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I still remember furniture-shopping for my home like it was yesterday. As a design nerd, I thought I would enjoy the process very much — and I did, but honestly nothing could have prepared me for how exhausting and debilitating the entire process was. At the beginning I thought spending weekends looking at furniture was heaven — but by the end of the first month, all the material samples were starting to look the same and I thought I would scream if I had to look at another coffee table again.
This was quite a few years ago, pre-COVID, so furniture shopping has changed a lot today. These days most reputable furniture stores have all or most of their stock online, and you can do virtual window shopping from the comfort of your home and make a short list before going to view the furniture in person.
Here are a few tips if you’re going to buy furniture in Singapore for your new home:1.
1. Measure, measure, measure. Before you even start shopping, measure your space thoroughly — including doorways and stairs if applicable. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect sofa after hours of shopping, only to realise it won’t fit in your living room. Keep these measurements handy on your phone when shopping.
2. Begin with the essentials. Don’t feel pressured to furnish your entire home at once. Focus on essential pieces first: a bed, a dining table, and basic seating. This approach helps manage your budget and allows you to live in the space before making decisions about other furniture pieces.
3. Test beforehand if possible. This especially applies to anything you’ll be sitting or lying on. Sit on that sofa, lie on that bed, or pull out that dining chair. What looks good online might not feel comfortable in real life. Pay special attention to the height of seats and tables to ensure they work well together.
4. Be practical. Choose furniture that matches your daily habits. If you work from home, invest in a proper desk and chair. If you frequently host guests, consider expandable dining tables or sofa beds. Think about maintenance too — light-colored fabrics might not be the best choice if you have pets.
5. Set a realistic budget. Allocate your budget wisely, spending more on pieces you’ll use daily (like your bed and sofa) and less on occasional-use items. Don’t forget to factor in delivery costs and any assembly fees.
To make the process even easier, we’ve rounded up our 10 favourite furniture stores as a starting point for you.
| Furniture Store | Price Range |
|---|---|
| IKEA | $ |
| Commune | $$ |
| Nitori | $ |
| Hipvan | $ |
| Island Living | $ |
| Grey & Sanders | $$ |
| Proof Living | $$ |
| Space Furniture | $$ |
| Robinsons | $ |
| Castlery | $$ |
1. IKEA
Where would we be without IKEA? The furniture giant is THE mecca for affordable and stylish furniture, and the first store all university dorm students and first-time homeowners turn to for kitting out their home.
In recent years, IKEA’s expanded its offerings to include electronics like a speaker lamp and bookshelf speakers in partnership with SONOS, and a wider range of children’s furniture and accessories, among other things. I like that they’re continuously evolving their style, so there’s always something new to discover when shopping there. And of course, you have the unbeatable IKEA meatballs and chicken wings — always a treat at the end of the shopping adventure.
IKEA has stores at Jurong East, Alexandra, and Tampines.
2. Commune
Founded by Singaporean brothers, Julian and Joshua Koh, and their cousin Gan Shee Wen, Commune has been around since 2011. Their furniture is designed and produced by their own in-house team, with a focus on midcentury-modern and industrial looks.
They’re great for eco-conscious homeowners who want non-toxic finishes and quality materials made from sustainable forests. This makes their prices slightly higher, but in our opinion it’s worth it for higher durability and less impact on the environment. Be sure to visit their showroom — some items, like home accessories, have discounts in store that aren’t available online.
Commune is at #02-50 Millenia Walk.
3. Nitori
If you love IKEA, Daiso, and Japan Home, you’ll love Nitori for sure — it has the same affordability and style, but the brand is infused with Japanese practicality and a zen aesthetic. Their compact, clean-lined furniture is designed for small homes, so HDB flat homeowners will find plenty of options there.
My personal favourite? Their N-Cool Series, a bedding range with technology that promises to keep you cool even on the most humid of tropical nights. Nitori is available on their online store and Shopee, too, but as their product naming isn’t very clear, you might not find what you need easily. It’s probably best to make a trip down to their flagship Orchard store in person.
