I've written an artcle before on whether one should get a furnished or unfurnished place in Qingdao . Now lets talk about changing the fixtures. Fixtures are a more delicate operation. Breaking walls, installing doors, a new kitchen or a complete refurbishment can be a very tiresome process. And it can be harrowing trying to get a landlord to do something your way as landlords here just don't understand western culture when it comes to homes. For example, someone I know got an apt and wanted the landlord to add shower doors in the bathroom, a very simple job, the landlord placed the doors, except they were about 1 meter high! Before you seal the deal, it is best to go with your future landlord to some of the home stores like OBI or B&Q to show them exactly what you want and price it out, and get their approval on the price, otherwise, prepare your self for statements like “ I didn't know what you wanted” or “ I'm not going to use that after you leave, so I bought the cheapest thing I could find” Also, make sure you're there to supervise the process. You can never be too careful when it comes to fixtures.