A Fresh Start: Starting The Year With New Additions To Your Home

Part 1: Starting The Year On The Right Note

The arrival of a new year is always synonymous with new beginnings. Having gone through a challenging past year, the global situation still means that even in 2021, the ‘new normal’ will be here to stay, meaning that we will find ourselves frequently staying at home. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most out of it. A great way to start 2021 on the right note is by bringing new additions such as quality coffee tables and sofas to your Malaysian home!

Research has shown that a clean and functional home can improve your health and emotional-well being. A clutter-free home helps promote lower stress and anxiety levels, as well as improving one’s work productivity and allowing for more social interaction through inviting people over. Some easy ways to do this include proper cleaning, with help from quality vacuum cleaners, having versatile and aesthetically pleasing storage space in your home, as well as tasteful design that makes full use of natural light and your home’s interior space.

From brand new electric ovens to a stylish new dining table set, now is the perfect opportunity to invest in the place you spend the most time in - your home. Be it a comfortable home office environment for extended hours of working from home, a comfortable living room to unwind after a week of work, or a well-equipped kitchen to prepare tasty delights for friends and family, read on to find how to discern the right home appliances and furniture for your home this 2021.

Part 2: Ideal Appliances For Your Home

A wide variety of appliances is key to improving the quality of life at home, ranging from cooking to cleaning and hygiene. Here are some of the best appliances you can add to your home today.

2.1 Kitchen and Cooking Appliances

With the rise of prolonged stays at home comes a greater need to prepare a wide range of quality meals from home. Some key kitchen and cooking appliances found in Malaysian home kitchens include fridges, ovens, cooking hobs and hoods, stoves, and rice cookers.

No kitchen is complete without a proper set of cooker hobs or stoves. They are a mainstay of every modern Malaysian kitchen, alongside electric ovens and fridges. Gas hobs are the most common choice, utilising either traditional LPG cylinders or piped gas to cook food. They also feature a range of burner types, ranging from higher-heat burners for stir-fry and wok cooking, to lower-intensity burners for simpler meals. Many modern hobs also feature flame failure safety devices to protect against gas leakage, as well as timer controls to prevent overcooking.

Another popular choice is the induction hob or stove. Induction hobs have no exposed flames, and feature a fully flat surface that is highly aesthetic with sleek, open-concept kitchens. Due to their nature of using electricity to create heat internally, induction hobs avoid the risk of getting oneself burnt when cooking, making them a safer option especially for households with children. Cooker hobs do require to be integrated into your kitchen countertop, so it’s best to decide on your choice of cooker hob early.

The cooker hood is the unsung hero of your kitchen. It utilises powerful fans to remove cooking odours, grease, and moisture as you prepare your meals, allowing you to cook in comfort. They also protect your kitchen surfaces from heat and damage, helping to keep your kitchen looking good over the years. Cooker hoods come in two types: extracting hoods and recirculating hoods.

Extracting hoods directly pump odours out of your home, while recirculating hoods run the air through filters before reintroducing it to your kitchen. Extracting hoods do require professional help to install but are more effective at removing odours, while recirculating hoods are easier to install but require more frequent filter replacement.

A quality fridge is one of the bigger-ticket items you will likely buy for your kitchen. Modern fridges come in a huge range of styles, sizes, capacities, and features, ranging from versatile storage arrangements to inbuilt ice-makers, water dispensers, and humidity control. There are many types of fridges to choose from, ranging from mini bar fridges to multi-door fridges offering dedicated compartments to store groceries. A popular choice of fridge in Malaysia is the two-door fridge. It separates the main fridge section from the freezer section, and are separated into two types of designs based on freezer location. Top freezer designs usually feature a swinging door, while bottom freezer designs are usually in a pull-out section.

When choosing a fridge for your Malaysian home, do measure if your desired fridge is able to fit the dimensions of your kitchen. This includes fitting into the kitchen door (if applicable), the height clearance from the top of the fridge to the ceiling, as well as its positioning to other fixtures, such as countertops and kitchen islands. Other factors to consider include your desired fridge capacity based on your household size, cooking frequency, and needs; as well as ergonomic preference. Some households may prefer a French door design for its greater capacity and luxurious look, while others may prefer side-by-side designs for their easier access and sorting of groceries.

