Suss out your style and what sort of look you want to go for before you head to the shops. Write lists of everything you need, dimensions and also take the measurements of your lift (if you have one!) so you know what items you can actually logistically buy… there’s nothing worse than hauling a piece home, only to discover that it won’t fit through the front door!

Try Di-Mension Living as a first port of call. Our advice would be to figure out what items you like, then at step two check you like them in person in a more expensive shop, then finally, purchase said item at a fraction of the cost from Di-Mensions’s website! They make everything in China and can offer a range of fabrics and colours. Perfect for finding those cool replica items at a fraction of the cost. You could even visit their showroom in Tai Koo.

Di-Mension Living, Unit 203, 2/F, Eastern Centre, 1065 King’s Road,Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, Open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 7pm, www.di-mension.com

Read more: That Flat: Inside the Hong Kong Home of Maura Thompson, Co-Founder of Sassy Hong Kong

Horizon Plaza is a furniture lover’s dream! 28 floors of stores dedicated almost exclusively to furniture. The shops may not be cheap, but it’s perfect for buying all your main items in one place. Here are our top picks:

Tequila Kola: Perfect for original-looking items that add a real sense of character to your home. Think vintage trunks, statement items and Chesterfield sofas. Visit the main showroom on the first floor where discounts are offered for bulk purchases or EPS payments… And don’t forget to make a visit to their 17th floor discount outlet where some incredible items of furniture can be bought for up to 30% off.

Tequila Kola, 1/F (discount outlet 17/F), Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2877 3295, Open Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday & Public Holidays 12pm – 7pm. www.tequilakola.com

Indigo Living: A good option for large, key items such as sofas and dining tables as well as smaller decorative pieces such as cushions. A little expensive but they do seasonal offers and promotions. But a real bonus is the fact that they measure your lift before delivery to ensure the furniture will actually fit!

Indigo Living, 6/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2555 0530. Open daily 10am – 7pm. www.indigo-living.com

TREE: Well worth a visit for its signature style of wood-heavy, eco-chic, stylish furniture. A real favourite for those larger items. A Sassy secret is to start with TREE, as it’s at the very top of the plaza and load up with cakes and coffee for energy before you set off down the stairs!

TREE, 28/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2870 1582. Open daily 10.30am-7pm. Also located in Sai Kung (see the website for full address). www.tree.com.hk

Inside: A real gem with Indian rustic-style furniture. They also stock clothes, accessories, bath ware, soft furnishings, lighting… the list goes on! For those who like soft colours, beautiful prints and delicate fabrics, we suggest you head here – whether you deck out your whole home or just go for certain signature items.

Inside, 12/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2873 1795. Open Monday-Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am – 7pm. Also located in The Prince’s Building, Central  and The Repulse Bay (see the website for full addresses). www.inside.com.hk

Mirth: Head over to Aberdeen and browse their collection of global and individually sourced items suitable for homes, children and much more. Many of the items are one-off but all have a really unique appeal to them. Our personal favourites are their industrial-feel dining chairs, which come in a range of colours.

Mirth Home, the Mezzanine Floor, Yip Kan Street (last building on the left), Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, 2553 9811. Open daily 10am – 6pm.

Thorn & Burrow: Located right in the heart of hip and happenin’ Sai Ying Pun, you’ll find chic travel-inspired bohemian décor, art and furniture. Thorn & Burrow also organises workshops, such as paper crafts and weaving that’ll add an extra special and personal touch to your home. Check out their range of quirky homeware online (we can’t promise you won’t be browsing for hours!).

Thorn & Burrow, 1/F, 30 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2559 9338. Open Tuesdays – Saturday 10am – pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm.

iDecorate: A hidden gem tucked away at LAB Concepts in Admiralty, iDecorate stocks everything from small furniture items to accessories and stationary, all of which are on trend and sure to add a unique touch to your home. Online shopping is also available and they offer free worldwide delivery with orders over $300.

iDecorate, LAB Concepts, Shop B07, 93 Queensway, Queensway Plaza, Admiralty, Hong Kong, 2540 3860. Open daily 10am – 9pm (till end of May Friday-Sunday hours are 10am – 10pm).

Read more: Renting a Flat in Hong Kong: 5 Things You Need to Know

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with outside space, a real secret is that most outdoor stores source their furniture from the same suppliers but charge outrageously varied prices. C’estkool has a fantastic range of furniture, which is stylish and durable, but at reasonable prices! They also work directly with manufacturers which allows you to order and customise furniture pieces which suite your personal style.

C’estkool, www.cestkool.com (C’estkool don’t have a showroom in Hong Kong, but are available to customers by appointment and for material sample viewings! Call 3495 5275 or email [email protected] to arrange a time)

Franc Franc: If your apartment is somewhat horizontally impaired making space tight, Japanese chain Franc Franc focuses on stylish yet practically-designed items that are ideal for smaller spaces. They have a range of sofas, dining tables and the such that are perfect for studios or awkward spaces. They also stock fashion, interior, bath and kitchen products.

Franc Franc flagship store, 2/F, Hang Lung Center, 2-20 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 3427 3366. Also located at Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong and k11, Tsim Sha Tsui (see website for full addresses). www.francfranc.com.hk

IKEA: You don’t need us to tell you why to go here! Unbeatable for certain items such as side tables, kitchen equipment and spare bedding. They even have a surprisingly good rug selection! But be warned, head there on the weekend at your peril. Many head here as a destination rather than to shop (and make themselves at home accordingly – we’ve spotted people literally putting their feet up!). Go once and make it epic, with a clear list of what you need.

IKEA, Upper Basement, Park Lane Hotel, Great George Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 3125 0888. Open daily 10.30am–10.30pm. Also located at Megabox, Kowloon Bay and Sha Tin (see website for full addresses). www.ikea.com/hk/en

Read more: 10 Home Décor Items Inspired by Pinterest that You Can Find in IKEA

Pricerite: Think of this as the Hong Kong version of Ikea! This should take care of most of your basic homeware needs (although it does also sell a decent range of sofas and beds) and is particularly good for storage solutions and other practical, functional items – watch them sell-out of fans and mobile air-conditioning units come summer!

Pricerite, practically everywhere! www.e-catalogue.pricerite.com.hk

Japan Home Centre: This should be the very last place you visit. Suitable for ironing boards, cleaning equipment and random kitchen appliances. Don’t expect to find stuff of the highest quality but bag some practical items at bargain prices.

Japan Home Centre, also everywhere! www.japanhome.com.hk

Read more: Sassy’s Tips for Decorating Small Spaces

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on 17 January, 2012 (written by Jamie Rose), and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.