BY VICTORIA BARKER

WHEN it comes to home-furnishing trends, decorating styles range far and wide.

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These days, though, with the economic downturn, style is not the only focus of home owners.

Affordability is a major issue too, said Mr Yung Ong, director of Danish furniture chain Bo- Concept, which opened its 650-sq-m store here last month.

He added: 'But there is also a growing need for furniture that can serve more than one function and save space, while still looking beautiful in terms of design.'

BoConcept's dining chairs start from below $300, while extendable dining tables begin from $3,000. A two-seater sofa starts from $2,000. Not quite Ikea prices, but they're not that far off.

According to Ms Susie Tay, chief executive officer of homegrown furniture label TheLife- Shop, Singaporeans are also leaning more towards artistic furniture.

'While furniture pieces still need to serve their basic utilitarian functions, expressive pieces - complemented by artsy interior settings - can create aesthetic gravity and add a strong personality to homes,' she said.

At Italian brand Saporiti Italia, which opened its Singapore branch in August, customisation is key.

'Every customer wants his house to be his own, so, by customising, we are able to 'tailor' each house to match clients' personalities,' said chief executive officer Raffaele Saporiti.

Irregular stitching on leather products and carvings on wood ones are examples of features used heavily in Saporiti designs.

Expect a hefty bill though. For example, the Griffes table costs $12,400.

Furnishing companies remarked that the sky is the limit for the future of furnishings.

While Saporiti is going the technological route, by developing small electric motors to open doors and allow sliding actions on certain parts of their products, BoConcept is going colourful.

Still, both recommended staying true to one's self when designing a living space.

'You don't have to follow the latest fashion trends, but try to select products that have a strong design and can last for a long time,' said Mr Saporiti.

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