Decorating a Christmas tree requires family effort and we love it! From Mamas and Papas going out to pick the one for their home to kids wrapping themselves in tinsels and the pure joy of adding the final touch of the star at the top, there’s simply no better way to get in the festive mood. Also, shopping for Christmas trees is a personal preference, some prefer the fresh smell of pine with a matching Christmas wreath to hang on the door, while some go for reusable trees they can bring out year after year. No matter your choice, Hong Kong stocks a variety of Christmas trees and here’s your lowdown on where to shop.

Read More: Where To Buy Christmas Decorations In Hong Kong

XmasTreeOnline – Christmas trees grown responsibly in the U.S.

Looking to turn your home into a winter wonderland this Christmas? XmasTreeOnline‘s trees promise a quintessential Christmas with presents underneath for the little ones and stockings hung with care. Shop Noble and Nordmann Fir from $1,758, and Douglas Fir from $1,558 – shipped from environmentally responsible farms in the U.S. – and fill your house with the smell of authentic fir needles.

Use code SASSYMAMA to get 10% off, valid until Tuesday. 31 October, 2023.

XmasTreeOnline, Facebook: Xmastreeonline, Instagram: @xmastreeonline, www.xmastree.online

Christmas Tree Hong Kong – Premium Nordmann Fir Christmas Trees from Northern Germany

Christmas tree shouldn’t have to cost an arm and leg! Christmas Trees Hong Kong is back this year with its premium real Christmas trees at reasonable pricing – with prices starting at $750 – and now offering door-to-door delivery across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and Lantau Island. What’s more, it also provides an eco-friendly Christmas tree collection service. Deliveries start Monday, 27 November, place your orders while stocks last!

Use code SASSYXMASTREE to get 10% off orders (applicable only for Christmas trees). Valid until Monday, 6 November.

Christmas Tree Hong Kong, 92 Ham Tin Kau Tsuen, Pui O, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, 6460 5050, Facebook: Christmas Tree Hong Kong, Instagram: @christmastreehongkong, www.christmastreehongkong.com

Anglo Chinese Florist – Christmas trees in a range of prices with delivery services — In stock

As one of the most trusted and reliable plant and Christmas tree suppliers in Hong Kong, you’ll find quality Christmas trees, wreaths and lights from around $1,300, with delivery and removal services.

Anglo Chinese Florist (Central), 13 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong, WhatsApp: 6238 8823, 2921 2986, www.anglochinese.com

Chun Hing Garden – Stocks large Noble Fir and Douglas Fir Christmas trees, wreaths and festive plants — In stock

Chun Hing Garden specialises in Noble Firs and Douglas Firs (all imported from US Top-Tier Christmas Tree Plantations) and has a range of styles. You’ll also find seasonal decorations like poinsettias, Christmas wreaths, festive table centrepieces and more.

Chun Hing Garden, Yuen Long, Kam Tin, Shui Tau Tsuen, New Territories, Hong Kong, WhatsApp: 9216 9788, 2572 6430, www.chunhinggarden.com

Read More: 2023 Hong Kong Christmas Decorations, Christmas Lights And Festive Displays

Sophie’s Christmas Trees – Christmas tree orders and website now open – In stock

Sophie’s guarantees that you and your family will have only the best this Christmas. Sourcing its Christmas trees from Oregon in the USA, it also has Christmas wreaths and poinsettias.

Sophie’s Christmas Trees, 42E, Ha Pun Shan, Ma On Shan Road, Ma On Shan, New Territories, Hong Kong, www.sophieshk.com

Read More: Christmas Dinner In Hong Kong – The Best Christmas Buffets 2023

IKEA – Sustainably grown Scandinavian Fir Christmas Trees and more — Artificial Christmas trees and plants

Good old IKEA! When it comes to Christmas it certainly is a one stop shop. Keep an eye out the hugely popular affordable Scandinavian Fir IKEA Christmas Tree. We’re also fans of the affordable artificial IKEA Christmas trees that start from $299.

