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Hong Kong may be an awesome place to live, but unless you’re a banker, a tycoon's mistress or an indigenous villager, our apartments suck. Whether they’re cramped, weirdly-shaped, just plain hideous or even all three, complaining about our homes is one of the great Hong Kong pastimes. But do we need to suffer so? We’ve spoken to a bunch of experts to get their tips on how to make the most of Hong Kong’s horrible living spaces.
Check out their suggestions, below.

Meet The Experts

 
Andrew Bell
	An interior designer specializing in preserving the traditional design of Hong Kong’s old “tong lau” tenement buildings. andrew@earthhome.com.hk
YC Chen
	Creative director of local interior design firm Hoo Interior Design & Styling. www.facebook.com/homeofone.
 
 
Mr. Ho
	Fictional slum landlord. Claims he grew up in a shoebox and found it spacious. Hesitates to fix anything, save your attitude.
 
 
 


	“My tiny kitchen has zero space for cooking facilities.”
Andrew says: The smallest kitchen I’ve ever done is a little less than 120 centimeters wide by 60 centimeters deep (pictured below left). For a slick, integrated look, it consists of a fully integrated built-under refrigerator with ice-box (60cm wide), with a two-zone electric hob (30cm wide) centered in the countertop above it. Next to it you can have a 40cm sink with a cupboard below. Drawers are useful, so put a couple below the cupboard. Above the countertop, hang some 30cm deep cupboards on the wall and install a built-in microwave/grill. Use the rest for storage. Ventilation will have to come from a fan in the wall or window; integrated ventilation will steal too much space.
YC says: Use an open kitchen; try to combine the dining area with the kitchen. You can use the dining area as a preparation area as well. It will also make your flat look more spacious.
Mr. Ho says: Do you have counter space of 30 centimeters by 15 centimeters? That’s the size of your average rice box.
HK’s Home Hack: A single hob convection cooker is tiny and absolutely fine for hotpots, one-pot meals and simple stir-fries. Buy a deep wok with a flat base to go with it—it works as a saucepan and frying pan, saving you space on utensils.
Left: Install a convection cooker high on a wall to save counter space. By Andrew Bell.Right: An open kitchen opens up the flat. We love the super-skinny breakfast bar that serves as a divider. By Hoo interior Design.
 
“The bars on my windows make it feel like I live in a prison.”
Andrew says: If you are living in a rental, and the security window grilles are aluminum, you can probably unscrew the grilles for the interim that you are renting. If they are iron, you have an authentic tong lau feature which is becoming rarer and more precious. My advice in this case is to enjoy the original “old Hong Kong” experience while it lasts.
Mr. Ho says: You should feel grateful that it only feels like you live in a prison. Let’s talk again once the locksmith changes the door handles next Tuesday.
HK’s Home Hack: Hang some potted plants off the bars of your living room windows. In your bedroom, they’re an ideal place to hang framed snapshots.
Why fight it? Traditional iron window bars can be an interesting design feature. By Andrew Bell. 
 
“I have an awkward corner that I don’t know what to do with. How can I use that space?"
Andrew says: Leave it empty, you lucky thing. A rare luxury in Hong Kong!
Mr. Ho says: Rent it out to a family of three for $7,500 per month.
HK’s Home Hack: Repurpose your bedside table as a drinks cabinet. Presto—instant class!
Awkward corners also make good spaces for desks if you don't have space for a proper home office. Also, standing lamps give softer light than harsh fluorescents. By Hoo Interior Design.
 
“Everyone can see into my living room and I feel like a zoo animal.”
Andrew says: Use floor-length sheers in the daytime and pull down the blinds at night.
YC says: Use blinds. You can still adjust the amount of light that comes in, so you don’t lose any ambient light but at the same time you can have some privacy.
Mr. Ho says: There’s a woman on the fourth floor who makes quite a living taking advantage of this perk. Haven’t you been on the internet?
HK’s Home Hack: Buy a couple rolls of reflective film (available in most hardware stores), cut a few sheets to size and stick them to your windows. Then stroll around naked, safe in the knowledge that no one can see you.
Sheer curtains stop outsiders peeking in, while keeping your apartment filled with light. By Andrew Bell.
 
“The electrical wires in my tong lau are all exposed and it’s hideous.”
Andrew says: Putting the wiring into galvanized steel tubes gives an industrial chic look. But this can be more expensive than it looks.
YC says: Use steel or aluminum tubes to cover the wires. The whole flat can be in an industrial, open studio concept: cement flooring, raw paint. If you don’t want to re-style your whole flat, decorations will help a lot to cover them up, especially paintings, posters, rugs and cushions.
Mr. Ho says: Well, how else am I going to siphon electricity into the three other subdivided flats?
Hide electrical wires in pipes for a cool industrial feel. By Andrew Bell. 
 
“My rooftop leaks like hell and now my ceiling is damp and disgusting.”
Andrew says: I am afraid that I have no easy solution here. This requires major surgery! The base layer (tiles and their cement base) needs to be removed and a coating of liquid tar (which dries into a rubbery consistency) needs to be applied right across the roof and several inches up the balustrade walls. Then the floor can be replaced and the walls re-rendered. This is the only solution, and it is a necessary step to take immediately to prevent further deteriorating water damage. Water is the number one enemy of a building. Dealing with existing mold? Search the supermarket shelves for a suitable product to kill and clean it away. Then buy a dehumidifier, or install an inverter air-con with dehumidifying function. If the mold is a product of water seepage, then the problem is a lot larger.
YC says: You probably need to talk to the building manager, because the building exterior is something that concerns them. To get rid of mold, call in a professional cleaning agency.
Mr. Ho says: Place an extra layer of protection between your rooftop and the rain by placing a couple of storage units on there and illegally subletting them to domestic helpers.
HK’s Home Hack: Spend more time on your roof and less time inside your house looking up at the spreading patch of mildew.
 
