When my husband, David, and I moved into our 4-room HDB flat in Punggol three years ago, we were determined not to let the cramped 2.8-meter wide entryway become a clutter zone. We needed storage that looked like art, not just a place for shoes. We settled on the Art Deco Geometric Contrast Sideboard from MIDHILL, a piece we found online that immediately caught our eye. It is not a simple wooden cabinet. It is a sculptural statement with a diagonal cream-white oak-grain finish on one triangle and a charcoal-black fluted panel on the other. The price tag was steep: S$3,570. But the real question we had to answer was not the sticker price. It was what that price would actually cost us over five years in a Singaporean home where the air is thick and heavy, especially during the monsoon.
Singapore’s humidity averages between 80% and 90% for much of the year. For solid wood, this is merely an annoyance. For rattan furniture, which uses natural fibers, it is a matter of survival. The rattan weave in the cabinet’s upper sections is susceptible to swelling when wet and cracking when dry. The sycamore veneer on the diagonal cream face is also a porous material that absorbs moisture from the air. In a condo in The Central or an HDB in Bedok, the constant temperature fluctuation between the day and the air-conditioned night cycles the wood. Our sideboard sits in a hallway that does not get direct sunlight, which is good, but it gets high humidity from the kitchen and the entrance. We measured the relative humidity in our flat using a cheap hygrometer; it frequently spiked to 85% during the Northeast Monsoon. This is the environment that dictates our maintenance routine.
The sideboard arrived fully assembled, which saved us the stress of fitting the tapered legs, which are 12 cm in height and made of metal. The cabinet itself is 200 cm wide, fitting precisely into our 2.1-meter entry wall without blocking the door swing. In the first month, we spent S$120 on high-quality microfiber cloths and a natural beeswax-based cleaner specifically designed for veneered surfaces. We avoided chemical sprays that could strip the fluted black panel’s finish. The initial setup cost was low, but the routine began. We learned that the brass triangle handles, which are a sharp geometric contrast to the soft weave, attract fingerprints easily. A quick wipe-down every morning became part of the household ritual.
The second year was our biggest challenge. The monsoon season in Singapore is not just rain; it is dampness that seeps into everything. We noticed the rattan fibers on the top shelf feeling slightly stiff to the touch. We realized we needed a dehumidifier, a device that has become standard in Singapore homes but adds to the electricity bill. We bought a compact dehumidifier for S$180 and placed it in the corridor. Running it for eight hours a day during peak monsoon months (November to January) increased our electricity bill by roughly S$45 per month. This is a hidden cost. Over the two months of peak humidity, that is an extra S$90. We also purchased a silica gel packet kit, costing S$35, to place inside the cabinet doors to absorb moisture that accumulated in the hinges. The fluted black panel did not warp, which is a testament to the quality of the core materials used by MIDHILL, but the care required was non-negotiable.
By year three, the brass handles had developed a slight greenish tint in the crevices due to the acidic nature of our hands and the humidity. We bought a brass polish kit for S$45 and spent an afternoon restoring the shine. We also had to re-tighten the tapered legs, which had settled into the HDB’s vinyl flooring. The total cost for small repairs in year three was S$160. This included the polish, new hardware screws, and a professional check to ensure the veneer on the diagonal cream section was not delaminating. A delamination would have cost S$500 to repair professionally. We caught it early by checking the edges every quarter.
In the fourth year, our routine became second nature. We stopped using the dehumidifier daily and switched to using a whole-home air purifier that we already had for asthma. This saved us S$50 per month on electricity. We continued the S$120 annual stock of cleaning supplies. The sideboard was looking pristine. The contrast between the cream and black was still sharp. The rattan did not show any signs of rot or insect damage, which is common in Singapore homes if not treated. The absence of treatment was the key. We never used oil-based polishes that can clog the natural pores of rattan, allowing it to breathe.
At the five-year mark, we conducted a final audit. The sideboard is still functional. The doors close smoothly. The brass handles are still bright. The total maintenance cost over five years, excluding the purchase price, breaks down as follows. Year one: S$165 (cloths, cleaner, silica gel). Year two: S$180 (dehumidifier usage, silica gel replenishment). Year three: S$160 (brass polish, hardware). Year four: S$120 (cleaning supplies). Year five: S$120 (cleaning supplies). The total maintenance cost over five years is S$745. This is 20.8% of the initial S$3,570 purchase price. If we had not maintained it, the piece might have warped or the veneer might have peeling, rendering it worthless. The maintenance cost preserved the asset.
For a family in a standard HDB flat, S$3,570 is a significant outlay. However, when you spread the maintenance cost over five years, it adds only S$149 per year to your household budget. This is less than the cost of two pairs of shoes that wear out in a year. The sideboard is a 200 cm wide storage unit. It holds our family’s dining essentials. It replaces the need for a bulky TV unit that we did not buy. The space efficiency is high. The aesthetic value is high. The risk of total loss is low if you follow a routine. The key is consistency. In a tropical climate like Singapore’s, maintenance is not optional for natural fiber furniture. It is the price of admission for owning beauty that lasts.