7 Things You Should Know about Furniture in Bali

Speaking about Indonesian furniture industry, we shouldn’t miss furniture in Bali. Similar to other areas like Jepara or Yogyakarta, Bali also plays the role in furniture industry development. As Bali becomes world’s top tourist destination, it comes more privileges. Surely, Bali keeps developing infrastructure to attract the foreign tourists. Business in hospitality field vividly portrays this development. We can see the trend of hotel, villa, or resort in the entire of this island. In order to support the infrastructure, Bali also pushes the industry sector including furniture. As we can see that the trend of hotel, villa, and resort simply triggers the trend of furniture in Bali. Besides, this is kind of solution to attract international buyer too. However, Balinese furniture industry still counts on other areas, mostly Jepara. Moreover, the original Balinese furniture self-production is relatively limited in specific areas only.

The Signature Style of Furniture in Bali

Although generally Bali still depends on other areas like Jepara, we can’t deny that Balinese furniture depicts its own characteristics. Furniture in Bali dominantly uses wood material. Again, teak wood is still the flagship material, especially Jeparan teak wood. Besides, Bali remains the skillful local crafters, mainly in Gianyar area. Bali is blessed with its incredible culture manifested in furniture style. When it comes to furniture in Bali, antique is the first term that comes to our mind. That’s why wooden furniture becomes Balinese furniture signature style. Furthermore, Balinese furniture features the detailed ornaments and decorations. It represents Balinese culture and tradition. Those values become the magnet for foreign tourists or international buyers. When it is internationally displayed, it brings such memory of Balinese for them.

The Influence of Jepara toward Furniture Industry in Bali

Speaking about furniture in Bali, we couldn’t forget the role of Jepara furniture. As the legend of Indonesian furniture industry, Jepara keeps supplying either raw materials or half-completed furniture. Nowadays, most of Balinese furniture comes in half-completed forms from Jepara. In other words, it emphasizes the term of trading instead of manufacturing. Those half-completed forms are processed by Balinese local crafters including recreating, retouching, or redecorating. Surely, this process needs to deeply consider attracting the buyers, especially international buyers. How the furniture style can meet the buyers’ taste and preference. Moreover, the current global trend is essential to consider.

Then, why Jepara? Jepara is globally renowned for its carving industry. It highlights two aspects, wooden creative carving design and high quality materials. Jepara furniture has been internationally introduced since a trade exhibition in 1989. This exhibition was held in Bali and successfully opened buyers’ eyes including Balinese. In addition, the local power becomes the supporting factor of this successful. It seems that Jeparans are genetically born to carve. Furthermore, Jepara becomes the home of furniture industry. We can find plenty of carpenters, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs in every corner of this town.  The business owners keep promoting and supplying Jepara furniture to outside area including Bali. The perk of Balinese role in expanding its industry is introducing the local goodness to international. As we know that Bali is world’s tourist destination, it is definitely effective way for global promotion. In other words, this is kind of mutual business relations.

Teak Wood: Flagship Material of Furniture in Bali

Wooden furniture dominates the industry of furniture in Bali. Speaking of wooden furniture, teak wood is still the flagship material. Teak wood mostly grows in Java Island. Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi also produce teak wood. However, the best one comes from the limestone areas such as Blora, Rembang, Pati, and Grobogan Regency. This area is near Jepara Regency. Due to high acidic nature of Sumatran and Borneo soil, teak wood trees don’t last longer than in Java Island. Soil in Java Island is more suitable to grow teak wood trees since it contains pH 6-8, high calcium, phosphor, and good air flow. As the consequences, it becomes the main factor of high demand of teak furniture from outside areas including Bali. Most of them are transported in half-completed forms. However, some traders or buyers also prefer the raw materials.

Nowadays, we can find many fancy hotels, villas, or resorts in Bali display teak furniture. It highlights the exotic value which represents Indonesian. Honestly, this exotic value mostly captivates foreign tourists. Chairs, tables, credenza, desk, and cupboard are mostly made from teak wood. Besides, many hotels in Bali still maintains the classic or traditional style as the main feature. In other words, teak wood is currently a lifestyle which meets the modern touch. Surely, lifestyle trend is not the single consideration. We just couldn’t deny its high quality material. Teak wood is relatively long-lasting or durable. Furthermore, it is termite, fungal, and weather resistant. As a result, this high-end quality still becomes the main consideration to buy furniture in Bali. Compared to other wood materials like mahogany or sungkai, teak wood is pricier. However, it is worth the price considering its high quality. In other words, it is a brilliant idea to save the budget.