“The shower is directly over the toilet and I can’t think of a way to make this not depressing.”
Andrew says: My guess is that you hate the whole bathroom getting wet along with you, and having to dry off the toilet so you can sit on it. Install a circular or corner curtain rail over your shower. Make it generous enough in size so it doesn’t stick to you while showering. It doesn’t matter if the toilet and sink intrude slightly; At least they will stay dry. Without trying to sound too “Women’s Weekly,” tying the shower curtain up with a ribbon or draping it over a Chinese antique curtain hook might also add some elegance and romance. If a perpetually wet floor is what is getting you down, get a timber spa mat for your bathroom floor. It won’t be perfect, but it will help.
Mr. Ho says: Shower? You’re lucky. The Wongs next door have a spigot.
HK’s Home Hack: Position the showerhead as high as you can. Then at least you’re not banging your head on the nozzle. Close your eyes and you could almost be in a rain shower in Phuket.
A 360-degree curtain is a simple way of separating a "wet room" shower from the rest of the bathroom. By Andrew Bell.
 
"Because my rent is so high, I can only afford Ikea and Pricerite. How can I add personal touches to my home on a budget?"
Andrew says: Buy the most neutral and unbranded furniture. Don’t buy “signature” pieces from the cheap brands—their source should not be identifiable. Then top it off with one extravagance as a focal point, like a fabulous antique cabinet or a good painting. One expensive item in your apartment can make everything else look expensive, or at least, worthy.
YC says: Homeless is a very good choice, and also Taobao.
Mr. Ho says: A splash of paint on your front door in “loan shark red” is very Jackson Pollock.
HK’s Home Hack: Get some artist friends to paint a kick-ass mural on your wall. Buy them a pizza in gratitude. Shenzhen's Da Fen Oil Painting Village is a great spot for picking up unique pieces or replicas for a couple hundred RMB.
 
“Ventilation sucks—every time a neighbor cooks a greasy meal, we catch the downdraft."
Andrew says: Not much you can do, except to close the windows and use a split air-con with internal recycling.
YC says: It’s your neighbor’s issue. You can either close the window or ask them to get a ventilation fan.
HK’s Home Hack: Repeatedly invite yourself over for dinner. They’ll soon figure out a way to hide the smell.
 
“The landlord installed fluorescent strip lighting and won’t let me change it, so it feels as though I live in a morgue.”
Andrew says: Yes, I personally call this the “Chinese restaurant look.” Fortunately, the ubiquitous bright white tubes are not the only ones available. You can cheaply and temporarily replace the tubes with warmer colors, and of a weaker strength if you choose. Or don’t switch them on at all and use table and floor lamps.
YC says: Put up more decorative lamps like table lamps and floor lamps. That’s the only thing you can do.
Mr. Ho says: Strip lighting actually plays a very important role in discouraging the cockroaches from emerging from under the fridge. If you find the glow too harsh, sitting in the dark has the added benefit of keeping your electricity bill down.
HK’s Home Hack: A few bolts of richly-colored fabric will cover up those unsightly lights and lend a delightful “Parisian Brothel” vibe to your place, a nice contrast with the actual brothel next door.
 
"My bedroom is so small I literally only have space for a bed. Where the hell do I put all my stuff?"
Andrew says: I do not like suspended storage as I think it makes your apartment look like it would be more at home in a trailer park. Buy, or build in, a bed with storage under it. (HK tip: Try Takad or Jade Rattan)
YC says: Create a platform. Increase the level of the floor so you can put stuff underneath your bed or mattress. You can use a hydraulic hinge. It makes it easier to lift up the mattress.
Mr. Ho Says: Just strew your crap all over the floor. You can keep tabs on all your stuff and it saves you having to buy a carpet.
HK’s Home Hack: A high shelf running along the entire top of the wall is a good place to store smaller items. Put everything in decorative boxes to avoid looking as though you live in a storage unit.
 
“I have nowhere to store awkward things such as suitcases and vacuum cleaners.”
Andrew says: Suitcases? Throw them away, pack more wisely and use a wheely-bag. Vacuum cleaners? Do you really need one? Muji and Hong Kong’s numerous Japanese homeware stores have very good non-electrical products for dealing with dust.
YC says: That’s a tricky question. Sometimes when you have old suitcases—vintage leather ones—it looks good when they’re exposed. But for a vacuum cleaner, there’s nothing you can do except get a cabinet to hide it. Or, if you want to do it cheaply, for certain areas in your dining room or kitchen you can just put up a curtain and put everything behind that. Just find a nice, decorative curtain and turn it into a feature.
Mr. Ho says: Simply balance a hubcap on top of your luggage for chic and sassy coffee table-cum-ashtray.
HK’s Home Hack: Place your vacuum cleaner inside your suitcase, and then throw your suitcase on a bonfire.
 




	 


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