Sassy Mama Tip: Real IKEA Christmas trees can’t be ordered online, so you’ll need to head to your closest IKEA to make your order.

IKEA, various locations across Hong Kong, www.ikea.com

Read More: 2023 Holiday Fairs And Christmas Markets In Hong Kong

Brighten Floriculture – Plenty of Christmas decorations to go with your tree – Shop while stocks last

While you’re wandering the Mong Kok Flower Market, stop by Brighten Floriculture to pick up a miniature Christmas tree, wreaths, Christmas lights and more. Maybe a festive poinsettia would be a nice touch or, pick out a few Christmas gnomes to take home with you

Brighten Floriculture, 18 Flower Market Road, Mong Kok, Kolwoon, Hong Kong, www.brighten.hk

Mong Kok Flower Markets – Affordable Christmas trees but may not have delivery options — Visit during November and December

While Brighten Floriculture deserves a special mention (listed above), the Flower Market has plenty of other options. Spend hours walking around looking at Christmas trees (real and artificial), festive decorations, Christmas wreaths, holiday plants and more. Prices are more reasonable than some places on the island and it’s a fun, festive day out with the kids.

Flower Market, Flower Market Road, Mongkok, Hong Kong, www.flower-market.hk

Read More: Top 15 Christmas Movies To Watch In 2023 For All The Family

Florist Paradise Limited – Wholesale Christmas trees and poinsettias – Early bird promotions now

From the 10-foot Noble Fir Christmas tree to the classic poinsettia and Christmas wreaths, Florist Paradise is your go-to for wholesale Christmas trees and festive plants. Its Nobel firs come in six different sizes and it offers delivery as well as Christmas tree recycling services.

Sassy Mama Tip: Use Google Translate as the website is mostly in Chinese.

Florist Paradise Limited, 65 Kau Liu Ha, Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2677 9828, www.fpgreening.com

P&F Garden – Christmas wreaths, Christmas trees and poinsettias

Selling Christmas trees and poinsettias, plus all sorts of other festive plants and flowers, this local nursery has many years’ experience in the gardening game.

P&F Garden, G/F, Block I & J, Scenic Villa, 18-20 Scenic Villa Drive, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, 2812 0948, www.pnfgarden.iyp.hk

Read More: Where To Meet Santa In Hong Kong

DaSilva’s Creations – Wholesale artificial Christmas trees, table linen and tablescaping

As the company behind some of the city’s most spectacular Christmas displays, you can be assured of something special with DaSilva Creations. All of the Christmas trees come beautifully decorated with ornaments, textured ribbons, bead garlands, crystals, a star topper and warm, white LED lights.

DaSilva’s Creations, 2792 7910, www.dasilvacreations.com

Oncor Recycled Christmas Trees – Trees made using recycled PVC plastic – In stock

Looking for a Christmas tree you can bring out year after year? Oncor Recycled Christmas Trees are a safe bet. It has trees ranging from 3 to 12 feet tall in all sorts of styles (Alaskan, Norwegian and many more!). All Christmas trees are made using recycled PVC plastic and designed for reuse.

Oncor Recycled Christmas Trees, www.oncortrees.hk

Read More: 14 Unmissable Festive Hotel Staycation Packages To Book For Families

Disposing And Recycling Christmas Trees In Hong Kong

Disposing Christmas trees can be exhausting, so while deciding between the Douglas Fir and Virginia Pine, it might be a good idea to starting planning how to do away with your tree after the festive season.

If you want to opt for an environmentally friendly disposal option, check out:

• Community Green Stations — Take your unwanted Christmas trees to various collection points in Hong Kong for recycling. Only natural Christmas trees are allowed, so don’t try to sneak your plastic Christmas tree in there! www.wastereduction.gov.hk
• EcoPark — Take your natural Christmas tree to the biomass section of Hong Kong’s first recycling business park (and check out the fun Visitor’s Centre with the kids while you’re there!). www.ecopark.com.hk

Many florists and Hong Kong Christmas tree delivery services also offer disposal and recycling at an additional cost. Don’t forget to tick the extra box when completing your order form.