Next to fridges, ovens are another mainstay in every Malaysian home. From gas ovens to electric ovens, they are key to a wide variety of hot and piping meals, such as roasts and baked treats. There is a wide range of ovens for every need, ranging from compact toaster and microwave ovens, to more heavy duty ones such as combination and convection ovens.

Electric ovens form the vast majority of ovens found in Malaysian households, due to their ease of cleaning and use, as well as greater variety. A common consideration that homeowners have is deciding between conventional, convection, and combination or combi ovens. Regular conventional ovens utilise a heating element to heat up the air inside the oven to heat food, and are generally the most affordable oven option for homeowners on a smaller budget.

Convection ovens utilise an inbuilt fan and exhaust to circulate hot air around the interior, resulting in improved heat distribution to help food stay crispy while retaining the food’s juiciness within. It also offers faster cooking times, making it a great choice for baking, roasting, and toasting. Combination electric ovens combine dry heat from circulated air with the moisture from steam, allowing food to remain flavourful and moist for a greater variety of preparation methods, such as poaching, broiling, and steaming. This makes them excellent for preparing a wide range of Asian cuisine from home.

In addition to these three types of electric ovens, many Malaysia homes also have toaster and microwave ovens. They are ideal for smaller households that prefer less elaborated meals, such as simply thawing frozen foods or reheating soups and leftovers for a quick meal. Toaster ovens shine at keeping cooked food warm at lower heat, while microwave ovens are great for rapidly heating up food with higher water content.

Last but not least, the humble rice cooker is a staple in every Malaysian household. Modern rice cookers feature non-stick coating, various cooking modes to cook stews and vegetables in addition to rice, as well as automatic shut-off and warming features to keep the rice warm and fluffy. When choosing a rice cooker, consider the frequency of which you plan to use it, as well as the size of your household, as larger rice cookers consume more power and take up more space. Also consider the type of rice you find yourself preparing most, such as brown or white rice, as well as the features that you require, such as automated warming and rice texture settings.

2.2 Cleaning Appliances

A clean home is key to having good health. Vacuum cleaners are your best friend when it comes to convenient cleaning. There is a huge variety of choices for every household; from handheld to barrel cleaners, and from cordless to robotic cleaners. They each offer a range of convenient features, ranging from advanced filters to quiet operation.

One consideration many homeowners have is deciding between bagged or bagless vacuum cleaners. Bagged vacuums is a traditional option, trapping dirt in a replaceable bag that requires replacement when full, while bagless vacuums use filters to trap dirt in chambers to be emptied. Generally, bagged vacuums are more thorough at absorbing dust and have less risk of triggering allergies, while bagless vacuums are more eco-friendly and budget-friendly too.

Barrel vacuum cleaners are the most common model seen in most households. Featuring a flexible barrel with adjustable nozzles, they are great for cleaning hard-to-reach places, such as the bottom of your sofas and bed frames. Upright vacuums feature the motor in the body of the unit, in contrast to being pulled behind like barrel vacuums. They are best for households that have extensive carpeting, and are easy to store due to their design.

Handheld vacuum cleaners are significantly more portable and lighter than other models. They are great for homeowners who experience back strain and find traditional vacuum designs more tedious to use, and are handy for quick cleaning and for use in car interiors. Stick vacuums, also known as cordless vacuums, do away with the need to plug in the vacuum to an outlet, making them highly convenient to use as you clean around the house. They come in a variety of designs, featuring diverse attachments and varying rechargeable battery life.

Next to vacuums, steam irons are an essential part of cleaning your clothes and removing unsightly creases and wrinkles. Like vacuum cleaners, they come in a variety of types, from cordless to steam generator irons. Many also offer automatic shut-off features, adjustable steam settings, as well as a toggle for an extra burst of steam for stubborn stains.

Conventional steam irons are the default compact model featuring a built-in water tank to remove creases in clothing. Steam generator irons offer continuous steam at higher pressure, greatly speeding up the ironing process. Most models tend to be bulkier and costlier than regular steam irons, making them more ideal for larger households. Lastly, cordless irons are irons that do not require to be plugged into an outlet, allowing users to comfortably iron anywhere in their home. They are ideal for smaller households which require less heavy-duty cleaning, due to their lower steam output compared to steam irons and steam generator irons.

