JHC is my go-to spot in my neighborhood for anything houseware-related: think cleaning supplies,…read moresmall appliances, random containers, fans, welcome and bath mats, towels, and even glassware/plates/flatware. Despite carrying all of the above (and much more!), this particular store is pretty small and the aisles are quite narrow... but, they've made great use of the space and you can even find vacuum cleaners on the high shelves in the very back of the store. The goods aren't the highest of quality, but they're inexpensive and get the job done. And maybe best of all: JHC is much easier to deal with than IKEA! It's fun walking around my apartment building and spotting the welcome mats that I think we've all purchased from JHC.

Life Goods is one of those stores that should be on every corner. It is a "general" store that just…read moreseems to stock everything that one would need for life! What I like, is that provide across a number of household needs; home-wares like Japan Home Centre, stationery like the mom and pop shops, hardware like the guys on Wellington Street. It seems that if you need anything, you can get it here. It is moderately cramped in the store, I suppose the stock has to go somewhere, so if you have shopping bags or a ruck sack, be careful! There are two floors, with mainly stationery, kitchen-ware, and hard ware downstairs, and bigger home-wares upstairs, like ironing boards and plastic boxes. Some of the store highlights include; photo albums, plastic boxes, paint pens, plastic spiral key chains, lots of carabiners, toys, and decorations, and a few items that I would not have expected, including; gas torches and soldering kit for plumbing, and thick transparent plastic sheeting, like stuff they drop down the sides of the junk boats to stop the splashes coming in. The staff are very friendly, if not a bit difficult to spot as they don't wear any uniform, and will help you to get out stock, or cut rolls of linoleum. The prices are very very reasonable, basically cheap as chips, so fill your boots! The store is also very close to Tin Hau station, so only a short walk if you are carrying a plastic box full of stuff!

A (new to me) modern Japanese housewares chain store in the city plaza. They sell from kitchen…read moredinnerware to bathroom towels and decor, to small furnitures like coffee table and sofas in a very affordable price. It is a great alternative than ikea products for paying a bit more what you would pay in ikea. But I love how their products look so stylish, modern and trendy. It's definitely not those traditional Chinese dinnerware places. Most dinnerware are ceramic with some glass options that cover different style for your home!

I'm guessing everybody's familiar with Homeless, the eccentric but often pricey lifestyle store. If…read moreyou're into that kind of fun, creative stuff, it's worth checking out lesser-known Lost & Found, which is similar to Homeless but in my opinion sells more practical things rather than quirky items that you'd use once or twice and then set aside. Lost & Found isn't hard to locate (ha!). It's at phase two of Olympian City, and you'll definitely walk past it when you take the bridge to phase three. There's another store at The One in TST, but I've never been to that one. This means that if you live on the Island or in New Territories, coming to Lost & Found may be a little bit of a trip. If I had just moved in to a new place or am redecorating parts of my apartment, I would definitely make a stop at Lost & Found. I like to think that things here can be classes into two categories, in my opinion - the vintage-y stuff and the more modern, colorful items. I love anything with that rugged, brassy look, and Lost & Found has tons of that in its vintage section. I can totally imagine decking my living room out on their gorgeous photo frames and little cupboards! For the more... FUNctionalist ones out there (sorry, I couldn't resist!), Lost & Found is big on colorful, modern-looking kitchen supplies. There are lots of colorful, disco ball-like bowls and plates that can jazz up any dinner party. Kitchen essentials like soup spoons and spatulas come in all sorts of different colors here, so if you're not one to settle with all that boring kitchen ware, this is your place! Another thing really worth checking out here are the clocks. They have loads of vintage hanging clocks featuring adorable animals like polar bears and pugs. Others are attached to a little countryside cottage and those are really cute too. I wanted to get one for a friend for her birthday, but as per Chinese traditions, it's considered sending somebody bad luck if you gift them a clock for their birthday. But just like Homeless, Lost & Found does not come cheap. One of those clocks I mentioned will set you back at least $300, and the more intricate ones with the cottage house are about $480. Although there was a sign outside that said 'on sale - up to 50% off', I didn't see a lot of items that actually were on sale! Overall, this is more of a place to browse and window-shop than to do actual shopping for me. Maybe one day if I'm thinking of redecorating, and if that coincides with them doing a massive sale, then I'll definitely pick up an item or two here!

