19 Best Johor Bahru (JB) Furniture Shops

If you're part of BTO Telegram chats and group buys, you'll know that there are many young and new homeowners shopping for their furniture and home appliances across the Straits in Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia these days.

Why shop for furniture in JB? Prices are slightly lower across all furniture categories, you get pieces that are a little different than your friends and neighbours, good food while you're at it, and the cheap thrill of travelling "abroad".

19 Best Furniture Shops in Johor Bahru (JB)

There are so many furniture, home furnishing, and ceiling fans, lighting shops in JB! Just do a quick search and you'll easily find over 50 JB furniture shops listed online. However, most of them seem to stock furniture that's pretty similar to what you can find on FortyTwo, HipVan, or your local heartland furniture shop.

Instead, we've picked out the most popular furniture shops in JB that may be worth the travel, distance, and 4-hour traffic jam (if you're driving into JB).

Ruma Furniture Store

Looking for stylish furniture that blends classic elegance with rustic charm? Ruma Home might just be your cup of tea. Their collection, though simple at first glance, offers more than just typical minimalist or Scandinavian furniture.

Just take a look at their top sellers (pictured below) — The Laras Teak Lounge Chair (MYR 1,100/~S$330) paired with their Reclaimed Wood 4-Door Sideboard cabinet (MYR 2,399/~S$720) evokes a rather nostalgic kampong chic vibe. Or consider their Madeline Faux Live Edge Table (MYR 1,399/~S$420) for a unique twist on a communal dining table.

Beyond furniture, they even offer a robust selection of other home decor and paraphernalia like wall art, mirrors, plants, tableware and kitchenware, and even cushions.

And right now, they’re even running a clearance sale of up to 60% off select furniture, including bed frames!

Plus, if you need JB furniture delivery to Singapore, they offer cross-border delivery by truck with minimum MYR 1,500 spent on their products. Their delivery fee is charged based on a tiered pricing system, otherwise customers can opt to self-collect too. They even throw in free assembly service along with a 14-day return policy if you’re not satisfied.

Pro tip: For self-collect orders, take the opportunity to browse and shop around JB’s Paradigm Mall while you’re there. Besides furniture stores, they have loads of F&B chains, retail shops, and even entertainment like cinemas, an ice skating rink, indoor theme park, and more!

Whatever’s your preferred stylistic choice, chances are, Ruma Home’s got a piece that’ll fit right into your home’s aesthetics. You can check out their full catalogue here.

Ruma Furniture Store is located on the 2nd floor, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, 2F, 02, Lbh Skudai, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 18-276 4811.

V Haus Living

Inspired by the MUJI aesthetic? Then chances are, you can’t get enough of neutrals, minimalism, natural materials, Wabi-Sabi, and an open concept to encapsulate that MUJI vibe.

If you resonate with this interior design, then V-Haus Living is one of the best furniture experts specialising in this.

Take their RattanZen Dining Table Set (MYR 2,080 / ~S$625), for example, which beautifully incorporates rattan textures with wood for the perfect “indoor” picnic table vibe. Or their ShinShu Dining Table (from MYR 1,300) which extends effortlessly to accommodate more guests when needed.

And of course, this MUJI vibe isn’t reserved for the dining area alone. Continue this aesthetic seamlessly into the bedroom with their Solven Queen-sized Bed Frame (MYR 1,359 / ~S$409), Crystal Bed Frame (MYR 1,429 / ~S$430), Divani Queen-sized Bed Frame (MYR 1,219 / ~S$367), and more. 

All in all, V Haus Living is the go-to furniture store in JB for the love of all things Japandi.

And before you ask, yes, they offer free home delivery to both West Malaysia and Singapore. You can either check out their full furniture catalogue online or head down to their physical furniture shop branches listed below.

• V Haus Living Kulai branch: 42, Jalan Sri Putra 1, Bandar Putra, 81000 Kulai, Johor, Malaysia
• V Haus Living Mutiara Rini branch: 29, Jln Mutiara 1/9, Mutiara Rini, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

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Valoobuy

Looking for some value buy on furniture shopping in JB? You’ve come looking at the right place. Valoobuy, a popular JB furniture and home goods store, offers a variety of home and lifestyle products — from furniture and lighting to kitchenware and bedding.

