The baby products market in Singapore is undoubtedly saturated, as with everywhere else in the world, making it challenging to distinguish the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. And to be honest, most newborn nursery items are the big tickets that would eat into our budget. So we were very clear from the start that we do not want to go over the top as the baby grows really fast, and that we’re going to convert the nursery to a Montessori bedroom once he hits his toddler phase.

A great part of the items in our super cosy baby nursery are, therefore, hand-me-downs (bebe is so fortunate!) or from the 2nd-hand marketplace (Save the environment!). Here is a roundup of my favourite products for the early days with bebe K. They have helped us tremendously as we ease into our new role as papa and mama.

Baby Nest

I used to think baby nests are only for the gram. I mean, they look so picture-ready in all the Pinterest photos I reference. Until I started to research more about them, I realised that not all baby nests are the same. There are the cotton nest lounger, rustic woven baskets, those with fancy fabric and removable arch etc.

In the end, I got the Red Castle’s CocoonaBaby nest for bebe as it has this elongated semi-fetal position, which mimics the shape of a mom’s womb for the baby to feel safe and contented while respecting the medical recommendation for babies to sleep on their back. We found bebe sleeps more soundly in the nest too! One thing though, is that it comes in various fitted sheets and it is better to choose cotton ones (those with prints!) as the quilted versions tend to get warmer even in the air-conditioned room. We love it nonetheless, as our newborn sleeps so well in it!

Diaper Changing Board

As our Micuna baby cot is a fairly new hand-me-down from a sweet relative, we got our diaper changing board from the same brand. It was such a relief to our back. Trust me, if you do not categorize yourself as young and energetic, please invest in one or get a 2nd-hand changing board as you do not need to bend down every single time you change diapers for the baby. This is especially helpful if you are going to have / may end up with a cesarean section delivery, or intend to get your folks to help with taking care of the baby. Your back will thank you for this!

Nursery Mobiles

Baby mobiles are adorable. And it is a great choice to decorate a baby nursery. But they are more than just an aesthetically pleasing accessory for a baby’s room. So for our baby’s very first mobile, we opted a Munari mobile, which is a Montessori mobile that promotes visual tracking and hopefully, provides some concentration training.

It is a simple, lightweight mobile with a transparent sphere and a few cupboards that are drawn in a specific black & white proportion. It was said that the elements are designed to ignite a child’s inherent mathematical sense, which is definitely needed because both K and I are lacking in math abilities. Jokes aside, we are happy to see that the mobile keeps bebe occupied during his wake window! As anything that comes with a Montessori tag is expensive, and these mobiles need to be changed out as the baby grows, we got ours from Taobao. If you wish to find out more about these Montessori mobiles, here is a great write-up about them.

Waterproof Bed Pad

All parents would know how a Poonami and Wee Fountain can make a simple nappy changing time a really complicated one. A waterproof diaper-changing pad is helpful when it comes to messy diaper-changing time. It also doubles up as a baby mattress protector. Just layer it on top of the mat to prevent the baby from wetting the bed!

We got ours from this popular China brand called Cutelife and it’s so soft, dries fast and is so aesthetically pleasing. I love the floral prints that add a delicate touch to the room!

Bed Pockets

A bed pocket is really handy when it comes to storing small items during nappy time. Be it the baby’s pacifier, mom’s hair tie, airpods and other necessities. They’re so perfect I never regret getting them!

Baby Monitor

A baby monitor is a practical item in the nursery as it allows us to keep a lookout for our newborn in the middle of the night and during naps. We got a super affordable baby monitor from Xiaomi. The night vision is clear enough and so far it works fairly well for us. The only thing that I don’t like is the speed to launch the monitor as it would usually take about 15 seconds or more to launch the camera, which can be painful for any impatient individual.

Nursing Cart

I guess this Ikea RÅSKOG Trolley is no secret to any breastfeeding mom. You basically put everything you would need on it, be it diapers, ointments, nursing and pumping gadgets, you name it. It is literally a newborn survival cart! You can roll this from room to room, with all your nursing essentials in one place. Here’s our nursing cart and check out that Bepanthen ointment. We use it each time we change bebe’s diaper to prevent nappy rash, so very effective that we recommend it to all parents!

