Furnished apartments are popular and more common than unfurnished apartments. Generally, standard furnished apartments include a bed, bedside tables and a wardrobe for each bedroom, desk, bookshelf, sofa, TV with stand, dining table and chairs, washing machine, refrigerator, stove top, and sometimes an oven and dishwasher. Within the realm of furnished apartments, a very popular approach is to find a brand new apartment in which no furnishings have been purchased yet. You can then negotiate with the landlord to purchase furnishings that match your style or colour preferences, even picking exact models. The result is usually good, but it requires significantly more time and effort than finding an apartment that is ready to move into.

Serviced apartments are a popular option for those coming to Beijing for a short period of time; most require a minimum one month stay. Serviced apartments are often owned by hotels and offer all utilities, internet connection, everything you would need for a short stay including utensils, sheets and towels in addition to regular cleaning services. Semi-furnished apartments do exist in Beijing, but there is no general standard. It will usually depend on what was purchased for the previous tenant. If you are furnishing your own apartment, a cheap and convenient option is IKEA. The Beijing branch is the second largest IKEA store in the world. Local prices are cheaper than those found overseas, with affordable delivery and assembly charges. If you are searching for antique or refurbished Chinese style furniture, head to Gaobeidian, the large antique furniture district on the eastern side of town. Dozens of stores on one long street sell everything from hand-made opium canopy beds to coffee table bric-a-brac. Gaobeidian is also an excellent place to find craftsmen who will build items to order. Custom-made pieces are reasonably priced, but it is a good idea to take a translator, or to price things before you go to ensure a good deal. For east-meets-west designs, upscale furniture and home decor, Dara is a local favourite, with its in-house Asian and European designers. IQAir (www.theiqairstore.com) has four stores selling air purifiers.