Read More: Where To Donate In Hong Kong – Clothes, Books, Toys, Furniture Donation And More

Editor’s Note: “Where To Buy Christmas Trees In Hong Kong” was most recently updated in October 2023 by Sassy Mama. 

The post Where To Buy Christmas Trees In Hong Kong appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Revamp your home with excitement! It’s finally time to fix those little quirks that have bothered you since day one. Not everyone has the opportunity to make such significant changes, so if you’re on this journey, we wish you the best! Whether you’re renovating a new house (congrats, Mama!) or personalising your rented space to suit your family’s taste and needs (we all have them), here are some tips and tricks into taking matters into your own hands and giving your home a makeover and renovation!

Read More: Top Interior Design Companies In Hong Kong

Be Aspirational But Realistic

This truly is the fun part! Who doesn’t love daydreaming about transforming their home? Picture a modern townhouse, or perhaps an Italian villa, or a dreamy beach mansion. But in Hong Kong, reality may be more modest. Don’t worry about lacking grandeur or scenic views. Find inspiration in similar spaces to avoid disappointment.

Make Your Home Work For You

First thing first: what do you need more than want? Consider your apartment’s functionality, larger homes sometimes have unused spaces. In Hong Kong, maximising usable space is key. Observe your daily routine to customise your home. And don’t forget your family’s needs too (where do the kids mostly hang out and what are their essentials?).

Read More: Furniture Stores In Hong Kong – Homeware, Decor And More

Space Out Your Space

Now you have thought about what you need from your home, translate that into the layout. Knocking down walls, even weight-bearing ones, is possible with the right support structures. Opening up space can transform small Hong Kong apartments. Have two tiny bedrooms? Transform it into one! Want a more breathable kitchen? Opt for an open kitchen (or semi-open in some cases), which also makes your living room look larger and also helps us keep an eye on our kids more easily.

Do Your Research When Hiring A Contractor Or Builder In Hong Kong

A good rule of thumb is to get three quotations to choose from, and word-of-mouth always helps. Ask around, be it family members or friends who may have done home renovations of their own (or they know of someone!) and you may bag a good deal. And when you do land on a contractor, communicate, communicate, communicate! Clear communication helps you build a good rapport. These things often get overlooked when we are in unfamiliar situations, but they are never more important than when conveying your ideas to someone you don’t know well.

Visual images do heaps in helping contractors and builders understand your vision.

Read More: Hong Kong Handyman And Home Services – Plumbers, Painters And More

Experiment With DIY

While you could sign a package deal to have someone style, furnish and revamp your house, incorporating some DIY can not only save you some money but create memories to cherish with the family! You can have your kids’ artistic talents framed, browse through Hong Kong furniture stores to find the perfect pieces you want (and then assemble together as a fam!) and even try painting your own house – a self-made handyman (or woman)!

Read More: Where To Print Photos And Get Personalised Photo Gifts In Hong Kong

Editor’s Note: “Top 5 Tips To Prepare For A Hong Kong Home Renovation” was originally published by Hannah Standring and most recently updated in September 2023 by Fashila Kanakka. 

The post Top 5 Tips To Prepare For A Hong Kong Home Renovation appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Mary Poppins once said, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” And what better way to help children love chores than by injecting a little excitement! Not only can tasks become an enjoyable pastime, but by instilling positive feelings towards cleaning, children can also gain numerous benefits. Involving kids from a young age with chores is a great way to boost confidence and make them feel valued.

By keeping your living space clean, youngsters will also start to understand discipline and harmony in the home. Something that’ll come in handy for the teen years and for when they have a pad of their own as well! Along with learning a sense of accomplishment, teamwork and responsibility, getting children to help can also encourage independence.