Particularly, if you like getting hands-on with personal home renovation projects, Valoobuy has you covered with DIY materials like Diamond Installations (from MYR 2,189 / ~S$660), Waterproof Outdoor Wooden Floor Deck Tiles (from MYR 9.70 / ~S$3), Curtain Zebra Blinds (from MYR 39 / ~S$12), and even hardware and tools like Silicon Caulking Guns (MYR 6.50 / ~S$2).

Despite their JB furniture store being a bit out of the way, you can easily browse their online catalogue for JB home furniture and homeware from the comfort of your home with delivery straight to your doorstep.

Valoobuy Address: No: 21 & 23, 21, Jalan Ekoperniagaan 2, Taman Kota Masai, 81700 Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia

Valoobuy Whatsapp: +60 13-560 8433

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Ibenz Living Concept Store

With rising furniture costs in Singapore and fewer stores offering both great design and quality materials, a trip to JB furniture stores like Ibenz Living Concept could be well worth your time.

From what we see, this store stands out for its modest furniture price range between S$3,000 to S$6,000 with customisable options available for many models.

For instance, their Ryuga Sofa Set (MYR 11,699 / ~S$3,500) follows a trendy, sectional sofa layout which allows you to organise its 1-seater, corner, and 2-seaters with chaise pieces in whatever arrangement you want. Or perhaps, if you prefer something more elegant and chic, their Louis XXIII Sofa Set (MYR 7,699 / ~S$2,323) certainly fits the bill with its porcelain stone platform and curved wooden arm.

If your BTO or resale HDB flat is short on space, don’t worry. Ibenz’s furniture doesn’t compromise on design and quality just because of a little space constraint. Their charming TORI Sofa (MYR 2,199 / ~S$664) — inspired by Bottega Veneta but more closely resembles a cute little ketupat — could be a unique yet quaint seating addition to your household.

Pro-tip: The customisation is not just limited to layouts. You can also choose what type of materials and colours you’d want for your sofas, beds, and other specificities (e.g. sofa legs, cushions, cloth, etc.).

In our opinion, their furniture selection is one of the trendier and more affordable ones out of these JB furniture stores. But hey, you don’t have to take our word for it. A quick Google search for other “customisable sofa sets in Singapore” attests that these designs are rather “Castlery-coded”, as the Gen Zs would say.

iBenz Living Concept Address: Ibenz Molek (Flagship Store), No. 2, 4, Jalan Molek 1/12, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Opening hours: 10.30am - 8pm (Mon - Sat), 10.30am - 7pm (Sun).

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SSF Home

Located on the basement floor of JB’s Paradigm Mall, SSF Home is the one-stop shop for contemporary interior design and home decor. Besides housing a wide range of furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, and even outdoor spaces, their home decor selection is also equally impressive.

In terms of sofas, we’re looking at plush fabric sofas, sturdy leather options, and even electric recliners and swivel rocking chairs like their Anahi 360° Swivel Rocking Sofa Chair (MYR 999 / ~S$301).

Meanwhile, their table and desk collection features beautiful wooden pieces like their Thyme and Raleigh Series (Coffee Table, End Table, Sideboard) posing sleek curved edges and modern fluted panelling. For either complete set, they only cost between MYR 1,147 to MYR 1,247 (~S$346 to S$376) which is a fairly affordable price point for quality wooden table sets.

If you’re not on the hunt for anything bulky yet, browse through their decor items like Uhome Retro Radio & Bluetooth Speaker (MYR 299 / ~S$90) and Uhome Ceramic Electric Kettle (MYR 199 / ~S$60) could be a tasteful and antique touch to your living space.

Alternatively, still unsure what style suits your home? Their website’s “Shop The Look” feature can help you visualise and take the first step towards your ideal aesthetic.

Pro-tip! Be sure to check out their SSF Monthly Special sale in-store to see what their limited-time furniture deals are! As of now, SSF Home does not deliver to Singapore, only within Malaysia. Those seeking to transport heavy furniture or items back to Singapore will have to arrange their own personal shipping/delivery.

SSF Home Paradigm Mall: BF-11-22, Basement Floor, Paradigm Mall, Lbh Skudai, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

SSF Home Plentong, JB: 1, Jalan Johor Jaya, Taman Perindustrian Plentong, 81750 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

SSF Home AEON Tebrau: Lot F106, 1st Floor, Aeon Mall Tebrau City, 1, Jalan Desa Tebrau, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

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MAJUHOME Concept

Been scouring high and low, looking for the perfect dining table set or sofa for your home renovations? Maybe MAJUHOME Concept’s newest JB furniture outlet at Toppen Shopping Centre could be the answer to your prayers.

