or the last three years, my family and I have wholeheartedly enjoyed our lives in Fengtai District in south Beijing. From a fantastic food selection to endearing neighbors, we've loved life in one of the slightly quieter parts of the city. However, with our little one getting older and primary school on the horizon, we knew change was upon us. Due to schooling reasons, we've shipped ourselves off to the bustling Chaoyang District in the east of the capital.
For years, we've taken a somewhat carefree approach to our home, finding a balance between comfort and staying within budget. We added a few cozy pillows here and there, along with a gaming chair or two (for, you know, "working from home"), but nothing too fancy. However, realizing that this may be our home for many years to come, we've decided to give it our all this time around. Thus began our epic home décor adventure - a saga filled with triumphant treasure hunts and furniture debacles.
Our quest predictably began on ecommerce platform Taobao, where I sorted out the perfect carpet and sofa cover. After being momentarily sidetracked by the rabbit hole of "best curtain fabrics," my wife and I made our way to a furniture center in the eastern suburbs, the go-to place for plants, pets and furniture in Beijing. Imagine rows upon rows of stores, each competing to sell very similar products as if they were part of some surreal game show.
Fortunately, a former neighbor had given us a tip about a reliable shop. My wife and I spent what felt like an oddly pleasant eternity scouring through 10 shades of green. I never imagined I would find myself pondering the merits of "forest green" versus "mint green." Eventually, we discovered the perfect shade, and after a brief negotiation, we thought we had settled on a price.
Then our neighbor stepped in, sprinkling a bit of magic on our deal with a quick chat on We- Chat. The price dropped by 20 percent. I'm still unsure how that sorcery works, but I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. The moral of the story? Make friends with a master of haggling.
Next, we hopped across the street to the garden center, where we found some lovely plants. Beijing is not as humid as somewhere like Guangzhou or Shanghai, so a few good plants can make all the difference. Plus, a good selection of plants and trees are must for bird owners.
At the end of our new living room is a balcony. Previously a mere stage for drying clothes, I envisioned it as the epicenter of our home - a place for morning coffee, afternoon gaming, and working late into the night to meet deadlines. In my mind, this 2.04-meter by 1.03-meter area was to be my own personal haven - my first ever home study.
Finding the perfect carpet for this space was easier than I thought, and it arrived like a caramel fairy, fitting snugly into my vision. But the work desk and curtains? Oh boy, those turned out to be a completely different story. They had to be custom-made to fit the cozy area. After a few chats with sellers online, I was able to quickly book an appointment for the fitting. After everything was installed - the blinds, the table height, and the neon lights under the table - all could be controlled by a single remote or voice control. My dreams were finally coming true.
With the laundry-drying balcony now converted into a man-cave, we decided to invest in a tumble dryer. Fun fact: tumble dryers aren't commonly used in North I'm still unsure how that sorcery works, but I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. The moral of the story? Make friends with a master of haggling China due to their electricity consumption, but they're super popular in southern China because of the humidity. So, I'm now part of a niche group of people living in Beijing who don't rely on the sun to dry their clothes.
Our bedroom décor took an artful turn with lovely bed linen, our tailored curtains letting in just the right lighting to set the mood for cozy nights. I fancied some fresh flowers to add vibrance, but it was latenight scrolling through the JD.com platform that unveiled the pièce de resistance - a bizarre yet brilliant hybrid of a bedside table and a coat hanger. I'm not sure if this is what you'd call "Chinese-style" furniture, but I had never seen anything like it before moving here, so that's what I'm going to call it.
These past few weeks have been almost therapeutic. After a decade in Beijing, I finally feel like I've found a place I can hang my hat and call home. When I think back to my time as a student and how much my life has changed, I feel more rooted than ever. Despite the many parenting struggles, tight deadlines, and life's challenges hitting me in the face, it's nice to know I can find bliss in my new home.
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