To get you started, try these hacks to make cleaning something to look forward to rather than a “But do I have to?”.

Read more: Culling The Clutter With The Help Of Marie Kondo

The post Home Hacks: 6 Ways To Make Cleaning Fun For Your Kids appeared first on Sassy Mama.

You’ve spent hours interviewing and checking references to make sure you’re happy with your choice, until finally – congratulations! You’ve hired a new domestic helper. Now comes the responsibility of figuring out just exactly what you want them to do and how to make them feel welcome in your home…

If this is your first helper and you’re not too sure what tasks you should ask them to help with, we’ve drawn up this list which contains some suggestions for daily, weekly and monthly duties to give you both an idea of where to start until you feel more settled. Of course, you should always communicate with your helper to make sure they are comfortable with what’s being asked of them and that your expectations are realistic.

For more information, check out some of the excellent online resources offering advice about domestic helpers in Hong Kong, including:

Helpers Choice

The Government’s information on hiring a domestic helper

Hong Kong immigration’s Foreign Domestic Helpers department

The Labour Department

Read more: What To Know If You’re Hiring A Helper For The First Time

The post Suggested Daily, Weekly And Monthly Tasks For Your Helper appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Japanese tidying expert Marie Kondo has become a household name since publishing her book “The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up” in 2011. Now she even has her own Netflix series “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. For those of you who don’t know, she uses her KonMari Method to encourage people to clear out their clutter (making sure they thank an item before discarding it) and “choose joy”.

She’s been a regular topic of conversation in the Sassy Mama office in recent months, so I decided I needed to give it a go and as they say, there’s no time like the present. I was curious to see if it could help me organise our flat a little more. Marie Kondo bases everything around the following six rules of tidying:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle
3. Finish discarding first
4. Tidy by category, not by location
5. Follow the right order
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy

Read more: Your Guide To Donation Resources In Hong Kong

Let the culling begin

I started with the task of discarding. I’ve never really been a hoarder and have always been pretty good at taking stock of my wardrobe and doing a clear out once a year. But moving to Hong Kong made this an essential, rather than voluntary, task. The majority of flats here just don’t have the storage space for us to hold on to items that “no longer spark joy”. I sorted out my shoe collection first, and was pretty ruthless. I had been holding on to several pairs of pumps that had really seen better days but, for some reason, I was reluctant to throw out. They were the first to go (after I thanked them of course). I must say that thanking my discarded items is the part of the KonMari Method, that I felt more a little ridiculous doing. My mutterings certainly prompted a few rather bemused looks from my husband, but I carried on regardless.

I found items in my wardrobe that had survived last year’s cull but hadn’t been worn since. I asked myself, why I was holding on to them if I hadn’t been tempted to wear them in the last 12 months? I ended up splitting things into two different piles: one for clothes that were still in a decent state and could be donated to charity, and the other for the clothing recycling bank (consisting of things that had gone a bit threadbare or were too well worn for someone else to get use out of them). It took me the best part of an hour to go through my wardrobe and drawers, and by the time I was finished, I had filled six medium-sized binliners. Don’t ask me how! I have no idea how everything actually fit in there in the first place.

Time for folding

My wardrobe now looks much more organised and, rather than having things thrown in there in a random order, I have grouped things into categories so all my tops now hang together etc. Maybe I took things a little far by also trying to colour code! I am trying to be more mindful when shopping as well, so the next time an item catches my eye in a shop window, rather than considering a purchase, I’ll ask myself if I really do need it.

