How King Living Became a Global Design Brand Without Losing Its Identity

From Australia to the world, King Living has spent nearly five decades building a legacy grounded in thoughtful design, engineering and enduring craftsmanship.

“From the beginning, we didn’t follow the traditional ways of making furniture. We did things our way, which was different. Those points of difference are still applied today.”

Decades after the first King Living sofa left the workshop floor, founder David King‘s words still read less like a reflection than a manifesto.

In 1977, he opened a single showroom in Sydney with a question that would shape the next five decades: how do you build furniture – and a company – designed to last?

The answer was never going to be found in convention. Timber would be engineered rather than simply crafted. Comfort would be measured in decades, not seasons. Design would answer not to passing trends, but to the people who would live with it every day.

Nearly fifty years later, that philosophy has grown from one Sydney showroom into a globally recognised design house, with more than 40 showrooms across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

What makes King Living remarkable, however, is not the scale of its growth, but the consistency behind it. While many brands evolve to suit new markets, King Living has expanded without compromising the principles that have defined it from the beginning. Every collection carries the same design DNA: thoughtful Australian design, engineering-led innovation, exceptional craftsmanship and an unwavering commitment to longevity.

That philosophy begins where every collection does, in house. Rather than commissioning external designers, King Living develops every collection exclusively within its own design studio. Designers, engineers and product specialists work collaboratively from the earliest sketches, refining every detail through a process that favours thoughtful iteration over trend-driven design.

Under the direction of Head of Design Chris Cooke, aesthetics and functionality are never treated as separate disciplines. The result is furniture that feels effortless precisely because so much consideration sits beneath the surface.

Engineering remains at the heart of every piece. Sofas are developed, tested and refined long before they reach the showroom floor, ensuring longevity is built into the design rather than added as an afterthought.

This philosophy is supported by a vertically integrated business model, a rarity within the furniture industry. By designing, manufacturing and retailing its own collections, King Living retains complete oversight of every stage of the journey, from concept development and engineering through to craftsmanship and the final showroom experience. The result is not simply greater efficiency, but a level of consistency that extends across every market the brand calls home.

The latest Jasper Sofa exemplifies this approach. Already recognised for its versatility, comfort and design excellence, the collection has evolved to offer an even greater level of personalisation. With more than 200 exclusive fabrics and leathers, a choice of timber finishes and cushions, as well as modular additions including shelving, curved modules, bolster supports, integrated storage and wireless charging, it reflects King Living’s commitment to designing furniture that adapts to the way people live, rather than asking people to adapt to it.

As King Living continues to grow, its expansion remains measured rather than hurried. New showroom openings are planned from 2027 onwards, extending a global footprint built with the same long-term thinking that defines its furniture.

That approach also extends to King Trade, where the brand partners with architects, interior designers and commercial clients on residential and large-scale projects, providing tailored furniture solutions, specification support and end-to-end project management. It is a natural evolution of the integrated philosophy that has shaped King Living from the very beginning.

As the company approaches its fiftieth anniversary, what stands out is not how much it has changed, but how faithfully it has held onto its founding ideals. A family business that chose to challenge convention in 1977 has become a global design authority without losing the instinct that started it all.

Discover King Living’s approach to purposeful design. www.kingliving.my/king-trade-and-commercial