), $1,299 – $2,347 (3-seater)
Modern	Comfort Design	$369 – $1,698 (single), $339 – $1,368.53 (2-seater), $348 – $2,048 (3-seater)
	Nook & Cranny	$527 – $940 (single), $839 – $2,165 (2- to 3-seater)
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$348 – $1,290 (single), $890 – $1,690 (2-seater), $1,190 – $4,890 (3-seater)
	Novena	$399 (single), $399 (2-seater), $599 – $2,399 (3-seater)
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$245 – $690 (single)
	Originals	$680 – $1,350 (single), $820 – $2,800 (2-seater), $1,900 – $5,800 (3-seater & larger)
Vintage	Knots Living	$318 – $745.95 (single), $960 (love seat)
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$199 – $2,999 (single), $299 – $1,499 (2-seater), $539.90 – $4,999 (3-seater)
	FortyTwo	$35.90 – $719 (single), $159.90 – $980 (2-seater), $299 – $4,999 (3-seater)
	FurnitureSG	$88 – $1,788 (2- to 3- seater)

TV Console

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$379 – $919
	Scanteak	$599 – $1,599
Modern	Comfort Design	$199 – $898
	Nook & Cranny	$480 – $999
Luxury	Finn Avenue	N/A
	Novena	$999 – $1,399
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$1,250
	Originals	$950 – $2,895
Vintage	Knots Living	$954.45 – $2,273.04
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$299 – $1,279
	FortyTwo	$89 – $1,728
	FurnitureSG	$135 – $635

Coffee Table

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$159 – $549
	Scanteak	$329 – $1,199
Modern	Comfort Design	$79 – $555
	Nook & Cranny	$182 – $569
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$499 – $960
	Novena	$399 – $799
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$309
	Originals	$580 – $1,900
Vintage	Knots Living	$504 – $1,099.53
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$39.90 – $799
	FortyTwo	$49.90 – $888
	FurnitureSG	$55 – $678

Shelf

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$339 – $899
	Scanteak	$329 – $1,199
Modern	Comfort Design	$399 – $1,399
	Nook & Cranny	$449 – $859
Luxury	Finn Avenue	N/A
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	N/A
	Originals	$1,340 – $2,095
Vintage	Knots Living	$565.95 – $1,352.40
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$39.90 – $799
	FortyTwo	$49.90 – $888
	FurnitureSG	$125 – $1,188

Dining Room

Table

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$419 – $1,089
	Scanteak	$999 – $1,999
Modern	Comfort Design	$85 – $1,399
	Nook & Cranny	$371 – $1,359
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$1,890
	Novena	$599 – $2,199 (set)
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$375 – $1,099
	Originals	$1,395 – $2,695
Vintage	Knots Living	$616.22 – $3,682.60
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$199 – $1,799
	FortyTwo	$86 – $3,488
	FurnitureSG	$98 – $898

Chair

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$99 – $479
	Scanteak	$69 – $269
Modern	Comfort Design	$99 – $199
	Nook & Cranny	$41.90 – $449
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$348 – $2,190
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$225 – $256
	Originals	$390 – $560
Vintage	Knots Living	$340.20
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$29.90 – $379
	FortyTwo	$24.90 – $388
	FurnitureSG	$27 – $265

Bedroom

Bed

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$329 – $2,269 (double)
	Scanteak	$369 – $899 (single) $1,299 – $1,599 (king)
Modern	Comfort Design	$459 – $890
	Nook & Cranny	$816
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$3978
	Novena	$499 – $4,299
Indonesian	Elements Concept	N/A
	Originals	$1,850 – $2,890
Vintage	Knots Living	N/A
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$299 – $1,199
	FortyTwo	$95 – $419 (queen)
	FurnitureSG	$110 – $335 (queen)

Side table

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$229 – $399
	Scanteak	$179 – $499
Modern	Comfort Design	$119 – $235
	Nook & Cranny	$280 – $449
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$498 – $795
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	N/A
	Originals	$400 – $850
Vintage	Knots Living	$261.45
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$54.90 – $399
	FortyTwo	N/A
	FurnitureSG	$95 – $228

Accessories

Cushion

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$29.90 – $39
	Scanteak	$14.90 – $50
Modern	Comfort Design	$19 – $29
	Nook & Cranny	$17.90 – $21.90
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$39 – $368
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$49 – $66
	Originals	$80 – $145
Vintage	Knots Living	N/A
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$12,90 – $58
	FortyTwo	$16.90 – $127
	FurnitureSG	N/A

Decorations

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	N/A
	Scanteak	N/A
Modern	Comfort Design	$10 – $199
	Nook & Cranny	$5.90 – $373.90
Luxury	Finn Avenue	$8 – $359
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$21 – $316
	Originals	$8 – $880
Vintage	Knots Living	$10.75 – $1.325.10
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$6.90 – $149
	FortyTwo	$19.90 – $1,288
	FurnitureSG	N/A

Lighting

Interior Design Style	Furniture Store	Cost
Scandinavian	Castlery	$69 – $269
	Scanteak	N/A
Modern	Comfort Design	$41.73 – $85.50
	Nook & Cranny	$63.90 – $149
Luxury	Finn Avenue	N/A
	Novena	N/A
Indonesian	Elements Concept	$66 – $175
	Originals	$280 – $430
Vintage	Knots Living	$102.80 – $1,999.20
Online Stores (Various Styles)	HipVan	$39 – $700
	FortyTwo	$130 – $568
	FurnitureSG	N/A

There you have it, all you need to turn your home into your very own palace and you don’t even need a king’s ransom to do it. Enjoy!

Do you have a preferred furniture retailer? Tell us why in the comments!

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