Nitori Orchard is at 260 Orchard Rd COURTS Level 4, Nojima The Heeren.
4. Hipvan
Hipvan started out as an online furniture store in 2013, a time when there weren’t many furniture brands online yet. I’ll go as far as to say they took a risk because back then, online shopping wasn’t the norm — people still wanted to see, feel, and test out furniture in person. But they kept their product quality and customer service consistent, and as a result they’ve lasted over 11 years and are still going strong.
Today, they sell everything from TV consoles to floor lamps to laundry baskets, and they’re still very affordable. If you want something that’s modern and functional, it’s worth looking at their website. They also have their own app now, plus a Hipvan Atelier Pop-up at Clarke Quay where you can take a look at their furniture in person.
Hipvan Atelier Pop-Up is at Blk B #02-03, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021.
5. Island Living
Looking for a light, airy aesthetic? Island Living might be what you’re seeking. Their gorgeous rattan pieces, mostly in light and natural shades, lend themselves well to a laidback coastal-styled home. Each piece is a statement in itself but also plays well with other similar or midcentury-modern pieces — my personal favourites are their Moroccan Console, Santorini Mirror, and Marelia Baby Bed.
Prices are midrange, so it’s worth getting a piece or two as the focal point of your home. Island Living has a showroom at Kaki Bukit, but you can also view their full catalogue online.
Island Living is at 8 Kaki Bukit Ave 1, #06-03/04 Mapletree Industrial Trust S417941.
6. Grey & Sanders
For beautiful wood and leather furniture, you can’t go wrong with Grey & Sanders. They specialise in furniture for the living room, dining room, and bedroom, so if you’re starting your shopping with big pieces then you should take a look at this store first.
They offer a wide range of different woods, including American ashwood, Japanese beech, Burmese teak, and African leadwood, among others. Most of their furniture is ready-made, but you can have a dining table custom-made to your size and wood preferences.
Grey & Sanders is at 315 Outram Road, Tan Boon Liat Building #06-02 | #15-03 Singapore 169074.
7. Proof Living
If you love elegant, high-end furniture, you need to pay a visit to Proof Living, located on the top floor of ION Orchard. It’s home to Italian brands like Poltrona Frau and Bosa — you can view these online, of course, but it doesn’t do justice to how beautiful the collections are.
You’ll not only get to experience their quality and see their beautifully-styled furniture firsthand, but also browse their library of leather and fabric samples that takes up an entire wall in the store. Design nerds, this one’s a must-visit.
Proof Living is at 2 Orchard Turn, #04-16.
8. Space Furniture
Home to iconic design brands like B&B Italia, Kartell, and Poliform, Space Furniture’s showroom at Bencoolen Street is something you can’t miss. They not only sell furniture and home accessories, but outdoor furniture too — so if you have a patio you’re looking to furnish, Space Furniture is worth checking out.
Browsing everything they have to offer might some time since their building is quite expansive, so schedule a couple of weekends to spend here, and look through their online catalogue first to narrow down your selection before going down.
Space Furniture is at 77 Bencoolen Street.
9. Robinsons
For good deals on accessories, bedding and appliances, check out Robinsons’ website. Unfortunately, it no longer has a physical store in Singapore, so you can’t view the furniture in person before buying. You can, however, return or exchange a product for any reason within 30 days.
Robinsons often has great deals on bedding, cookware, and appliances, especially around the festive season — they’re also on the Shopee platform, so you can stack vouchers for even better deals.
Robinsons is only online at www.robinsons.com.sg, and on Shopee.
10. Castlery
For timeless, low-profile furniture, Castlery’s the brand to go to. Most of their pieces are designed to save space, so they’re great for smaller homes if you prefer to have a minimalist aesthetic.
I particularly like their midcentury-modern Brighton Oval Table, which seats up to six and is priced at a very reasonable $899, and the versatility of the Vincent Coffee Table Set ($549) which can be nested or pulled apart when you have guests.
Castlery is at Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road #02/03-02.