Prices of imported furniture and lighting could rise up to 40 per cent as brands face uncertainty over the UK's future trading relationship with the EU.
Several EU brands have already increased their UK prices to cover the cost of clearing customs once the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.
"Due to the UK's withdrawal from the EU, we unfortunately had to increase our transport cost," wrote Dutch furniture and lighting brand Moooi in an email to UK partners.
"There's the potential for severe delays"
With future trading rules still uncertain and cross-channel freight severely disrupted by the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus in England, UK importers and retailers are braced for major disruption.
"In my opinion, it's chaos and there's the potential for severe delays early next year," said Stefan Dodds of Dodds & Shute, which sources design products for UK architects and interior designers. "If we look at the delays that have been caused in the last 24 hours by France closing borders, surely this is a sign of things to come in the New Year at the end of the transition period"" Dodds said.
From 1 January, transitional arrangements between the UK and the EU will end, although it is still uncertain whether a new trade deal will be in place or whether companies will have to fall back to World Trade Organisation terms, which will involve tariffs on imports and exports.
Either way, goods will be subject to customs che...