Unless you are renting a furnished or self-service place, there is absolutely no rule or norm about furnishings and fixtures when renting in Hong Kong. It all depends on the market, the landlord, the rent you are paying or how much you want done before you move in. To put it simply, everything is negotiable. Luxury apartments come with an oven and sometimes a fridge and microwave. If you’re lucky you’ll get a washing machine and dryer, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes light fixtures and closets are missing and unwanted furniture has to be removed.

Furnishing your home in Hong Kong will also depend entirely on the size and type of apartment or house. Furniture, carpets, curtains, paintings, curios, kitchenware and light fixtures can all be bought here in a huge variety and for a wide range of prices.

Cheap outlets like IKEA and Pricerite are good for short-term furnishing and those with humble budgets. But if you would rather choose your own design and order, then go along to Queen’s Road East in Wan Chai where you can order rosewood, rattan or wrought iron furniture as well as other types of woodwork. See Home Furnishings & Accessories on p.302.



Second-Hand Items

Free magazines like Dollarsaver, HK Magazine and South China Morning Post’s Trading Post (Sunday’s classified section) are good places to check for second-hand items. Websites like www.asiaxpat.com and www.geoexpat.com also have a trading section and it’s amazing what you can buy and sell online.

Two good dealers in second-hand goods are Kingsway Appliances (2814 8770) selling large, second-hand appliances with a six-month guarantee and Expressions (2975 9797, www.exfurniture.com) a second-hand furniture shop with a delivery service. They have a big warehouse filled with cabinets, tables, dining sets, shelves, beds and other pieces, all reasonably priced.