However, for most people living space was less than generous and limited living space restrained people's pursuits. In the middle and late 1980s, a piece of furniture called "composite cabinets" appeared. It consisted of three to six singular cabinets – each towering almost up to the ceiling – that were aligned along the wall, sometimes occupying a whole wall, becoming a "wall unit." It was an all-in-one piece whose many partitions combined the functions of wardrobe, cabinet, bookshelf, desk and other storage space that you desired. Even so, the popularity of this once-fashionable furniture quickly died. Very soon people got bored with its plainness and felt the inconvenience of its sizable awkwardness: a wall unit could not be reassembled and moved at will. People were becoming used to a lifestyle that called for more flexibility and novelty.

The 1990s: Uniqueness Starts at Home

By the mid-1990s, China began to reform its traditional housing system, resulting in vast improvements to people's living conditions. Moving into a new apartment called for floor to ceiling redecoration, and certainly, new furniture. Seeking durability to the exclusion of fashion sense was, by now, definitely out of date, and people are getting more fussy about the pattern, color, harmony and up-to-the-minute qualities of their surroundings.

For the generation coming of age in this period, a rational approach to choosing furniture proved to be what Chinese consumers were inclined to maintain. People were paying attention to individuality, and trying to establish a signature style. As furniture was no longer regarded as a mere daily necessity, it was natural for people to express their taste and create a living environment uniquely geared to their personalities, interests and self-image.

Just last year, Sun He, who works for an advertising company, redecorated her home and replaced all her old furniture. The new furnishings are in European style, in light colors. The old ones, bought in 1995, she complained "just looked out of date." This time, Sun He had the option to select items in keeping with the sizes and functions of her rooms. The pieces are made by different factories and in different brand names, but they are harmonious in style. "Their placement in certain spots in the study, bedroom and sitting room creates a feeling of both coziness and grace. The overall theme is unitary, with interesting variety in details," she noted.

People's desire for individuality in decor and the sheer amount of mass consumption of household furnishings have provided scope and opportunity for China's related manufacturing industries in the last decade. The development was rapid too. This is apparent from the proliferation of furniture shops, and 10,000-square-meter markets and plazas devoted to home decoration scattered all over China's cities. Furniture in different styles and themes are abundant. A much wider variety of materials are used to make furniture, including pure wood, bentwood, glass and metal. Consumers are dazzled by the choice available to them.

With comfort and prosperity, the cycle of furniture consumption shortens. People change their décor more often today, and they have added a few more standards to complicate the purchase decision. The modern buyer gives much more consideration to the "greenness" of materials used, to the fit of a given piece of furniture within their carefully constructed interiors, and to whether reliable and considerate after-sale service is included in the sale.

The 21st Century: Modernity with Classical and Western Characteristics

On January 1, 2005, China began to implement a zero-tariff policy on imported furniture so the early days of the 21st century have been characterized by famous brands of foreign furniture makers entering the Chinese market in large numbers. The imports predominantly represent styles referred to as European classic, North European Minimalist, Italian Post-Modernist, and American Country. Furniture dealers in many countries have set their eyes on the Chinese market and it looks like there will be no let up.

Ikea, as a window on Western minimalism, was popular early - and has remained poppular among the Chinese.

The average consumer likely makes Ikea their first choice for new furniture, and Ikea has been in the good graces of the consumer since its entry into the Chinese market. Many people go there to see what has become a mainstay for foreign home decoration, to get an idea of modern lifestyles abroad, and experience the diversity of practical and charming smaller household items offered there.