Their online catalogue alone showcases a diverse array of furniture styles and types — from cabinets, mattresses, sofas, rocking chairs, and even home decor like artificial plants, bean bags, ceramic china sets, and others.

For Scandinavian and Japandi lovers, their Hawea Bedroom set consisting of the bed (MYR 999 / ~S$301) and nightstand (MYR 259 / ~S$78) features crisp lines, curved edges, and charming wooden detailing.

And if you loved Cher’s closet in Clueless, you’d love their built-in wardrobe (from MYR 5,999 / ~S$1,810) featuring ample shelves and sliding doors framed by sleek black piping to seal the deal on that industrial chic look.

Or if Scandinavian is too run-of-the-mill for you, their Bourey Designer Chair (MYR 3,499 / ~S$1,056) certainly caught our attention with its unique silhouette, cushion with flannel material, and “bolted” look along its side for that contemporary look.

But of course, different strokes for different folks; interior design and furniture styles are simply a matter of preference. Regardless of what you’re looking for, you’ll be spoiled for choice with MAJUHOME Concept.

Don’t forget to check out their ongoing sales as well as their massive clearance discounts on their website for greater savings!

MajuHome Address: L2.07 & L2.08, Level 2, Toppen Shopping Centre, 33A, Jln Harmonium, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily. Tel: +60 16-612 5631.

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Objet

So far, we’ve talked a lot about the best JB furniture stores to visit. How about we take a breather on furniture and focus more on home decor instead?

Objet is a new homeware and lifestyle concept store opened at Mid Valley SouthKey. Upon entering the store, you’re greeted by a broad range of products such as teak decorative wooden bowls, quaint fine china, plush carpets, diffusers (MYR 49 / ~S$15), rattan mirrors, and even cooking utensils like non-stick pots and pans (MYR 89 / ~S$27)!

Besides Mid Valley Southkey in JB, they have six other branches open across Malaysia too.

Objet’s products are also available for purchase on Shopee! Their Fairy Elves Room Spray Special Collection is selling for S$16.90!

Objet Address: Lot F-048, Mid Valley Southkey, 1, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily.

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Yanadecor JB

Need a decor representative to lead and style your home renovations? Yana Decor could be a good candidate. Offering a variety of home decor, appliances, and furniture, they have some unique pieces that are pretty enough to be decorations themselves!

For instance, their sideboards like the Laura Sideboard (MYR 1,200 - 1,490 / ~S$363 - S$450) and Luna Wave Sideboard (MYR 1,050 - 1,350 / ~S$317 - S$407) feature unique curved carvings and panel flutings — fulfilling both functionality and as elegant decor.

Or how about some unique seating options like their Lisa Rattan 3-Seater Sofa (MYR 1,990 / ~S$600) or Papasan Single seat (MYR 890 / ~S$267) for some light wooden elements to really liven up the space?

They even offer an exclusive selection of Le Creuset kitchenware like their Casserole Pot (MYR 319 / ~S$96) and Stir-Fry Pot (MYR 329 / ~S$99) along with iconic SMEG products like their Tumblr (MYR 99 / ~S$30) and Knife Set (MYR 359 / ~S$108).

From contemporary and minimalist aesthetics to sleek lines and functional designs, hopefully, you can find your dream furniture and decor here to suit your ideal urban living.

Yana Decor JB Address: No.20 Jalan Perjiranan 4/2, Bandar Dato Onn, Johor Bahru 81100, Johor. Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily, closed on Mon. Tel: +60 016-937 4352.

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MUMU Living

Want furniture that seamlessly blends style and functionality? Say less. The experts behind MUMU Living, a premier JB furniture retailer, offer thoughtfully curated furniture pieces to transform your home into a showroom.

Fancy a soft, cream-white appearance to your bedroom? Their Cloud Sofa bed (MYR 2,880 / ~S$869), Archi Vintage Leather Bed Frame (MYR 3,099 / ~S$935), and Muse Boucle Bed Frame (MYR 3,244 / ~S$979) certainly fit the criteria.

Extend this ethereal theme to your dining and study rooms with bestsellers like the Athena Dining Set of 4 (MYR 4,980 / ~S$1,503) and Colette Study Table With Chest of 6 Drawers (MYR 1,399 / ~S$422) to really complement the dreamy vibe.

