September 29, 2026
These matter more than you’d think!
When planning a renovation, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket decisions first: your layout, built-in carpentry, flooring, lighting and so on. Furniture, meanwhile, can feel like something you only need to worry about once everything else is done.
But you might want to start thinking about it sooner.
You don’t necessarily have to buy your sofa or dining table before renovation works begin, but knowing what you want can help you make better decisions along the way.
The size of your furniture can affect your layout and walking space, while your storage needs could determine just how much built-in carpentry you actually need. Even the styles you gravitate towards can help shape the overall look of your home.
So, before you lock in your renovation plans, here are five furniture decisions worth thinking about first.
Before locking in your renovation plans, you’ll want to check the dimensions of your key pieces – because even a few extra centimetres can make a difference to how the space works.
Contemporary modular L-shaped fabric sofa
Take your sofa, for example. That large L-shaped sofa might technically fit within the living room, but once you factor in a coffee table, TV console and enough walking space between them, things can start feeling cramped.
Vintage walnut wood dining table
The same applies to dining tables, where you’ll need to account for not just the table itself, but also the space required to pull out the chairs comfortably.
Having these furniture dimensions on hand gives your interior designer something more concrete to work with when space planning. They can plan built-ins and other fixtures around your intended furniture, rather than leaving you to find pieces that fit whatever space is left.
An empty wall can be very tempting during a renovation. Why not turn the whole thing into storage? But before filling every spare nook with built-ins, think about whether you actually need that much permanent storage, especially if it comes at the expense of floor space and flexibility.
Bauhaus Boxwood side cabinet
Some things make sense to keep behind custom carpentry, especially when you want to maximise an awkward corner or create storage that fits seamlessly into the space.
For everything else, freestanding storage furniture can offer more flexibility. You can rearrange or replace these pieces as your needs change, rather than being tied to a fixed configuration.
Japandi walnut wood lift-up storage bed with drawers
The same thinking can apply to furniture that already occupies a sizeable footprint. Think about all the things that don’t need to be within arm’s reach every day: luggage, bedsheets, winter clothes that you’d never wear in Singapore. A storage bed gives these bulkier items somewhere to go without adding another cabinet to the bedroom or taking valuable space in your wardrobe.
Most homeowners start their renovation with a general interior style in mind. But it’s also useful to work backwards by looking at the furniture styles you’re naturally drawn to.
Take a look at the pieces you’ve been saving or bookmarking. Do you gravitate towards the clean lines and light wood tones associated with Scandinavian and Japandi furniture? Or are you more drawn to the bolder forms of Bauhaus pieces or the character of vintage-inspired designs?
The last thing you want is to finish your renovation, start furniture shopping, and realise none of the pieces you actually like seem to suit your home. Knowing your preferences earlier gives your ID a better sense of what they’re designing around, from the colours and wood tones to the overall look and feel of the space.
That doesn’t mean every piece has to come from the same collection or fit neatly into one style, either. Mixing complementary styles can give your home a more layered, personal look, as long as there’s a common thread tying everything together.
When space is limited, multifunctional furniture can be a lifesaver as they’re designed to adapt to different situations, and/or do more than one job.
Scandinavian oak wood sintered stone extendable dining table
The key is to think about where that flexibility will actually make a difference. You might only need seats for two or four on a regular day, so why let a six-seater take up all that space permanently? An extendable dining table can stay compact most of the time, then open up when friends or family come over. Likewise, stackable chairs can be brought out for guests and tucked away afterwards.
Vintage genuine leather storage bed
In the bedroom, a storage bed can turn the otherwise unused space beneath your mattress into additional storage for bulky or less frequently used items. That extra storage can be especially handy in a compact BTO bedroom, where fitting a bed and wardrobe is already a squeeze.
Not every piece of furniture needs multiple functions, though. Identify the parts of your home where space is tight or your needs tend to change, and prioritise adaptable furniture there. That way, you're choosing functionality that genuinely makes day-to-day living easier rather than simply adding features for the sake of it.
Ask homeowners about their renovation regrets, and not having enough power points is bound to come up. After all, with the number of devices and appliances we use today, it can sometimes feel like you can never have too many.
But having plenty of power points won’t help if half of them end up hidden behind a wardrobe or just out of reach from the sofa. Where you place them matters just as much as how many you have.
Minimalist plywood round dining table
Say you already have a good idea of where your dining table will sit. Its position and dimensions can help determine where a pendant light should be centred, rather than having the table awkwardly offset from it later. In the bedroom, deciding where your bed and bedside tables will go can help you plan switches and power points within easy reach.
Cream Chenille velvet fabric recliner sofa
The same applies in the living room. Knowing your intended sofa placement beforehand can help with decisions such as where to locate charging points, floor lamps or other electrical fixtures. This is especially important if you plan to get an electric recliner sofa or if you don’t plan to position your sofa against a wall.
These may seem like small details during the planning stage, but sorting them out before renovation works begin can save you from relying on extension cords or having to work around inconveniently placed fixtures once you move in.
You don't have to buy all your furniture before renovation starts, but it helps to start looking.
A good place to start is Loft Home’s extensive furniture catalogue, where you can explore different sizes, styles and functions, with options spanning sofas and tables to chairs, beds and storage pieces.
Shortlist the pieces that suit your home and renovation plans, then check them out in person once you’ve narrowed down your favourites.
Showroom address: 5 Gambas Crescent, Singapore 757036
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