Where to get cheap furniture in Singapore

Shopping at IKEA is a guilty pleasure most of us won’t normally ’fess up to. Switch your dusty, tired curtains with some new, brightly coloured ones. Change your floral cushion covers to striped ones – for that mod hipster look – and get some colour (and cheer) into your home, just because you feel like it. Nothing beats a hot dog and soda after a long day spent hunting for the perfect garbage can – grab them at the Ikea food stand after checking out. Also: don’t miss the Swedish meatballs for sale, both hot and frozen. A kilogram of frozen ’balls goes for $18 – some might call that ‘overpriced’, but we say those delicious little buggers are priceless. Meatballs with pasta sauce, meatballs on toast, meatballs in the morning… mmmm. IKEA has another outlet at 60 Tampines North Drive 2.

With attitudes loosening around lounging around on second-hand furniture, stores like Hock Siong and Co are suddenly top-of-mind to score home goods at a steal. (No one at the sprawling Tai Seng store is actually named Hock Siong – the name was coined by the company’s old-school towkay.) Yet, floor manager Brillyn Toh and the shop’s sales team do a brilliant job of infusing their cheery personalities and good eye for products into Instagram and Facebook updates, which send customers flocking to the space. In reality, though, the goods – tightly and neatly packed into three units – cover a wide range of styles, from vintage rosewood to mid-century to the downright opulent. 'We always tell our customers, "We hope your imagination brings you great adventures,"' explains Toh, who encourages them to bring a little eclecticism into their lives.  The products are hand-me-downs from hotels and show flats, furniture shops that have closed down, and the occasional beautifully appointed home. Prices range from $15 for a minimalist desk lamp to $3,000 for a 3-metre-tall plaster statue of Stamford Raffles, and the 'tens of thousands' for two bronze sculptures by Chinese artist Liu Ruo Wang. Oh, and make sure to bargain – the staff will happily knock down prices. Talk about retail therapy. 

Second Charm will take you down memory lane with its vintage furniture and homeware that range from mid-century modern, art deco, Scandinavian and decorative French styles. Most of its vintage chairs, ottomans, coffee tables and chests (from about $150) have been refurbished – some have even been re-upholstered – as have its home accessories such as lamps, doors, windows and other salvages. Second Charm takes custom orders, too, perfect for if you want a reproduction done.

Shop all things electronics including domestic appliances, home entertainment solutions and the latest digital technology as well as modern furniture under one roof at the biggest Courts store in Singapore. What sets this multi-levelled Megastore apart from other Courts stores is its home-like showrooms, contemporary retail concepts, end-to-end home solutions and a huge array of products at affordable prices.

The famous online shopping store Taobao sets up shop at the basement of Funan mall. The offline outlet in Singapore is operated by local business Virmall and provides local consumers with an integrated shopping experience. Customers can browse a wide range of goods from the shopping platform while being able to touch, see and feel it physically. The products available at the space include furniture, household appliances, textiles, pet accessories, home decor and more.  The corner space in Funan's basement is segmented into showrooms where customers can shop according to style and function. Pop in the bedroom to check out wooden bedframes, cupboard and even wall art and then move along to the dining and kitchen area to look at juicers, dining sets, and dining tables. To buy or view the objects online, simply scan the QR code next to the items to complete your purchases. While you may not get the satisfaction of bringing home your items immediately, the Taobao Store shopping experience allows you to take your time in making decisions and also help with the curating of your home.