Now, you must wonder why it’s so easy to identify and select desired furniture designs from such an expansive catalogue? Well, it’s thanks to their user-friendly website and appealing product photos.

How so? Beyond standard furniture categories, they’ve gone the extra mile to categorise their furniture based on popular interior design styles such as Japanese MUJI, Modern Minimalist, Industrial, Gold Velvet, Dark Wood, and more. This helps us narrow down options based on aesthetic preferences faster before pinpointing exact pieces — crafting a truly efficient and enjoyable JB online furniture shopping experience.

Best of all, purchasing their furniture comes with these perks: 2-year warranty with extended after sales service, complimentary product installation by their team, free furniture delivery within West Malaysia and Singapore with minimum spend, Buy-Now-Pay-Later options available upon request.

But hey, if online JB furniture shopping isn’t your thing, you can always head down to their physical store at the location below.

MUMU Living Address: 5, Jalan Permas 9/17, Taman Perindustrian Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia. Opening hours: 10am - 7pm (Tues - Sun), closed on Mon. Tel: +60 3-5545 3337

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Momo Love Concept Johor Bahru

More of a thrift store that sells second hand home accessories as well, Momo Love Concept (pictured above) is a hidden treasure located in Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru. This homely store is frequented by locals, and the owners often serve up desserts and drinks to their customers.

The owners welcome good quality and good quality clothes every Tuesday and Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and 10am to 3pm respectively too. If you're heading there, you might as well drop some of your unworn clothes off!

Momo Love Concept is located at 17 Jalan Harmonium 23/12, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Tel:+60 14-914 7926.

Miki Curtain & Furnishing

One of the lesser known JB home furnishing stores is this - Miki Curtain & Furnishing. This local store made our list because it's got pretty good reviews from fellow HDB BTO owners. The owner, Miki, does BTO group buys and will arrange for site visits to Singapore to measure the windows and curtain rail lengths.

Miki quotes you by approximate home sq ft size, and a dual day and night curtain set for an entire 5-room HDB costs approximately RM7,300 (equivalent to $2,254). In Singapore, a single shade of curtains will cost you minimally $1,500 for a 3-room flat.

Miki Curtain & Furnishing is located at 14, Jalan Sutera 3, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 16-718 3922.

Read more: 10 Best Curtain Shops in Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB)

IKEA JB

Even if you're not shopping for new furniture, you should still make a trip to the massive IKEA Tebrau in Johor Bahru. Also commonly called Toppen IKEA, the Swedish fast furniture favourite is located right next to the famed AEON Tebrau City.

IKEA Tebrau is often deemed as an upgrade of the IKEAs in Singapore. It's bigger, more spacious, with more stuff to see, look, and try. Snack on the Kit Kat croissants, rainbow cake, and other pastries in the IKEA Cafe Tebrau that just opened in 2021 - but not too much.

Save your stomach for all the wonderful food that's just next door in AEON Tebrau: vegetarian sushi at Kinashi Japanese, Penang Road chendol, yakitori joint Tori King, and Lavender bakery.

IKEA Tebrau is located at Toppen Shopping Centre, 33, Jalan Harmonium, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru.

MUJI JB

For small home organisational boxes, drawers, and home diffusers, scents etc., you'd want to find them at one of the MUJIs in Johor Bahru too. There's a MUJI located in AEON Tebrau City (just next to IKEA Tebrau). However, the MUJI you should be visiting is MUJI The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey.

Located in Mid Valley Southkey, this 1,574 sq m MUJI is the Japanese lifestyle and homeware giant's largest flagship in the entire of Malaysia.

In this flagship, you'll find all the MUJI beds, sofas, dining tables, side tables, study tables, chairs, and recliner chairs displayed. There's also an extensive display of the brand's own beddings, pillows, and the entire range of their bed linens. If you're bringing your children along, there's a MUJI playground in the store too.

MUJI The Mall is located in Mid Valley Southkey, F-038 & 039, Jalan Bakar Batu, Southkey, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor.

JCBespoke Teak Furniture

JCBespoke Teak Furniture is one of the most popular and widely recommended furniture shops to go to in Johor Bahru. And they do hold up to their cross-country reputation. These guys are renowned for their solid wood teak furniture - such as this American-style bar cabinet crafted entirely from teak.

Furniture ranges from sofa, chairs, to beds, dining tables, study tables and bookshelves. You can even approach them with a custom design that you might have in mind.