Need an incentive to start shopping this 2021? Harvey Norman’s Shop with Confidence delivers a shopping experience like no other. Not only do we allow you to exchange an item within 14 days of purchase, if you find the same product at a different retailer for a lower price, Harvey Norman will match the lower price and top up 10% of the price difference within 10 days of your purchase!

Still can’t decide what to get? No problem, we will reserve the item for 7 days with a minimum deposit while you consider your options. Terms and conditions apply.

Part 3: Quality Furniture For Your Home

It takes two hands to clap, and having quality furniture for your home is equally essential as picking the right appliances. Read on to find out how to spruce up your living room, dining space, as well as your bedroom.

3.1 Living Rooms & Dining Spaces

As the heart of any home, living rooms set the tone and style for your entire space. Two key furniture pieces that should be in every Malaysia living room are a quality sofa and a complementary coffee table. Traditionally, sofas come in either leather or fabric, each offering their own advantages. Many modern sofas also include a variety of nifty features, ranging from adjustable head and arm rests, to reclining functions and the option to convert the sofa into a sofa bed.

Leather sofas have been a mainstay of Malaysian living rooms for centuries, and for good reasons. They offer the utmost in elegance and durability, withstanding scratches, colour fading, and marks. While they come at a slight premium, a little care and maintenance goes a long way to helping them become a family heirloom, making them ideal for rustic and homely layouts.

Fabric sofas are a preferred option for many younger Malaysian households, coming in an astounding variety of colours, textures and patterns to tastefully complement brighter living room styles. They are known for their comfort and warmth, as well as greater affordability for homeowners on a budget. Other types of sofas include modular sofas, as well as sofa beds. With their pull-out design, sofa beds are popular with small sized apartment owners, as well as those hosting friends frequently for overnight stays.

While sofas are the main star of a living room, coffee tables play an unsung yet important role in Malaysian homes. Traditionally crafted in wood, glass, or marble, they provide an avenue for aesthetic displays, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match your choice of sofa. A good rule of thumb is to have a coffee table that’s at least half the length of your sofa, but not exceeding its length.

Square and rectangular-shaped coffee tables are the classic choice, giving a more modern vibe while also making greater usage of the living room space. Round and oval-shaped coffee tables are better for Malaysian homes with young children, so as to protect and avoid risk of injury as they play.

Choosing the type of material for your desired coffee table is another concern of many Malaysian homeowners. Wood is the traditional way to complement many layouts, ranging from classic styles featuring leather sofas, to modern homes with fabric sofas. Marble tables are another popular choice, being eye-catching and timeless in style, and can last for many years with proper care. Lastly, glass’ transparent nature helps to make spaces seem bigger than they are, making them ideal for smaller apartments and modern layouts.

In addition to the living room, the dining space is where families gather together for dinners or to host guests. A quality dining table set does wonders for bringing out the utmost in both comfort and coziness, particularly in modern Malaysian homes where both living rooms and dining spaces are connected. This is further exacerbated with open-kitchen concepts which do away with walls, allowing hosts to interact with guests while preparing their meals. Extendable dining tables is another popular option for smaller homes, offering the versatility of flipping up additional tablespace to host guests, and folding away when not in use.

Dining table sets usually come with a dining table and an average of 4 dining chairs, although more can be easily added. The most popular material used to construct both chairs and tables is hardwoods, such as mahogany, teak wood, walnut, and oak. These woods are incredibly hardy, allowing them to withstand food stains and spills while bringing a touch of elegance to every home.

Other popular dining table materials include stone tops, such as marble, granite, and cast stone. They combine classiness with durability, as well as having a unique design for each slab, making them popular amongst homeowners who want a personalised piece of furniture. Dining table tops made out of tempered glass are also durable, offering the same principle of increasing space as glass coffee tables in Malaysian homes. Metallic dining tables are also an option, offering a futuristic look for one’s home, although it requires additional effort to maintain and clean.

