The best shops in Beijing for homeware and furniture

Kit out your home with stylish buys from these boutiques

Not sick of shopping yet, after the gross multi-billion RMB splurge fest of Singles' Day? Maybe you're just after a more physical shopping experience than hours lost in the Taobao matrix. Lucky you, then, as we're rounding up Beijing's best shops in the coming weeks.

Decorating your home just as you like it is an evolving task – the first flat you rent will most likely look very different to the place you're living when you're 40. That said, there are plenty of shops in Beijing who can help you on your interior design journey, from antiques to contemporary classics to unique, handcrafted pieces.

Lost and Found

This Gulou boutique is the place to head if you like your homewares to come with a healthy dollop of character. Carefully selected vintage Chinese products sit alongside sustainable soaps and accessories.

 42 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng district.

 10.30am-8pm daily.

FNJI

On quiet Guozijian Jie, FNJI (pronounced 'fanji') stocks high-end furniture from Chinese and Japanese designers – and it is sleek, with mostly polished ash and walnut pieces. With all that high design comes a high price tag, but there is a selection of handmade home décor and stationery available at a more accessible price point. If you're not in the market for high-end furniture, that's okay, as the expertly renovated courtyard is still worth a trip – stop in its sunny café where you can simply take in the view over a latte.

 41 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng district.

 10.30am-7pm daily.

White is Good

At the west end of Guozijian Jie, lies a stylish boutique that shines bright among the often greyish hutongs of Beijing. If, like the owners, you believe that White is Good, then this is a place for you, as every single product here is only available in one colour – white. Curated by the owners, the goods range from furniture, decorations and kitchenware to stationery, books and even clothing, and are mostly imported from Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

 67 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng district.

 10.30am-7.30pm daily.

MUJI

Image: Wikimedia Commons

You can't go wrong with the minimalist magic that is MUJI. Bedding is exceptionally comfortable, while bathroom, storage and organisation solutions are plentiful, and once you've sorted your home out, you might as well kit your entire wardrobe out with minimalist MUJI gear too. Because less is more, right?

 Multiple locations across Beijing.

The Beast

One of Shanghai-based brand The Beast's six Beijing stores, this Sanlitun outlet brings a dash of youthful Marie Antoinette elegance to the corporate neighbourhood. Flowers are the focus – the brand did grow from a small, online bouquet service, after all – but a range of homewares, jewellery and furniture is on show in its fantastic setting.

 First floor, Taikoo Li South, 19 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district.

 10am-10pm daily. 

Miniso

Miniso does its best to defy classification, but it's fair to say the Chinese-Japanese brand has been a revelation since breaking out big-time circa 2015. It’s endeared itself with its budget homeware, bathroom gear and toiletries, while some of its electronics (130RMB bluetooth speakers, particularly) make great additions to the living room.

 Multiple locations across Beijing.

Nome

Supposedly recruiting a team of Nordic product designers, Nome is a more aesthetically conscious take on Miniso, but largely at the same price. And it's convincing: its range of decent quality, stylish enough homeware is bigger and better than its counterpart, and it also boasts a line of clothing.

 Multiple locations across Beijing.

IKEA

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Seems obvious, we know, but flat-pack fun from Sweden plus meatballs equals a good time. All the familiar homogenised furniture and interior accessories you've either come to love or loathe can be found in abundance at Beijing's flagship IKEA megastore, though the bed-hoggers and sofa-surfers make things rather crowded at peak hours.

 59 Futong Dong Lu, Chaoyang district.

 9.30am-10pm daily. 

ZaoZuo

This brand, an offshoot from a successful online design incubator, offers simple, stylish, Chinese-designed furniture and home goods at an affordable price point (a two-seater sofa starts from 2,999RMB).

 Lower ground floor, Indigo, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district.

 10am-10pm daily.

Laitai Flower Market

Image: Flickr/jinjian liang

As nearly all markets move towards closure here in Beijing, Laitai seems to just about be staying alive. No home is complete without a few living organisms to care for, and if kids, pets or mould aren't your style, then pick up a few low-maintenance friends at this bountiful flower market.

 9 Maizidian Xi Lu, Chaoyang district.

 9am-5.30pm Mon-Thu; 9am-6pm Fri-Sun.

Hay

A good rule of thumb to follow in the world of interior design is: Scandi equals cool. With that in mind, a visit to Hay is sure to leave you pimped out with reliably stylish homewares.

 First floor, R&F Plaza, 65 East Third Ring Road, Shuangjing, Chaoyang district. 

 10am-9.30pm daily.

Gaobeidian Furniture Street

This kilometre-long strip is home to over a hundred stores selling handcrafted wares and trinkets, and while the 'antique' in the name often refers more to style than age, it's still a great spot to pick up beautiful pieces of traditional Chinese furniture, including chairs, carved tables and decorative panels. Some of the European antique shops are spectacular, and there are several outlets selling modern takes on Chinese classics and imported Nordic pieces.

 Gaobeidian Gujiaju Jie, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang district.

 10am-6pm daily. 

For full venue details on all these shops, hit 'Read more'. 

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