Nursing Chair

A nursing chair is an important item in the baby nursery. Because, guys, don’t underestimate the duration we’ll end up nursing our baby or rocking them to sleep on the chair. If you do not wish to splurge on a nursing chair, an armchair with good back support is essential. A reclining feature would be a nice-to-have if you’d also like to explore laid-back breastfeeding if your let-down is too fast that it gushes down.

Ours is an Ekenäset armchair which is a limited edition from Ikea as they celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2018. It is a relaunch from their archive and I really love the iconic mid-century modern design that works well with our space. It used to be our reading chair in the living room but as we make space for a “milk station” in the living room, we have since moved this armchair into the baby’s nursery and it works great for us.

Odourless Diaper Bin

Nobody warns us that newborn’s farts and poops can be as potent as adults’. The odour can actually linger long after we have disposed the diapers. We choose Umee Odourless Diaper Pail as its patented design can seal up the smell, germs and bacteria and can store up to 25 diapers! Great item to help us tide through the sleepless newborn phase!

Newborn Playmat

A playmat is a nursery essential as it provides a cosy and safe environment for our newborn, especially during his play time – this includes his tummy time and motor skills time. As I wanted a touch of Korea in the nursery, we opted for a quilted cotton playmat that comes with anti-slip features from Taobao. It also works as our baby’s Monthsary backdrop!

White Noise Machine

White noise machines are our saviour in the initial days when bebe returned from the hospital. The soft frequencies and ambient sounds mimic the noises the baby heard inside the womb while drowning out other disturbances. It is a good transitional item that can comfort newborns and help them sleep better. We find this device essential if you want to save yourself from having to make those “shhhhh” sounds for hours (that’s insane) or having to use your mobile phone to play the sounds.

Bedside Lamp

A bedside lamp is extremely practical and critical to a nursery. You’ll likely nurse the baby, change their diaper, and put the baby down to sleep round the clock during the newborn phase. A dimmable bedside lamp would be very helpful when it comes to those midnight feed when you do not wish to wake the baby while getting the job done.

Table clock

If you’re going to sleep train your baby, or at least want to be more informed of your baby’s next feeding time so that you have more control of your daily schedule, a silent table clock in the room is going to be very helpful as most of the time, your hand may be pretty much occupied especially when you’re nursing or feeding.

I love what I bought, and I am always proud to tell my guests that a large number of items they see at my house are from Taobao.

Here in this post, I am going to share a few of my favourite corners of the house, the Taobao decor and tablewares I got, and the links to the shops where I got the items from. I have been patronising some of these shops since 2018, and I am happy to share that they’re generally very durable! I will also be sharing some tips to shop for your Taobao home decor at the end of the article too.

Dining Area

The dining area is undoubtedly one of my favourite corners of the house. Our interior theme was Bohemian Mid-Century Modern. So you would see earth tone, macramé, lots of woods and rattan elements in the house.

As we already have an Ikea IVAR sideboard cabinet in this space, and a solid wood dining table from Picket & Rail, there is already a lot of wood element in the dining area. I wanted something not too heavy, preferably not in beige or wood colour to blend in the look when it comes to decor items.

So I found this beautiful, light grey-coloured frame painting from a Taobao store called Brusheep 涂咩, and instantly fall in love with their frames and paintings. The style very much fits the mid-century modern theme so check them out if you’re also going for a similar theme. Their frames are made of real wood and glass, hence they look sturdy and expensive, which is why I love shopping with them.

My vinyl record player was from Syitren, a PRC local brand carried by the store called 黑胶盒子. I like that the owner is passionate about vinyl record players and if you are new to this and can converse well in Chinese, you’ll learn a lot from him.

As for the plants, considering that we both need to be in the office (that was before COVID happens) and that the corner where we wanted a plant doesn’t have any sunlight, an artificial cactus was the best option. But I wanted a super realistic artificial cactus.

I found one at my favourite home decor shop Juhan Home 掬涵. It is of the right size and the right shade of green. While it wasn’t exactly cheap (SGD 70 excluding international shipping) but given the quality and the workmanship which you can see from the close-up photo above, I am happy with the product. I also shopped for my wedding decor, CNY decor, and Christmas tree ornaments with them too!