Javanese Influence toward the Trend of Furniture in Bali

The influence of Javanese toward furniture industry in Bali is not only portrayed in manufacturing sector but also its style trend. Strolling down the tourist areas, many hotels, villas, resorts, and restaurants adopt Javanese style. They add Javanese touch like wooden structures in Balinese buildings. Gazebo is the most popular one adopting Javanese wooden traditional house “Joglo”. Adding various Javanese constructions to Balinese buildings is the alternative way to promote Javanese furniture. Bali is the face of Indonesia in international tourism field. In other words, Bali is like a window to open Indonesian cultures. In Bali, people can see the diverse Indonesian represented in traditional buildings including furniture.

In spite of the natural resource factor, human resource also affects Javanese influence toward furniture industry in Bali. The high number of Javanese workers including carpenters increases Balinese furniture manufacturing. Undoubtedly, Bali is a promising island for economic opportunity. Tourism simply triggers other sectors to grow rapidly like infrastructure and industry. Besides, the high demand in furniture may lead to increasing number of Javanese workers. They blend to Balinese local crafters and carpenters to create such Balinese furniture. Furthermore, the businessman begins to see the business opportunity in Bali. As the consequences, some Javanese businessmen or entrepreneurs move to Bali and start the furniture business in there.

High Demand of Javanese Furniture for Bali Tourism

As a world-class tourism, Bali simply pampers the tourists with luxury accommodation. The options are various starting from the fancy to thematic accommodations. Nowadays, most of the  accommodations in Bali embrace the thematic touch for modern style. Classic style is timeless and everyone’s favorite theme since it represents Balinese or Indonesian. The furniture selection is vivid depiction of it. Since Bali still focuses on furniture trading, ordering furniture from Java is the right way. Jepara furniture is the most favorite one due to its high quality material. Either in raw material or half-completed forms, Jeparan furniture becomes the top pick among the accommodation business owners.

Highlighting the classic touch for accommodation business, teak wood furniture is the priority in furniture selection. Its high-end quality has been acknowledged globally. Besides, durability is the main consideration. In order to impress tourists, especially foreign tourists, high quality furniture is essential. Moreover, teak wood features the elegance and becomes the statement in Indonesian furniture. Surely, most of the accommodations in Bali emphasize the indoor furniture like lounge chairs, credenza, cupboard, or bed. Lounge chair is likely the prima donna due to its flexible utility. It can be put in bedroom, lounge area, restaurant, café, or balcony. It is simply because lounge chair is purposely designed for everyone’s comfort. The guests would prefer to chill or stay at the hotel rather than go outside. Moreover, staycation is the current holiday trend during this pandemic. So, pampering the guests with the right furniture is the perfect idea in accommodation business in Bali.

Transitional Style: The Popular Trend of Furniture in Bali

Transitional style hits the trend in accommodations lately. The combination of traditional furniture style and the touch of modernity simply creates such harmonic design. We can say that Bali is the center where traditional and international value meet. Nowadays, people prefer minimalism in lifestyle including the interior design. Many accommodations in Bali, especially the thematic ones, feature the transitional style. Transitional style simply provides both modern minimalism and classic statement. As the consequences, it triggers the high demand of wooden furniture in Bali. Wooden furniture can beautifully blend in minimalist interior design. Surely, wooden furniture makes a hotel, villa, or resort in Bali look stunning and elegant.

Gianyar: The Original Furniture Industry in Bali

Generally speaking, furniture industry in Bali is commonly for trading in spite of manufacturing. Balinese furniture is mostly supplied by Javanese furniture manufacturers like Jepara. Balinese businessmen prefer to order half-completed furniture from Jepara and other areas in Java. Next, they can do such retouching based on buyer’s taste and preference. However, don’t you know that Bali actually has its own furniture production? The original Balinese furniture production is much centered in Gianyar Regency. The popular areas for manufacturing are mostly in Tegalalang, Sebatu, and Ubud. Gianyar is renowned as the center of engraving and carving arts in Bali. Inarguably, furniture industry in Bali mostly grows in Gianyar Regency. Strolling down Ubud area, we can spot various crafts and artworks in every corner of the alley. Similar to Jepara as the home for carpenters in Java, Gianyar is the home for Balinese craftsmen, carpenters, and artists. It becomes the attractiveness for tourists, especially foreign tourists who are really into Indonesian arts. As the consequences, Ubud area, Tegalalang, and Sebatu are getting more popular among tourists recently. Previously, Balinese tourism is much centered in vibrant southern area such as Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Denpasar. Nowadays, northern Bali like Ubud, Tegalalang, or Sebatu gives alternative for tourists who prefer tranquility and traditional values.