For new homeowners willing to do the legwork, Taobao is a treasure trove full of quality furniture and home goods. Dupes of high-end brands, solid wood furniture, and reasonably priced customised pieces are just some things you can find on Taobao. We scoured the internet and asked our friends, and here are the 11 best no-regret Taobao buys they’ve recommended.
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Steigen dupe automated laundry rack from $105
Image credit: Steigen
Monsoon season in Singapore usually means musty clothes that take forever to dry. To combat this, many savvy homeowners now own dryers and automated laundry racks that help speed up the drying process. The tried-and-true Steigen brand remains the gold standard for automated laundry racks, but this Taobao alternative, priced at ¥575 (~$105) works just as well.
The automated laundry rack can be controlled via remote, voice commands, or an app depending on the model you choose. Besides heating and wind functions to speed up the drying process, the rack also claims to kill up to 99.99% of germs and bacteria.
Image credit: @townerhouse
“[This was] definitely one of my best reno buys! My service yard does not get any sun, so this automated laundry system is a lifesaver. I personally love the heating functions, which make my clothes dry and toasty!” – @townerhouse on Lemon8
Boba wall lamp
Image credit: Sol Luminaire
“Boba” wall lamps have been trending recently, and we’ve spotted them in the homes of some of our most stylish friends. While minimalist, the unexpected shape of these boba lamps helps add a touch of visual interest even when the rest of the room is kept simple.
Image credit: @surenlowenhouse
[I] fell in love with this design while looking for home inspo on Pinterest and Instagram, but unfortunately, […] regular lighting shops at Balestier [and] Ubi, [as well as] IKEA, didn’t carry this [then]. We mustered our courage to purchase [this] from Taobao, and [we have] no regrets! – @surenlowenhouse on Lemon8
While boba wall lamps were hard to find back in 2023, when @surenlowenhouse first posted about it, the style has now become quite accessible. Still, at ¥240 ($~44.19) per lamp, the 11cm boba wall lamp is pretty reasonably priced.
Solid wood floating shelf
User @surenlowenhouse on Lemon8 also recommended another quality find—solid wood floating shelves on Taobao.
Image credit: @surenlowenhouse
“Customising shelves with your ID can be super expensive, and local options are limited in length, design, and materials. IKEA only carried certain designs of very specific lengths, while live wood planks were pricey with length limitations.
However, we were able to find solid wood planks on Taobao that came in the length that we wanted [and] could be mounted invisibly.” – @surenlowenhouse on Lemon8
Magnetic mosquito mesh
“We were so afraid of opening our windows because we [didn’t] want to invite unwanted pests into our house. We went to several local vendors to ask for quotes, and all amounted to at least $2k for all our windows. It was beyond our budget, so we decided to find [magnetic mosquito meshes] from Taobao.” – @bubb.home on Lemon8
Image credit: @bubb.home
According to @bubb.home, you can message the seller with photos of your windows and let them decide how many mesh panels you’ll need. From there, you can choose your preferred mesh material and configuration, and then measure your windows with the seller’s guidance.
3D wall art
Image credit: @our.minicove
When we dropped by @our.minicove’s home recently, we were intrigued by this sculpture-like piece sitting on the statement concrete bench in their living room. Turns out, it was a customised 3D wall art they’d sourced from Taobao.
If you’d like to get a similar piece of 3D wall art on Taobao, search for “立体雕刻画”. Add the term “侘寂风” if you want something wabi-sabi style.
Barsetto coffee machine
Who knew it was possible to get good espresso machines from Taobao? Lemon8 user @yeohaus.myhaus bought a Barsetto Bae 02 coffee machine in 2023, and it seems that the machine has served them well since.