Coffee Accessories 

Coffee can be a costly passion for aspiring home baristas. The accessories and devices can be really expensive. But Taobao is a good alternative to get entry-level coffee accessories, especially when you want some hands-on experience but are not sure if the investment would turn out to be a white elephant in the house.

I bought my pour-over coffee maker with a wooden base and some other coffee accessories like espresso & coffee cups from this reputable home, tableware and coffee accessories shop on Taobao called Toto 九土. Their packaging was nice and sturdy and I didn’t have to worry about breakage even for international shipping.

Plates

One very simple and straightforward way of elevating your home dining experience is to upgrade your dinnerware. And Taobao offers beautiful tableware at an amazing price point.

I like to buy bowls and plates from this store called Do Easy Home 朵颐家居. Their designs are simple, modern and minimalist, with that quintessential Wabi-Sabi aesthetics that I love.

However, think twice if you’re purchasing something from this shop with the ship-direct function from Taobao. My recent two purchases from them (and using Taobao’s consolidated shipping) did not turn out well as there were broken pieces (6 out of 8 pcs of plates were broken) even when I had told the seller to enhance their packaging — the packaging still appeared flimsy.

The shop did offered full refund of the broken plates but the shipping wasn’t covered. While I love their products, I find that the quality of their packaging has definitely gone backwards through the years.

#Tip: If you have a trusted forwarder company, you can ask the forwarder to repack your items, especially when you're buying fragile items like tablewares. Most forwarders are good at repacking your items, ensuring your items arrived safely. 

Whiskey Glass

I love buying cute Whiskey glasses tho I am not particularly fond of the drink. But it was love at first sight when I saw this Japanese-mountain-peaks-inspired whiskey glass from I Ka Cook 爱加家居. It is made of heat-resistant glass, and paired with a walnut wood coaster and costs less than SGD 15!

Sake Cup, Coaster & Wooden Tray

I also got this cute little sake cup from Joto 九土. You can also use it as a Chinese tea cup too! I pair it with a handpainted coaster from a store called Qixi China 器昔. This particular shop has a lot of vintage and Japanese-inspired tableware and ceramics. Wooden tray is from Do Easy Home 朵颐.

Merry-go-round Candle 

After a busy day at work, I always like to light up a scented candle with the fragrance that suits my mood and let it do its magic as I wind down. I found this inexpensive merry-go-round candle holder from 卖香薰的小女孩. Once you light the candle, the merry-go-round will start turning slowly, and it looks so therapeutic. It also makes a great gift for the festive season too!

Blue & White Floral Bone China Tea Cup 

For those who have been following my Instagram and this blog, you may notice that this particular bone china tea cup and saucer has appeared multiple times on my stories. While it may be expensive to own a real vintage bone china tea cup set, Taobao has made my afternoon tea at home super pretty and affordable! Blue & White Floral Print Bone China Tea Cup & Saucer set from 尚兰欧品屋.

Key & Ring Tray

One of my first buys from Taobao for our home was this Umbra 2-tiered storage rack from OTB Home. I use it to place our house keys and rings.

Candle Holder

Another home decor item everyone asks about is this candle holder. It comes in various sizes, and I got the big one that can hold a block candle and the smaller one that can hold a tealight candle. They’re from this lovely interior decor store called 收集时光. It is an old piece which isn’t available anymore. However, they carry lovely tableware and accessories so if you like to set up a cosy home cafe, do bookmark this store! Christmas garland from Juhan Home 掬涵.

UV Light Sterilizer

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently have been the part and parcel of our life in recent years. This Philips UV light sterilizer from 杰逸家居专营店 came in handy in time like this and I’ve been using it to disinfect everything when I reach home. It is USB chargeable, and you just need 8 minutes a day to sanitize all your gadgets & accessories!

Entrance/Hallway Decor

I like to decorate my entrance/hallway according to season. Say for spring, I’d go for a romantic pink theme, with matching posters, vases and accessories. I got my Korean-inspired poster & frame from DESIGN hanajung. Brown vase, wooden plate, candle and fossil coral from Korean-inspired decor shop SHINY MOMO. Both shops offer affordable interior decor pieces if you are into Korean-inspired interior design.

My Taobao Home Decor & Tableware Shopping Tips

With my 6 years of experience shopping on Taobao (and counting), I am confident to say that my satisfactory level has always been 4.5-5 upon 5, which is pretty high. And I rarely get a heart attack from my Taobao interior shopping loots. Here are my tips:

#Tip 1: Don't go for dirt-cheap stuff. 

