One of the unintended effects of the pandemic was just how much time people spent at home. So it’s no surprise that people splurged to redecorate their homes (according to a report, to a tune of 527 billion dollars in 2021), moving their holiday budget to home furnishing instead. And while furniture sites were making bank, one particular segment was facing a revitalised boom: vintage furniture.
Why?
Just like how authenticity is big in social media (at least, among the current generation), that trend has carried on even for products. Everyone now wants a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of furniture to stand out. While IKEA is still undoubtedly the most popular choice of all, homeowners are now starting to gravitate towards looking for something less cookie-cutter to furnish their homes with.
There’s also the ongoing conversation about climate change and sustainability. Be it plastic consumption, food waste, or fast fashion, the trend is becoming a bigger priority for the Millennials and Gen Zs. As you might very well know, furniture is expensive to dispose of, and one of the biggest contributors to landfills.
Finally, is the issue of the supply chain crunch. Now, this isn’t a problem just facing the furniture industry, but almost every single in-demand industry at the moment. New pieces of furniture can take a couple of months to arrive – and most homeowners are impatient to wait that long to furnish their homes.
And so despite the one-stop solution that is IKEA, many of us still yearn for more eclectic additions to our homes. Perhaps you are looking to blend in something less modern for a more rustic and lived-in feel to your home. Here, we take you through some of our picks and show you where are the best spots to find vintage furniture in Singapore.