Taobao is a treasure trove, and Team Sassy are regular shoppers! We’ve rounded up our favourite home and decor picks, all available to buy on Taobao in English.
“It’s from Taobao!” is a regular phrase at the Sassy office. We can’t get enough of the Chinese online shopping platform, especially for those hard-to-find necessities (we bought magnetic name tags just recently!), specific knick-knacks, affordable dupes of luxury homeware, beautiful wall art, candles and so much more! And with some help from Baopals, the English-speaking shoppers in the team have been able to browse and buy on Taobao with ease and confidence — and you can too! Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favourite Taobao finds, how they sit in our homes and how you can shop them too.
Sassy Tip: Still need help with shopping Taobao in English? We’ve got a step-by-step translated guide to Taobao with plenty of tips for those of us who struggle with reading simplified Chinese — including help from Baopals, an online shopping bridge to Taobao that translates the entire platform into English!
Read More: Shop Taobao In English – Your Step-By-Step Guide
Luxury Circular Non-Slip Table Placemat, $34.85
When hosting for both family and friends, I like to set the table in an elegant and easy way. I love how these beautiful placemats look expensive, are lightweight, and are easy to clean and store away. They’re so versatile — I use them for formal and informal occasions.
— Charlotte, Partnerships Manager
Hanging Basket Swing Chair, From $254.44
We were hesitant to order something so big but this swing came in mint condition! We love having plants at our house and thought it’d be the perfect addition to our mini garden, to bring the outdoors in. It’s great quality, especially for the super affordable price and it was very easy and quick to assemble. It’s also spacious, comfortable and such a nice way to unwind after a long day or to enjoy a morning cup of coffee. I could just lounge there all day!
— Fashila, Editor
Splash Ink Design Breakfast Plate, $20.40
I chose to buy these plates because of their cute design and the cheap price! I use them every day, whenever I make a meal and want to impress guests.
— April, Digital Marketing Manager
Contemporary White Pottery Flower Vase, $25.87
I moved from a tiny studio to a much bigger apartment so I had lots of space to fill! I wanted something simple and inexpensive that still looked stylish. These white flower vases fit the bill — people ask me all the time where I got them from and they’re shocked when I tell them it’s Taobao. They came with these fake green stems (I always manage to kill all my houseplants) and sit in my living room alongside other bits and bobs from Taobao.
— Emily, Head of Partnerships
Abstract Decorative Oil Painting, From $273.96
I moved to a new house and wanted to add some colour to my very white walls! I love the textures and the accent gold tones, which is the colour theme in my living room. I also love you can choose the oil painting’s exact dimensions and frame colour too! It makes the room look stylish and cosy, and I absolutely love looking at it every day.
— Charlotte, Partnerships Manager
Outdoor Extendable Table With Chairs, From $3,100.88
We found this outdoor extendable table and 10 chairs for half the price of a similar set we had seen on UMall. It was super easy to put together and we’ve used it extensively since we bought it in October 2022. We love the flexibility to be able to either sit six people or extend it to comfortably sit 10. The quality is great and it looks far more expensive than it was!
— Emilie, CEO
Quilt Duvet Cover, From $106.25
I needed a good quality duvet cover for my plain white duvet (because I snack in bed!). I was hesitant to buy it at first, because I was worried about the quality but the duvet cover exceeded my expectations. I love that it’s dual-coloured — grey and pink — so depending on my mood, I can switch sides. It’s also very soft.
— Kiran, Events and Partnerships Manager
Woven Cane Wood Chair, $548.79
I chose to buy these woven cane chairs because they’re a dupe of these solid wood pieces, and the price is far more affordable in comparison to the original. I love its design, and it’s actually very sturdy. This is a great everyday item that I use when I’m eating or working.
— April, Digital Marketing Manager
Modern Sofa Cushions, $41.27
I wanted to create a comfy and cosy space for my living room that would complement the colour theme I had chosen. These large cushions I chose are perfect to create the exact vibes I was looking for, in a stylish way. I love the material and the quality!
— Charlotte, Partnerships Manager
Nordic Round Wooden Tray, From $82.69
I always have a few pieces (a plant and candles currently) on my coffee table but wanted another decorative item. I can serve tea and biscuits on it when I have friends come over, and it makes it easy to move everything when I need to clear the space for takeaways on my Netflix and chill nights in! The tray is really simple in design but looks stylish. And the price is unbeatable. I actually own two!
— Emily, Head of Partnerships
Shop Taobao In English On Baopals
Online shopping platform Baopals bridges the gap between Chinese-speaking sellers on Taobao, Tmall and JD (Jingdong) and English-speaking shoppers. It was started by three Shanghai-based expatriate friends who wanted a more convenient way to shop online in the Mainland.
So for those of us who struggle to read and understand Chinese, you can now shop China’s largest marketplaces directly in English, with access to over a billion products as well as information that is updated and translated from Chinese to English in real-time.
Plus, a dedicated bilingual team is always on hand to communicate directly with sellers and logistics teams to handle specific inquiries or any issues. A language barrier is no longer an obstacle to getting those ceramic bowls you’ve been eyeing — it’s never been so easy to browse and shop on Taobao.
Read More: Shop Taobao In English – Your Step-By-Step Guide
Editor’s Note: All listed prices were correct at the time of publication.
Main image artwork and all other images courtesy of Sassy Media Group.