This is my No.1 golden rule if you want something sturdy and unique. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. There is always a "Find Similar Item" (找相似) button for you to gauge how expensive and cheap the very same (or similar) product can be. After some quick CSI, you'll usually be able to find out who's the original seller and tell the imitated goods apart. After which, it is up to you to decide if you want to pay a higher price for better quality and originality, or you're alright with a cheaper product.

#Tip 2: Always read the review section. 

When it comes to home decor and tableware shopping, real buyers are more than happy to share reviews of their purchases. And that is where you can verify what you see is exactly what you'll be getting. I find that there are lesser fake reviews in the home & interior segment compared to the fashion segment, so it is relatively stress-free when it comes to buying decor items on Taobao. If reading Chinese isn't your forte, always look at the photo and video reviews before purchasing! 

#Tip 3: Engage a forwarder for fragile items. 

If you absolutely need to ship fragile items like mirror, glass ware, tableware and furnitures, it is always a better idea to engage trusted forwarder that will do a good job in handling your goods! I find that they handle my parcel way better than Taobao's own consolidated shipping or direct shipping as broken items always happen when I don't engage my usual forwarder. As mentioned earlier, you can also request your forwarder to check the parcel and repack for you if necessary. 

#Tip 4: Message the seller and request better packaging. 

What I'd usually do after purchasing is to let the seller know that the item will be travelling a long distance from China to Singapore. I'll also ask the seller to add a few more layers to protect the goods. While there are seller who would go extra miles to pack the items nicely, there are also those who would just give a standard reply, and would automatically give a refund for the broken items. Well, to each their own. At least we know where to stop buying from in the future!  :) 

The above are my two cents regarding shopping for your interior decor from Taobao. What are your favourite Taobao stores when it comes to Home Decor shopping? Do comment below!

Getting a property you can call your own is exciting. And after the consultation of the renovation, confirmation of the 3D drawings, demolition day and all… It’s time to hunt for the furniture and home appliances for your new home! Outfitting your new home with suitable home appliances is fun. And for coffee lovers, a coffee machine is essential at home. Having gone through the journey, I’d like to share my thoughts and advice when it comes to purchasing a coffee machine for the new home.

Because, coffee is so crucial to our life, especially to all coffee lovers. Not gonna lie but the day hasn’t really started without a cup of coffee!

While I do appreciate the artisanal work that goes into a cup of nice, handmade coffee from a traditional shot puller, the hard truth is that not everyone has the luxury of time to do everything ourselves from beans to cup. That’s where the modern pods come into play. Coffee on a typical workday of mine is a habit (and an escape to sanity) rather than a hobby. So I have been relying on the pods or the Japanese drip coffee bags as they fit seamlessly into my crazy schedules.

As I am working from home, my criteria for a home coffee machine is simple – fuss-free and consistent. Those are the reasons I bought my very first Nespresso Pixie years back and the time has proven that it is, in fact, a good buy. I use the machine every single day, and I love how convenient it is to get my daily jump starter drink. So when we want an upgrade, the decision of getting a Nespresso Creatista Plus came naturally.

The Creatista Plus is a coffee machine co-created by Breville and Nespresso. If you are an aspiring home barista, chances are that you might already have a Breville coffee machine on your wishlist. This Australian brand has been creating fool-proof, user-friendly espresso machines for the longest time. And for Nespresso, I am pretty sure it is not an unfamiliar brand in Singapore, especially for those who want a hassle-free, quick coffee fix at home or in the office.

The Design

I really love the design of this coffee machine. It features a complete stainless steel finish that makes it extra sleek and elegant. It features a 1.5L water tank, which holds more water compared to my previous machine. And it has a TFT display screen on top which guides me on prep, settings and maintenance.

I remembered the assembly to be super straightforward and when I have no issue setting it up myself, I believe everyone can do it too! Together with my Balmuda toaster, these two make the perfect conversation starter.

Level of Customisation 

One setback from our usual Nespresso machines was their inflexibility, especially when it comes to milk coffee. For Creatista Plus, there is an extensive preset program for ristretto, espresso, lungo, flat white, latte, cappuccino, latte macchiato and a few more options. You may also adjust the milk temperature, coffee volume, and the intensity of the milk froth to your liking.