Image credit: @yeohaus.myhaus
“An espresso machine with a grinder can easily set you back an average of $1,300. This model only costs $600 and it comes with a milk frothing wand and grinder. [It’s very easy to tweak the grind size, grind amount, as well as the pressure. [The] features are easy to use; no fancy Chinese [knowledge] needed.” – @yeohaus.myhaus on Lemon8
Dehumidifier under $150
A dehumidifier is another must-have, especially during the rainy season. Besides removing excess moisture from the air, a dehumidifier can also help speed up the process of drying clothes. Plus, wicking moisture from the air means decreasing the chances of mould growing on your walls.
“I’ve had this dehumidifier from Taobao for two years now. Although it’s not the quietest, it’s very good at sucking moisture from the air and has a capacity of 2L, so I don’t have to empty it that often. Plus, it was less than $150, much cheaper than what you’d find on Shopee.” – Rachel, 35
Waterproof white sofa
Image credit: GraffitiWallArts
White or light-coloured sofas look amazing in photographs, but they’re not always the easiest to take care of. If you’ve set your heart on getting one for yourself, try looking for ones with removable machine-washable covers, durable fabrics such as boucle, or even sofas made with waterproof material.
“This has to be our best purchase! It’s so comfortable and beautiful. The best part is that it’s waterproof. We even tested it by pouring water on it, and [the water] didn’t seep through. Our guests love [the sofa] too!” – @pingsarah on Lemon8
Fluffy living room carpet
Image credit: @xinpx
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed rug or carpet—it can completely change the vibe of your home. A fluffy carpet can add warmth and cosiness, while a low-pile, colourful option injects sunshine and cheer into the space.
User @xinpx on Lemon8 bought a 2 x 3m fluffy carpet from Taobao, and according to them, it’s super soft, doesn’t shed, and can be detected by their robot vacuum.
Rattan TV console
Can’t decide if you want your home to be mid-century modern, Scandinavian, wabi-sabi, or boho chic? No worries—rattan furniture happens to suit all of the abovementioned interior design themes.
Image credit: 藤编匠师
User @10cchome on Lemon8 shared one of their favourite Taobao furniture shops, 藤编匠师, in a post. Specialising in furniture made with rattan and solid wood, the shop is a great find for people who like George Nakashima and Pierre Jeanneret-style pieces.
“I definitely think it’s worth [buying furniture from Taobao. […] Sometimes it’s astounding how much the same item can be marked up [when buying from a reseller in Singapore. There are so many choices and customisation options on Taobao; need I say more?” – @10cchome on Lemon8
3D rendering services
If you’re planning on engaging contractors directly instead of going through an ID, you’ll need to secure 3D renders of your dream home by yourself. And, as it turns out, you can engage 3D rendering services via Taobao. Just search for “3D效果图制作CAD代画图”.
Image credit: @dumbo_geor
“I engaged them to do the 3D rendering of my [4-room flat] and the artist only charged me a total of S$150 with unlimited changes!
The renderings came really quickly! It took a matter of days for the first few designs to be up and they kept me involved in every change they made. I was able to tll them what to add or remove before the final product was up. They included a floor plan too, so I didn’t have to pay additional for that.
It’s really important to do a 3D layout for your future home to give the different contractors a visual idea on the overall outlook of the house.” – @dumbo_geor on Lemon8
Bonus: floating dining table
Image credit: 匠谷旗舰店
While trawling through Taobao, we stumbled upon a statement dining table that looked just like the one in interior designer Roy Zhuang’s home. The clear acrylic leg creates the illusion of a “half-floating” table. And hey, if it has the seal of approval from an interior designer, it’s more than good enough for us.
The designer further customised the table by adding a potted plant, but if we’re being honest, the “plain” version is already stunning enough.
No-regret Taobao buys worth every penny
Taobao may seem intimidating at first, but it gets easier as you familiarise yourself with the platform. But not to worry, we have an ultimate Taobao shopping guide to get you started.
There’s so much more on Taobao beyond these 11 no-regret buys in this article—have fun finding your own hidden gems!
For more Taobao finds:
Cover image adapted from: Taobao, @yeohaus.myhaus on Instagram
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