Some of the furniture pieces they carry are pretty trendy as well, such as this Chiho Solid Ash Wood with Rattan sofa with cushions (RM3,099 or $955). Online users have cautioned that JCBespoke will ask you for full payment before they deliver. So, you might need to make a couple of trips back to JCBespoke to view and inspect the final item and pay up the balance.

JCBespoke Teak Furniture is located at 17, Jln Molek 3/20, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

Tampoi Lighting Centre

There are two popular lighting and ceiling fan shops in JB. They are namely Tampoi Lighting and Starworld. While Starworld is equally reputable (they have several showrooms across Malaysia, Tampoi Lighting seems to be more frequented by Singaporeans.

At Tampoi Lighting, you'll be able to find some of the newer KDK fan models around $300 (includes shipping and GST).

If you don't have time to physically travel to JB Tampoi Lighting to see and shop, you can just order from their Facebook page or website. If you're in for the cheapest bargains, try visiting Tampoi to see their offerings then hitch a Grab over to HT Lighting at Johor Jaya to compare prices.

Tampoi Lighting is located at 2,4 & 6, Jalan Titiwangsa 3/1, Taman Tampoi Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

Boo Furniture Home

Most furniture stores in JB tend to retail the same Italian style of faux leather sofas, recliners, glossy marble surface dining tables with decorative legs. However, you'll find Boo Furniture Home to be a fresh breath of air. Mostly Japandi themed, Boo Furniture Home's products are their own designs and tend to be in solid wood. Online users also often praise Boo Furniture for their relaxed service with no hardselling.

They do produce quite a bit of curved wood furniture - perfect for the curvy walls, cabinets, minimalist theme that's been trending this year. Prices at Boo are, however, steeper than the teak furniture you'll find at JCBespoke Teak Furniture. There are two Boo Furniture Home outlets in the greater Johor Bahru alone. Closest to Woodlands Checkpoint at City Square will be the 306 Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi outlet.

Boo Furniture Home is located at 306, Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

Mi Kuang Furniture

The most recommended JB furniture shop must be Mi Kuang. Located further inland near Paradigm Mall, northwest from Larkin Sentral, Mi Kuang is a standalone furniture shophouse with parking lots right at its doorstep. So, if you want to drive in, it's just a 12-minute drive from City Square Mall at Woodlands-JB Checkpoint.

Thanks to its convenience and proximity to the checkpoint, quite a fair bit of Singaporean homeowners do end up shopping for their furniture here.

Do not expect fancy or trendy furniture, for Mi Kuang's furniture designs are pretty run-off-the-mill ordinary. Think along the lines of faux leather plush Italian design sofas, woven outdoor furniture, marble-top dining table with fancy legs, and quilted bed frames. Prices are value-for-money when you find items on sale, such as the above Japandi-looking Fanworth Teak sofa at RM3,988 ($1,232).

Another solid wood with high density foam cushions Japandi sofa, called the Itsuki sofa is priced at RM3,459 ($1,068).

Mi Kuang is located at 14, 16, 18, 20, Jalan Titiwangsa 3/1, Taman Tampoi Indah, 81200 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

Teck Seng Furniture

Teck Seng Furniture is located in the Mutiara Rini district, pretty near the Sutera Mall. It's even further inland, and will take you 30 minutes to get there by car from City Square JB checkpoint.

Their furniture designs are the usual as well - mostly Italian-style recliner sofas, marble dining tables, and quilted dining chairs. The great thing about Teck Seng is their prices - a classic brown leather Gentleman's Club Chesterfield sofa set is priced at RM1,699.

We love that Teck Seng carries a range of scratch-proof, waterproof, and easy clean pet-friendly sofas at approximately RM3,999 to RM6,288. Most of these designs are rectangular and more modern, too. Cat owners, rejoice!