As water hardness plays a big role in coffee flavours, it is also important to set up the machine based on the water hardness test strip that comes together with your machine. I’ve heard how the same capsule may taste really different from different water sources, so be sure to set this up correctly so the machine can take care of the brewing for you. You may also want to purchase extra test strips if you like to experiment with different water (tap water, filtered water, hot spring water, mineral water etc).

The Steam Wand 

One of the best features of this machine would be the steam wand that does auto milk frothing. The texture of the foamed milk is silky smooth, and I get the same temperature, the same texture all the time – the consistency is impressive. I can see how someone who drinks milk coffee on a daily basis would enjoy making coffee using this machine.

The machine boasts a cleaning assistance technology that will auto-purge the wand after each froth so it is a breeze to clean up – a stark difference compared to the Aeroccino in terms of convenience.

The Latte Art

One of the most frequent DM I got was – So, does the machine create latte art for you?  I hate to burst your bubbles but no –  There is no espresso machine that has an automated latte art feature in the market yet ( I’d love to see one soon). However, the machine produces amazing milk froth for simple latte art. So you’ll definitely need some self-help and patience to create a perfect heart shape or a leaf design with this machine.

As for the taste of the milk coffee, when you get the right capsule and the right milk, your coffee can taste amazing. Personally, I like a double Chiaro or Scuro with Farm Fresh Pure Fresh Milk.

Review After 3 Months of Usage:

I am getting more and more in love with my Nespresso Creatista Plus. I am spoilt for the choices each day and it is a bliss to get a cafe-style milk coffee just within a few clicks at the comfort of my home. Plus, I love how it looks on my countertop.

As I mentioned earlier, I ain’t looking for a coffee machine which I can take full control of in every aspect. Neither am I looking for a coffee machine to hone my home-barista skill. I want my coffee serves quickly and a machine with quality workmanship. I like a machine that let me enjoy my morning espresso and curb my craving for a fancy milk coffee without stepping out of my house. Nespresso Creatista Plus ticks all the boxes.

To put it simply, you have to know what you need when it comes to purchasing a home coffee maker. A super-automatic espresso machine might be downright pricey for some. A semi-automatic espresso machine may seem to be the right one, but it comes with duties like fine-tuning the grinder and really understanding what you’re doing to make sure the quality of your espresso every single time. If you are a newbie to all these,  there is a steep learning curve to overcome before enjoying the perfect cup of coffee.

So to avoid having a white elephant at home, it is best to first assess what exactly you need the coffee machine for. If you’re having busy mornings, Nespresso is going to be your best friend forever. : )

If your requirements are similar to mine, here is a simple QnA list I’ve put together for you. These are the actual DMs I received that might be helpful to you! : )

Q. Is it easy to maintain the machine? 

With the auto-purge technology, it is going to be really helpful to keep your machine in top-notch condition. I always purge at least twice for each use and descale the machine every 6 months.

Q. I never get lucky with the capsules I purchased. How do you pick your capsules? 

This all boils down to personal preference. Whether you like your coffee acidic, smokey or balanced, Nespresso does provide a variety of capsule choices. And my best tip is to read the intensity and flavour profile and try to match them according to your palette preference.

I drink black coffee most of the time, and I like to start my day with an espresso. I also like my coffee taste balanced, not too acidic, not too light and not too strong. So I’d go for capsules with a 5-6 intensity. I am never a fan of flavoured coffee so I have always avoided those with “xxx flavoured” in the description. Otherwise, talk to any friendly coffee specialist in-store and they’ll be able to give recommendations.

Q. What are your favourite capsules?

I always start my day with Columbia or Volluto while Nicaragua is my favourite go-to in the afternoon. On the days I feel like I need some extra caffeine kick, I’d go for Roma or Venezia.

Q. The machine must be expensive! Do you have any discount code? 

Unfortunately, this post is not a sponsored post and I paid for my own machine. : ) I’d love to collaborate with them one day! (Nespresso Singapore, if you are reading this! ) There are several sale periods to take note of if you are looking to get your hands on this beautiful machine. Nespresso has an official store on Lazada and they always have promotion during 6.18, 11.11 etc! I got mine at SGD 534 so it is 29% off!

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