For many homeowners, Taobao has become an essential part of their home renovation, whether for bargain finds or customised items at a fraction of local prices. But for Lav & Jun, also known as @peakaboohome, the Chinese shopping platform supplied the majority of what they needed to furnish their home.
After buying their 5-room resale DBSS flat for more than $1 million in 2025, the couple embarked on a complete overhaul of their 1,216sqft home. Along the way, they spent more than $10,000 on around 120 items from Taobao.
The sourcing paid off, with the couple estimating they saved around $30,000 compared to buying similar items locally. Here’s a peek at their Taobao haul and how they kept costs down, from major appliances to smaller home furnishings.
Saving $50K by renovating their DBSS without an ID
The couple’s living room with a 3.2m TV console from Taobao ($300).
Image credit: @peakaboohome
Having already spent a significant sum on their resale DBSS flat, the couple’s Taobao haul wasn’t the only way they kept costs down. They also took a hands-on approach to their renovation, forgoing an ID or main contractor as they already had a clear vision for their modern Japandi-inspired home.
Despite going through a complete overhaul, including hacking walls to create an open kitchen and repositioning a bathroom wall, the couple project-managed the renovation themselves, including arranging Taobao deliveries and coordinating contractors.
In total, they spent around $60,000, saving about $50,000 compared to an ID firm’s quote of $110,000 for similar specifications, such as large-format tiling and epoxy grouting for the entire home.
Saving $30K with 120 Taobao buys
Sintered stone integrated sink set ($800), ripple-fold day curtains ($116) and automatic curtain track ($172) from Taobao.
Image credit: @peakaboohome
From the start, the couple planned to source the bulk of their home furnishings from Taobao, drawn by the cost savings and wider variety compared to what’s available locally. It also helped that Jun had previous experience in procurement, making the process of researching and sourcing products less daunting.
In total, they ordered around 120 items, ranging from big-ticket items like a fridge and an electronic toilet bowl to smaller kitchen tools and home essentials.
Pull-down dish rack (~$140) and ghost track door (~$400 with installation) from Taobao.
Image credit: @peakaboohome
According to the couple, they generally saved around 75% to 80% compared to the prices of similar items they found locally. Based on their calculations, their Taobao purchases saved them around $30,000 overall.
Some of the biggest cost savings included:
| Item | Taobao cost | Local comparison | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sintered stone integrated sink set | $800 | $5,000 | 84% |
| 3.2m TV console | $300 | $2,000 (local carpenter quote) | 85% |
| Ghost track door | $400+ including installation | $1,500 | 73% |
| Electronic toilet bowl without cistern | $300 | $3,000+ | 90% |
Ordering bulky renovation items from Taobao
Shipping 2,000kg of tiles from China
Matte large-format tiles ($2.70 psf) from Taobao.
Image credit: @peakaboohome
One of their riskiest purchases was also among the heaviest: roughly 2,000kg of 150cm x 75cm floor tiles. The couple had been looking for matte large-format tiles, but found that many of the options in Malaysian showrooms came in glossy finishes, while comparable tiles in Singapore were beyond their budget.
They eventually sourced their tiles from China for about $2.70 psf, racking up significant savings compared to local prices of around $10 psf. Since they couldn’t inspect the entire batch in person, the couple requested samples from the seller before committing.
Crane delivery for the Taobao tiles.
Image credit: @peakaboohome
Of course, shipping such a hefty order came with additional costs. Shipping and warehouse storage amounted to around $400, while crane delivery added another $260, and both were already factored into the tiles’ final price of $2.70 psf.
There was also the risk of damage during transit, with horror stories of homeowners receiving shipments with broken items all too common. Fortunately, all 2,000kg of their tiles arrived intact.
$300 electronic toilet bowl from Taobao
Electronic toilet bowl ($300).
Image credit: @peakaboohome
The couple made a bold choice with their sanitary fittings, opting for an electronic toilet bowl from Taobao that cost just $300 all-in.
They had initially come across a concealed-cistern TOTO toilet bowl at a local showroom that cost almost $8,000, well outside their budget, prompting them to turn to Taobao for a more affordable alternative.
Despite its considerably lower price, the toilet came packed with features commonly found in Japanese toilets. These include a motion sensor that automatically opens and closes the lid, a remote control for the flush, bidet, and seat temperature, as well as a blue night light for late-night bathroom trips.
The toilet did not come with local warranty coverage, but at just $300, the couple felt the potential savings were worth the risk. 5 months on, the toilet has become a hit among their guests.
$1,507 Casarte zero-clearance fridge
Zero-clearance Casarte fridge ($1,507).
Image credit: @peakaboohome
Another big-ticket Taobao purchase was their $1,507 fridge from Casarte, Haier’s high-end home appliance brand.
The couple opted for a zero-clearance model, which allowed the fridge to sit flush with the surrounding carpentry for a more seamless look. Having a built-in fridge also helped maximise space in their kitchen, which has a relatively narrow walkway.
Before placing their order, the couple consulted their plumber and electrician to ensure that the fridge and other major appliances they were considering would be compatible with their home and could be installed safely.
Casarte’s premium positioning gave the couple greater confidence in going ahead with the purchase. According to the couple, the same fridge retails for over $5,000 elsewhere, and buying direct from China saved them more than $2,500 compared to similar models sold locally.
Managing Taobao orders without an ID
While the savings were substantial, managing everything without an ID or main contractor took significant time and effort. The couple effectively became their own project managers, juggling multiple contractors and tracking Taobao shipments, all while holding full-time jobs.
Coordinating 9 separate shipments
Lav & Jun split their Taobao purchases across 9 shipments, carefully timing the arrival of items that required contractor installation, including 2,000kg of floor tiles, their toilet bowl, sinks, doors, and fridge.
As sea shipments generally took around 16-20 days to reach Singapore from the China warehouse, the couple aimed for their items to arrive about a week before the relevant contractors were scheduled to work on them.
Even with careful planning, the couple cautioned that Taobao purchases can still be “hit or miss”, particularly when subsequent renovation works depend on them. A shipping delay or a product that needs replacing can easily throw a spanner in the works and push back the entire timeline.
Measuring items over 10 times
With so many customised and built-in items coming from China, getting accurate measurements became one of the couple’s biggest concerns.
They bought a laser measuring tape for precise measurements and repeatedly checked dimensions before ordering. This was especially important for large furnishings such as their wall-to-wall bathroom sink sets, where even a 0.5cm discrepancy could potentially make them unusable.
The same precision applied to their blinds and 2 doors; some spaces were measured more than 10 times before they finally submitted the dimensions.
Was spending $10K on Taobao worth it?
Despite the amount of work involved, the couple say they would happily take the same approach again.
For homeowners thinking of ordering the bulk of their home furnishings from Taobao, they advise: “The process may be tedious, and learning will be part of it, but the savings can compound over time and carry over to other aspects of your life, such as wedding purchases and future home refurbishments.”
They also recommend discussing the approach with your partner or family beforehand, as managing suppliers, deliveries, and contractors requires considerable time and effort at every step of the process.
For homeowners willing to take on the project management themselves, Lav & Jun’s experience shows just how much can potentially be saved by looking beyond local suppliers. Their 120 Taobao purchases required plenty of additional homework, but with an estimated $30K in savings, the couple found the extra effort well worth it.
For more Taobao shopping hauls:
- 9 homeowner-approved Taobao coffee tables from as low as $89
- How this couple saved $10K by buying sintered stone countertops from Taobao
- How these homeowners pulled off a DIY cove skylight in their home for just $1.5K
Cover image adapted from: @peakaboohome
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