2021 Trends Shaping the New Standard of Apartment Living in Beijing

2021 Trends Shaping the New Standard of Apartment Living in Beijing

Home technology is ever-evolving. The more products that launch into the marketplace, the more we implement into our daily lives. Apartment communities are taking notice of these emerging trends and incorporating them into their units, shaping a new standard of apartment living. From smart appliances to up-and-coming forms of habitation, we discuss the new 2021 apartment trends making their way into rental homes and apartment communities below.

The start of a brand new year might mean the beginning of a new you. How about a new apartment? It seems fitting, no?

SMART APPLIANCES

Appliances have always been (and will likely always be) a key selling point of an apartment for many renters. Ultramodern home products are among the top of most must-have apartment hunting lists. Appliances that rank extremely well? Washers and dryers according to NestFinder data.

Due to the advancement of home appliances, renters will soon be able to enjoy the conveniences that smart appliances provide. If you don’t know what makes a smart appliance different from a traditional appliance, smart appliances connect to Wi-Fi and update you on the progress of the task that was set via smartphone or tablet. You can also start, make changes, or stop a task from your device – so now you literally have all the power!

Appliances that have become “smart” include ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and even water heaters. There are many benefits to living in an apartment with these products, including:

More control since the appliances are self-thinking.

Instant alerts once a task is complete, or if a problem has been detected.

Remotely start or stop the appliance; set a timer for it to kick on or shut off.

Conserve energy and save money.

Smart refrigerators are really brainy and can track the items you have in your fridge. A function of the smart fridge is that it can tell you when something has expired. It can read the product’s barcode and will alert you when it’s time to pick up more because it has gone bad – it can also add the item to your online shopping list.

VOICE ASSISTANT APARTMENTS

Whether it’s a Baidu Home, Xiaomi Echo, or Apple HomePod, apartments are being built with voice assistant technology to attract renters (and let’s be honest, make our lives easier). Voice assistant devices use home automation to work, and they can manage all of your smart devices (thermostat, smart locks, etc.) just by saying “Hey Baidu” for Baidu Home, “Hey Xiaoai” for Xiaomi Echo, or “Hey Siri” for Apple HomePod and then your request.

This type of hands-free technology affords us peace-of-mind and the ability to do multiple things at one time. We can be in another room pairing socks and simultaneously preheat the oven, add an additional soak cycle to the current load in the wash, or even lock the door.

CO-LIVING

Let’s start by saying that co-living isn’t a new concept – it’s been around for nearly 200 years. It’s emerging in the apartment world though, and you’ll find these communities in cities where rent is typically high, like Beijing and Shanghai. What makes co-living so unique?

It’s a type of cohabitation where renters live with roommates and share common spaces in the apartment, but each has their own bedroom. Mainly geared towards tight-on-cash millennials, amenities in these budding communities include cleaning services for the living room and kitchen, plus fully decorated and furnished apartments. You’ll also enjoy many social events, cable- and Internet-ready homes, and flexible moving options compared to a traditional apartment. For instance ,both Livefortuna Aapartments and Stay Beijing are co-living apartments.

URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDENS

Deep within populated cities, urban agriculture gardens are sprouting up left and right (well, mostly on rooftops and small, scarce plots of open land). It’s becoming the new thing in apartment communities – and it’s an eco-friendly way to grow fresh herbs and vegetables. Urban agriculture gardens not only provide a verdant space where green space lacks, but they’re also used to bring people together over fresh, locally grown food.  

HIS & HER CLOSETS

In what should have already been a standard amenity, his and her closets are finally being incorporated into apartment master bedrooms. While you still may need to utilize closet storage hacks, you’ll no longer have to battle it out with your significant other over precious shelf space anymore. Now you both have your own! Fantastic.