It’s Moving Season!: Essential Beijing Apartment Hacks

You know it’s moving season when your entire WeChat moment feed is full of apartment listings and posts from friends looking for somewhere to live (and they aren't all as fabulous as the courtyard pictured at the top).

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Sometimes flat hunting can be disappointing in Beijing, as it can be hard to imagine what a room or apartment will really look like after you’ve moved in, cleared away the previous tenant's stuff, and hauled in your own belongings. This is especially true if you get unlucky and have to view several messy apartments in a row. But don't despair: to get you excited about your new pad and help you make the most of your Beijing living situation, we’ve put together some apartment hacks.

Can’t drill holes in your walls?
If you want to decorate but aren’t allowed to nail anything into the walls, we found this awesome colorful tape on Taobao that you can use to put posters or pictures up instead. They almost look like picture frames. (Note: do be careful with whatever you get on Taobao, we can’t be responsible for ruined walls!)

Can’t paint your walls?
Most landlords or real estate agents aren’t okay with painting the walls, but you can easily incorporate color into your room by painting the back of a bookshelf (preferably one that is yours). For an even easier hack, use fabric to spread across the back of the bookshelf.

Use a can tab to save space in your closet
If you don’t have enough space in your closet, placing a soda cab through the hanger and hanging a second hanger off it saves space and makes it easier to fit everything in your closet without creasing things. These are an even cheaper alternative to the already affordable Ikea hanging shelves.

Add texture and color with soft furnishings
While the color of your floors, curtains, and walls is unlikely to be something you can change in a short-term rental flat, adding cushions, rugs, tablecloths, and throws is an easy way to add color and texture. It’s also easier to keep up with seasons and trends this way, as these are easily replaced. Tailors throughout Beijing are often able to help you put together patterned cushions if you can’t find what you want anywhere. For fabric inspiration, head to Muxiyuan Fabric Market.

Hide extension cords in a drawer
There is nothing worse than having cables all over your room, but it happens often in our technology-filled lives, especially in Beijing, where the number of sockets in rooms seems to be below average. Hiding power cables and even larger devices in drawers is a way to clear things from the floor and surfaces.

Air out your apartment once a day, even if the air is polluted
Once a day, open your windows, one room at a time, to get fresh air in (even if the AQI is high). The reasoning behind this? You might have barely any oxygen in your rooms, just stale air, no matter how many air purifiers you have. This is especially important as we move away from winter. Let the spring in!

Place phones in a cup for DIY speakers
No speaker? Meiwenti. Just place your phone in a cup in the bathroom for some shower tunes loud enough to trump the splashing or place next to your bed to make sure you don’t sleep through your alarm again without having to invest in a real alarm.

Invest in a mirror and cupboard in one
Not enough space for your collection of deodorant and shampoo brought to Beijing from your home country? Getting a mirror/cupboard for your room will solve that problem. We found one on Taobao that isn’t too hideous, isn’t so deep that it takes up space, and will set you back a mere RMB 315.

Plants
Plants, plants, plants. Put plans on every free surface you have. Not only do they help clean the air, but they’ll also make your new spot look instantly homely and a little more green. Be careful when choosing your plant if you have pets (cats don't do well with all types).

To get ahead in the househunting game, check out our classifieds here.

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Photos: Beijingxiantour.com, Huffington Post, Thekrazycouponlady, Ikea, Reddit, Taobao