Dining chairs offer a little more flexibility for expression and comfort, ranging from classic wooden style chairs to moulded plastic and metal. If you require additional dining chairs for your dining table set, do take note that the chair height should be just nice for comfortable eating at the dining table. Other considerations to take note include your need for chair armrests, whether you prefer plain or upholstered seating, or whether you require stackable chairs to save space in your home.

3.2 Bedrooms

As the place where homeowners usually spend most of their time, the bedroom is a place of privacy, comfort, and intimacy. With sleep being a priceless commodity, it makes sense to spend time deciding on proper bed frames and mattresses for your Malaysian home. Research has shown that quality sleep helps to strengthen your immune system and enables you to fight off viruses with greater ease. Thus, buying the right mattress is key to a good night’s rest.

A major question Malaysian homeowners face is choosing between foam or spring mattresses. Spring mattresses offer proper support and strong bounce through numerous coiled springs, such as traditional Bonnell spring options and modern pocketed spring designs. Foam mattresses rely on trapped air to offer a similar performance of support and bounce. They come in two key types: memory foam which mold to your body’s contours for comfort and pain relief, and latex foam which offers greater firmness and pressure relief. Generally, foam mattresses offer greater durability, while spring mattresses are better for ventilation for a cooler night’s sleep.

Choosing quality pillows is equally important to ensuring a good night’s sleep and avoiding aches when you wake up. There are multiple types of pillows to choose from, each with their own strengths. Memory foam, such as our Tech Ambient and Vinci pillows, contours well to your head and neck for better relief and rest, while latex provides excellent pressure relief and is hypoallergenic as well. Micro gel pillows are hypoallergenic and provide a cool sensation when sleeping, while feather pillows offer luxury and natural fluffiness for quality sleep.

Another key component of the bedroom is the bed frame. The main decision homeowners must make is choosing the size of the bed frame and measuring if it can fit into the bedroom, be it a single, double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed. In addition, Malaysian homeowners should check the maximum rated weight of the bed frame from the manufacturer, keeping in mind the combined weight of the mattress and its intended users.

A wide variety of bed frames are available to suit homeowners’ needs, from classic wooden beds to modern fabric beds and themed children’s beds. Homeowners tight on space will likely gravitate towards storage beds, with their compact design and storage features to save space and keep their bedroom tidy. 3-in-1 bed frames offer a pull-out mattress from beneath the frame, offering additional sleeping space for friends or family who are staying overnight.

Kids beds offer a unique way for kids to express themselves while still having a functional storage space. Lastly, upholstered bed frames also offer a wide range of customisable options for consumers, ranging from unique designs and colour choices to cushy materials such as fabric, velvet and faux leather for the headboard and the divan, making it ideal for homeowners seeking a personalised piece for their bedroom.

Another important part of any bedroom is one’s choice of chest of drawers. They offer a convenient alternative to wardrobes for storing clothes, as well as other items that homeowners may find themselves frequently reaching for. They offer a variety of compartments and sizes to help with storage and sorting, and are usually either waist or shoulder-height.

Most chest of drawers are constructed from wood, due to its sturdiness and ease of match to a wide variety of bedroom layouts, although other options such as metal, leather, and wicker are also available. They come in both horizontal and vertical designs, as well as a combo drawer that combines both these designs. They also come in various styles, ranging from rustic to contemporary and modern options, making homeowners spoilt for choice. Homeowners may also prefer to match their choice of drawers with their chosen bed frame, helping to complement the overall style and layout of the bedroom.

Tables play a quiet yet essential role for every bedroom as well. Bedside tables allow you to place items within arm’s reach, such as a reading lamp or your mobile phone. They offer a convenient and practical storage, and can be easily matched to your room layout as well as your bed frame design. Dressing tables or dressers are perfect for a vanity mirror as well as a convenient storage space for make-up and accessories.

Part 4: Conclusion

A new year often inspires one to start afresh. This 2021, it’s time to take pride in your home and take that step towards a more conducive, comfortable, and classy living space. Looking to get started? Visit Harvey Norman today to check out our full range of home appliances, furniture and bedding products. Our helpful in-store experts will be delighted to assist you in making an informed purchase decision for your home.