Board Furniture Continues to Hold Biggest Market Share in China

Classic, neo-classic, Chinese-style, and wicker furniture may be popular among high-end consumers, but board furniture remains the mainstream of the Chinese market. This fact is pointed up by exhibits at three major furniture shows held recently in the Pearl River Delta (Dongguan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), as well as by the new products introduced by large Chinese branded furniture makers.

The characteristics of board furniture include smooth lines, pure colors, and simple segmentation, as well as low price-factors that have enabled this type of furniture to capture the biggest share of the furniture market. Producers offer modern styling with geometric lines, and traditional styling with simple straight lines; now, industry insiders say that their board furniture will develop in the direction of innovative styling, materials, and colors. Board furniture, therefore, no longer occupies only the low end of the market.

This is necessary to long-term survival, because Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding variety and quality, and high-end branded products have been gradually eroding the market share of board furniture.

Another trend is toward hybrid board furniture, such as products that incorporate both boards and glass. In the future, there will also be more stringent demands for environmental friendliness, individual taste, and user-friendliness.

European Styling

This year's focus in European-style furniture is on simplicity and clear lines, as well as less of the ornate decoration that marked this kind of furniture in the past. Most European-style furniture continues to be made of walnut, maple, and chestnut wood, which has attractive grain patterns that can be highlighted for appearance. Simple though its design is, European-style furniture still commands high prices.

Chinese-style Furniture

The fashion in Chinese-style furniture in 2008 favors geometric lines that appeal to consumers with individualistic tastes, as opposed to the traditional styling with its emphasis on smooth lines, pure colors, and simple segmentation. This kind of furniture is priced much lower than European-style models, and is thus more acceptable to consumers in general.

Japanese-style Furniture

Always at the forefront of fashion, Japanese-style furniture is known by its simple and clear-cut styling and its graceful appearance. It costs more than Chinese-style furniture, especially when it is made of mahogany.