Read more: How To Recycle In Hong Kong: Hassle-Free Tips For Reducing Waste

After completing the discarding stage, it was time to sort out my drawers and get folding. Now, this has never really been my forte so I tend to use the rolling method to save space. But after having seen plenty of pictures of Marie Kondo’ed drawers I was curious to give it a go. I followed her basic folding method and got to work. She encourages you to feel an emotional attachment to your clothes and communicate your gratitude to them as you fold them up. Unlike Marie, I don’t have a large rectangular table to carry out folding on, but my round one did the trick just as well. She says when a piece of clothing is folded correctly it will stand up on its own, which is all very well in theory. However, it took me several goes to perfect this and quite a few things fell over in the process! But once I got into the rhythm, I found it quite relaxing and therapeutic.

Does it work?

The place where I found her method made the most difference was more in my husband’s drawers than my own. His t-shirt drawer is normally stuffed full, but when I folded things this way, it freed up a lot of extra space. I’m not going to lie though, I did find this took up more time than my regular rolling method and to be honest, I can see myself returning to my old habits over time (there is definite truth in the “old habits die hard” saying). But for the moment, and at the risk of sounding like a bit of a nerd, I do get a sense of satisfaction every time I pull open a drawer and see how orderly it looks.

This leads me on to talk about the dreaded folding of a fitted sheet. Actually, I think this was the thing I was most looking forward to trying in my Marie Kondo experiment. Who hasn’t wrestled with a fitted sheet at some point? I’ve definitely been guilty of shoving a freshly washed fitted sheet into a drawer because, no matter how hard I try, it refuses to cooperate. Marie’s method involves folding the sheet into thirds to create a rectangle, before folding it in half width wise and rolling it to store. I followed the video and I must say it wasn’t really a life-changing moment for me, despite my high hopes.

But I did come across another good tip for storing bedding recently, courtesy of Mrs Hinch of Instagram fame. She recommends storing your clean bedding inside a pillowcase to keep it together. She also puts a fabric softener dryer sheet (like Bounce) in there too to help that freshly laundered smell linger a while longer.

Final thoughts

After finishing my experiment I would say that I do admire Marie Kondo’s method of sorting and I think I will commit to trying to do a clear out twice a year from now on – especially because the Hong Kong humidity can play havoc with clothes (I’m always on the lookout for telltale signs of any dreaded mould setting in!). I do find her folding method a little more time consuming, but I’m hoping to speed up as I get more used to it, so I’m not going to give up just yet.

I’m also not going to pretend I’ve sorted out my whole flat, I haven’t even begun to tackle the kitchen cupboards, and believe me when I say they need some attention! Why is it the item you need always seems to be hidden at the back, under various cheese graters, cake tins and lemon juicers?! That can be a task for next weekend (or maybe even the one after)!

The post Culling The Clutter With The Help Of Marie Kondo appeared first on Sassy Mama.

The weather is cooling down, Christmas displays are going up and we’re feeling festive – although a little stressed about everything on our to-do list. With trees to decorate and presents to buy, we’re not quite sure where time is going, but we’re determined to get on top of it all. The Christmas countdown is on and we’ve put everything you need in one place. Christmas cards? Check! Decor? Check! Present inspiration. Check! No time to waste, let’s get to it…

Read more: Winter Camps 2018: Keeping Your Kids Busy This Christmas

Buying your Christmas tree

Unless you’re one of those people who has had their tree up since we packed away the pumpkins (ie. us), it’s probably time to start thinking about buying your favourite fir. Regardless of the size of your apartment, there are heaps of affordable real and fake options that’ll turn your teeny Hong Kong home into a Santa’s grotto. To bag the best trees, you likely had to be ahead of the game and order yours weeks ago, but have a look at some of our favourite options here.

Shopping for decorations

Whether you’re looking for intricate final touches on your table setting or Hong Kong-inspired ornaments for the tree, we’ve listed some of our favourite Christmas decorations that are guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit. Now all that’s left to do is finish buying all those presents… Simple. Don’t forget to check out our Guide to Holiday Fairs for some seasonal shopping opportunities!

