Topping economy reshapes furniture with customizable designs

(Hyundai Livart)

Kim, a 35-year-old office worker, recently purchased a customizable dining table after struggling to find one that matched her home interior. By choosing the color of the tabletop and legs, she was able to create a personalized piece of furniture without the high cost of custom-made items.

This trend of adding unique options to existing products, dubbed the “topping economy,” is reshaping consumer preferences in South Korea. Much like adding toppings to a pizza, consumers are now tailoring furniture to their tastes. Professor Kim Nan-do of Seoul National University highlighted this trend in Trend Korea 2025, naming the topping economy as one of the top 10 consumer trends for 2025.

Furniture companies are responding with a variety of customizable and modular products. Hyundai Livart plans to launch its “Assemble” customizable study furniture line in early 2025. This range will combine five popular lines - Fove, Myon, New Libro, Flex, and Birkin - into 68 customizable options, allowing consumers to mix and match items like desks, bookcases, and wardrobes. Even individual components such as desk tops and wardrobe doors can be swapped for a personalized setup.

Hanssem recently expanded its Sam Kids furniture line with a “tall wardrobe” series, featuring modular storage units like corner cabinets, open shelving, and end units to fit various needs. Iloom, a furniture brand under the Fursys Group, introduced the Roy series for students, offering options such as motion desks, leg styles, and side panels to adapt to individual learning styles and preferences. Users can also select colors for desks, beds, and storage units.

Shinsegae Casa is leveraging technology to enhance customization. The company offers a “self-planner” service via its online shopping platform, Guud.com, allowing customers to design furniture configurations based on their lifestyle and space requirements. This service, initially launched with the “New Museo” built-in wardrobe system, lets users finalize and purchase designs entirely online.

The growing appeal of customizable furniture is reflected in sales figures. Hyundai Livart reported a steady 10 percent average monthly sales growth for its customizable products through October 2024. In November 2024 alone, sales more than doubled compared to the same month the year before.

One standout product is Hyundai Livart’s Arte Collection, which allows customers to mix and match components from six dining table designs. Currently, 727 unique combinations are possible.

“Consumers are drawn to customizable and modular furniture that offers a bespoke feel without a hefty price tag as inflation rises,” a furniture industry insider said. “Interest is also growing in the ability to modify existing furniture by adding new options after purchase.”