Teck Seng Furniture is located at 36, Jalan Utama 45, Mutiara Rini, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

Other furniture, home furnishing, and home appliance shops in Johor Bahru you might want to check out include:

1. KS Curtain Lifestyle
2. M Salim Curtain & Carpet
3. Starworld Lighting
4. HT Lighting
5. Yako Lighting Center
6. Big Lamp
7. HATCH
8. Big Brain
9. Italhouse
10. Fella Design
11. Kinsen Home
12. Mestro Perfect Home Store
13. Tan Furniture
14. Mudah Furniture
15. Vidi Furniture
16. Double Tree Furniture
17. Arona Design Furniture
18. The Wood Colony
19. Art Home Furniture
20. Lorenzo
21. Erica Furniture Design
22. Hologram Furniture
23. SSF Home
24. QQ Furniture Enterprise
25. Alpha Home Furniture
26. Rossini Furniture (bad reviews online)
27. Milan Furniture Johor Jaya
28. LS Furniture
29. BestHome Furnishing
30. Home Bliss Furniture Design

Be wary when shopping with furniture shops without Singaporean reviews. When shopping for furniture in JB, you must consider the delivery logistics - whether the shop will be honest and send you the right piece of furniture you've selected, and if their delivery team or courier partners can be punctual considering the constant Causeway traffic jam that spans four to six hours over peak hours.

There are many JB furniture delivery horror stories going around on online forums such as Hardwarezone, so do read up and always look for furniture shops that have done well for other Singaporeans.

Buying furniture in JB - A trend that's been around since 2017

When Ms Jennifer Yang's friend recommended buying furniture in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, the 50-year-old administrator was skeptical.

"I had doubts about getting there, plus I had no idea which shops were trustworthy and reliable, especially when I was going to spend big sums of money," she said.

She eventually decided to tag along with her friend, a Singaporean who was born in Malaysia, and was surprised by the cheaper prices.

After three trips to various furniture and electrical shops in Johor, Ms Yang spent about RM17,600 ($5,408) on five fans, lights, a bed frame, a dining table and a cupboard for her new HDB home.

She also bought a sofa, a wardrobe, a dining set and a television console for her brother.

"I found that things, on the whole, were 40 per cent cheaper, which means I could use the savings for other things for my home," she said.

More Singaporeans furniture shopping in Johor Bahru

Ms Yang is among a growing number of Singaporeans making the trip across the Causeway for their furniture needs.

Another such Singaporean is Mr Yeo Zhen Xiong, 33, who bought lights and decorative ornaments from various shops in Johor last month as his family's condominium underwent renovation.

Ms Mandy Lua, a showroom supervisor of Maestro Perfect Home Store in Skudai, Johor, attributed this to the falling Malaysian ringgit against the Singapore dollar.

"This is also the period (in November and December) when Singaporeans look to buy things for their home," she said.

JB Furniture Quality Equally Good

Another sales assistant of a shop that sells lighting, fans and electrical appliances also said he was seeing more Singaporean customers.

"Many Singaporeans now trust our quality. Our electronics are usually imported from other countries, such as our fans which are from Taiwan.

"So the quality is no different from purchasing elsewhere," he said.

Dr Lynda Wee, adjunct associate professor of marketing and international business at the Nanyang Business School in the Nanyang Technological University, agreed that furniture prices are usually higher in Singapore.

This is due to the lack of furniture-making facilities and workers, importing of raw materials - such as wood - and high retail rental and manpower costs, she said.

Furniture prices lower in JB

National University of Singapore Business School associate professor of finance Qian Wenlan and visiting professor Sumit Agarwal had said in an opinion piece published in The New Paper that non-branded items cost 20 per cent to 30 per cent less in Malaysia.

All these factors, as well as the close proximity of both countries, make it appealing for Singaporeans to go cross-border shopping, they had said.

Dr Wee said this trend would hit mom-and-pop furniture retailers here the hardest.

But one such shop owner, Mr H. S. Tee of Vickson Furnishing in Bukit Batok, said his business is unfazed by the competition.

JB Furniture & Appliances: No warranty and servicing

"If anything happens to your purchases from Malaysia, it will be very hard to get them serviced here," he said in Mandarin.

Mr Tee added that his quality assurance would keep customers coming back.

Both Mr Yeo and Ms Yang said the main consideration of consumers, including themselves, would always be the price.

Larger furniture needs to be delivered

Ms Yang said she brought back most of the smaller items, such as the lights and fans, by car, and had the larger furniture pieces delivered.

Shops in Malaysia offer transportation for larger pieces, usually for a fee, although customers are subject to a 7 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) for items delivered into Singapore.

GST for goods valued below $150 is not applicable for travellers who are out of Singapore for less than 48 hours. For those who are away for more than 48 hours, GST is exempt for goods valued up to $600.

Ms Yang said: "Even after paying the 7 per cent GST, things were still cheaper.

"Price is everything. And so far, it has been a smooth experience buying furniture from Malaysia."

Part of this article first appeared on The New Paper.