• The Lion Rock Press
  How could we not mention The Lion Rock Press as one of our top picks for Christmas decorations this year? The Hong Kong Hanging Decorations are sure to add the finishing touch to any Christmas Tree.
• kikki.K
  kikki.K’s Christmas collection merges quirky and traditional. We love this ceramic candle holder that is guaranteed to brighten up any table.
• iDecorate
  A haven for small furniture, gifts and chic accessories no matter what time of year it is. This green stocking is an easy place to start.
• Pottery Barn
  With so many gorgeous decorations on offer, Pottery Barn is an easy choice for picking up all of your Christmas essentials. We love this pine home decor collection.
• Etsy
  From personalised stockings to unique tree ornaments, cute fairy lights and DIY projects, ETSY is a go-to resource for Christmas decorations.
• Indigo Living
  Whether you’re on the hunt for last-minute fake Christmas Trees and fairy lights, or intricate wreaths and accessories for your Christmas tables, Indigo Living is a Hong Kong homeware staple.
• Brighten Floriculture
  This gem of a store is found on the famous Flower Market Road in Prince Edward and, bizarrely, has a huge array of Christmas decorations all year round.

Read more: DIY Guide: Where To Get Everything You Need In Hong Kong

Buying Christmas cards

Picking out seasonal cards and carefully writing handwritten messages in them is definitely one of our favourite parts of Christmas! Check out our top picks below:

• The Lion Rock Press: $30 per card or $100 for a pack of 10 charity cards
• Paper Roses: $35 per card
• Pen and Paper House: $140 for a pack of eight cards, personalised Christmas cards are also available – email for details!
• kikki.K: Prices range between $38 – $200
• Biscuit Moon Designs: $100 for a pack of 10
• Barefoot Love: 100% of profits from its prints go towards supporting global, grassroots NGO’s
• Ditto Ditto: Prices start from $29 per card and $189 for a boxed set of six cards

Shopping for gift wrapping

So you’ve checked your list (twice) and all presents are accounted for – now it’s time to get wrapping! You’ve done the hard bit, so we’re not judging you if you’ve ticked the ‘gift wrap for me’ box online, but if you’re looking to get a little creative this Christmas, we’ve gathered a few of our fave looks below. Boil the kettle and pop on Home Alone, this is the fun bit…

Minimalistic
Sometimes, simple is best, and we’re all for it! Buy a roll of brown postal paper (local stationery stores should stock it), grab a black sharpie and add a shiny, red pom-pom nose – super cute! Or use plain printing paper to decorate with cool string and multi-coloured baubles. These mini versions by kikki.K would do the job nicely. You could even jazz it up with some Hong Kong-themed washi tape (100% of the profit benefits HK charity, Mother’s Choice).

Colourful
Forget traditional red and green, we’re really into a glitter explosion look! Use double sided tape over the front of your wrapping paper and dip into a colourful mess of confetti and bits of glitter. Alternatively, use pom poms like polka dots for a fun three-dimensional twist.

Untraditional
If you’re rubbish at wrapping (we feel you!) and can never get those corners tightly tucked, paper lunch bags are a cute way to cheat. We also love the eco-friendly approach of wrapping gifts in a funky scarf – two gifts in one, yay!

Read more: Christmas Gift Guide: The Best Presents For Babies And Toddlers This Year

Planning a party

Is it even Christmas if you don’t drink mulled wine and eat mince pies? With many a soirée already in the books, we’re getting our Christmas ‘do dates in quick! Everyone will be hitting the skies and heading home for the holidays before you know it, so why not round up a couple of friends, dig into a festive feast and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! Our Party Planning Guide has our go-to faves for supplies, venues, food and more.

Read more: Quick and Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try with the Kids

Make sure to check back for our Christmas Dining In Guide 2018 – coming soon!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Sassy Hong Kong in November 2017 by Lexi Davey and was updated in November 2018 by Sakina Abidi

The post Your Stress-Free Holiday Planning Guide: Christmas Cards, Decor And More appeared first on Sassy Mama.