Practicality and utility seem to be the only concern for most Hongkongers here when it comes to…read moreinterior design. However, who says we cannot make it both fun and practical? Come to Lost & Found, which is a unique lifestyle concept store where you may find all sort of things including furniture, gifts, home accessories, etc. It's flagship is in Tsim Sha Tsui but this one is not as crowded as the one there since it is at a corner on the second floor of Olympian City (which is currently undergoing reconstruction). They have over hundreds of different brands from all over the world like Koziol, Fred, Magis, Umbra. They also have local designs as well. I personally adore the clocks there with all of them having their own design. All are rather unique and innovative. At this modern age where most people tend to use their smart phone as their telling time device, clocks may one day become obsolete. However, once you have seen what they have here, you may buy more clocks than you actually need. Next time when you are looking for home accessories or gifts for your friends, this place will not disappoint you. Warning though: you may probably end up like a kid in a candy store with so many creative products on display here. So... worry about your purse.

Originating from the UK, Cath Kidston is accessories-in-all-sorts-of-adorable-prints galore. They…read moremake great gifts for friends or for yourself, even! Cath Kidston does all sorts of bags and accessories. Think backpacks, tote bags, handbags, wallets, luggage tags, makeup pouches etc. The quality of their stuff is great too - Some things, like the tote bags, are available in oil cloth which is great because it's water-resistant. You don't need to worry about your bag soaking up all that rainwater on a pouring day! I love how each item is available in a bunch of different prints. A lot of their themes are florals - one of my favorites is a sort of rose garden-esque pattern set among a cream-colored background. I also really like one that features colorful birds. Since this is a UK brand, some of their patterns are quite 'English', like prints of the London bus and of English nutcracker soldiers. Their prints change every season, so this kind of compels me to come into Cath Kidston whenever I pass by it to see what's new! Unfortunately, Cath Kidston is a little pricey - an oil cloth tote bag will set you back more than $250. But if you think about it, it's something that's of great quality and can be reused all the time. They do have end-of-season sales with items going at up to 40% off, so it's definitely worth checking out then! Besides bags and accessories, they also do things like kitchenware and toiletries, such as hand cream sets and lip balms. The toiletries all smell heavenly floral - but nothing too overpowering. The kitchenware is adorable! I would love to throw out all our boring plates and cups and trade them for the ones that are available here. If you're looking to get a good gift for a friend's birthday, you just might find what you want here. And come soon - they're having a ton of sales at the moment before they clear out the stock for the upcoming season, so there's no better time than right now!

天域家居 (Horizon Household Goods?) is less of a "Super Store" as it is a discount store meets…read moreprofessional hoarder. Located on the outskirts of Wanchai, it is a semi-all-in-one household goods store. This is hardly a Bed Bath and Beyond, but more like the "Made In China but looks Japanese" product lineup. It is easily one of the most disheveled, disorganized places I've seen. The electronic cluster stores in Computer City may be claustrophobic, but it's at least better organized than this place. Stuff is on the ground and piles of plastic / metal whatever is either hanging from a rack or is stuffed in a pile somewhere. Most things aren't properly labelled and the aisles are a total crapshoot if you have something specific in mind. Ask the lady behind the faux-register and she'll likely be able to point you in the right direction. The place is cash only, but depending on the item, is not cheap enough to be a true discount store. It is nothing like the MUJI chain, but it is a mom and pop business that is completely no frills. Come in here with minimal expectations and be ready to browse (a lot). You may surprise yourself in what you'll discover.

You can find just about anything at Japan Home Centre, and usually at reasonable prices. There's a…read moregood range of products here (if you're willing to do a little searching), but there are some clear space issues. Too much stuff, not enough shelving to store it. I've been a few times where aisles were almost completely blocked because they were using the floor to store extra boxes they had no idea where to place. You can still navigate around it, but it can be a little claustrophobic.

If you're into contemporary, eco-chic furniture, Tree will be your jam…read more They have an outlet in Soho, but if you really want to see their inventory, their flagship store at Horizon Plaza is where it's at! They take up the entire floor, and there's tons to look at. True to their name, they have a lot of wood furniture that uses oak, teak, or walnut; great if you're in the market for a new table, headboard, or TV stand. Their sofas are beautifully designed, and you can definitely find a few that are discounted. I was hoping they'd have some stuff for babies, but no luck; just a small section that catered to older children. When I visited, they had an ongoing sale with lots of pieces going between 20-40% off. As this is in an outlet mall, I'm unsure if this is perpetual, but either way, it's definitely worth a visit to see their full inventory and hopefully get a great price!