10 of my favourite bricks-and-mortar UK independent homeware shops

As well as high street stores and designer names, I love picking up unique finds and simple wares from my favourite independent homeware shops. Although I work in the online world, I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to shopping (I’ve never actually bought anything on ASOS…) and often prefer to head to bricks-and-mortar boutiques. I like seeing things in person and feeling in my hands how well made an object is. I like walking into a beautiful shop space and being greeted by a friendly face full of passion and knowledge for the items they’re selling.

That said, the internet has given us greater access to small independents that we might otherwise not have discovered or been able to reach. Some of my favourite boutiques I’ve never even stepped into, but they’ll be my first point of call for beautiful considered gifts for friends or accessories sourced for clients.

It’s nearly that time when we can begin to say the festive ‘C’ word. I haven’t written my shopping list yet but I know I can find something that’s just right for each person by shopping small and independent. We’re doing a secret Santa this year so I’ll only have a couple of presents to get, which takes a big weight off (my stress levels and my wallet!). I often leave it to the last minute but I’m determined to get ahead this year.

So whatever your style, whether you like to hit the shops and make a day of it or prefer to get all your shopping done from the comfort of your sofa, here’s 10 UK independent homeware shops for Scandinavian style and simple homeware.

[AD disclosure: I was recently invited to a press event to hear more about online marketplace Trouva, who bring together the best of independent shops in the UK. I later got the idea for this blog post, inspired by the event, but all words and opinions here are my own and not all the shops here can be found on Trouva. This post features affiliate links, where I earn a small commission from any sales]

1. Tea and Kate, Felixstowe
Let’s start with my favourite. Tea and Kate is a homeware and lifestyle store based in the small town of Felixstowe on the Suffolk coast. The shop actually began life as an Instagram account. An online store selling gifts and accessories came in 2013, followed by a physical store in 2015.

The Tea and Kate aesthetic is simple, considered and utilitarian. I love that there’s a mix of vintage finds from the likes of Ercol, much-loved design brands like HAY as well as unusual, hand-crafted pieces from lesser known emerging designers. Some of my favourite names of the 130 brands on the website include Fog Linen, Fine Little Day, Kinshipped and Saar Manche. They say: ‘We love brands that tell a story through their design, production and materials.’

images courtesy Tea and Kate

 

2. Earl of East, Coal Drops Yard, London
I first discovered Earl of East at one of their wonderful candle making workshops. Earl of East was set up in 2014 by Niko Dafkos and Paul Firmin. They developed their own line of home fragrance products, produced by them in London, before opening two stores, one in Hackney in 2017 and one in King’s Cross in 2018. As well as their own products (you can see the candles being poured in the Coal Drops Yard store), they also sell a curated collection of like-minded brands such as Ferm Living and Kinto.

Dafkos and Firmin have also just published their first book, The Scented Candle Workshop, if you want to have a go at making your own candles at home.

first image courtesy Trouva, second image courtesy Coal Drops Yard

 

3. Lifestory, Edinburgh
Lifestory is an independent homeware shop that opened in Edinburgh in 2014. Founded by owner Susan, the store sells a range of stylish products for design lovers, from beautiful notebooks to cosy blankets. As well as UK designers, there’s a focus on Scandinavian and Nordic design with pieces from HAY, Ferm Living and House Doctor. I’ve got my eye on the new Ferm Living Christmas baubles and some of the prints by Brighton-based illustrator James Wilson.

images: courtesy Trouva

 

4. insidestore, Tufnell Park, London
I’ve been going to insidestore for a few years ago. You may remember it as Future and Found. Founded by Andrea Bates in 2012, today Insidestore is a design led concept store based in north London’s Tufnell Park. Insidestore describes its style as relaxed, modern and approachable. The products it sells all share a common aesthetic – they’re simple and stylish but a little bit playful too.

Insidestore has just opened a new flagship store, double the size of its old home around the corner (seen below). Insidestore also runs a range of workshops from terrazzo coaster making with Katie Gillies to scented candle making with Wax + Wick.

images: courtesy Trouva

 

5. Jo’s House, Herne Hill, London
Jo’s House is a small, independent, contemporary lifestyle shop in the heart of Herne Hill in south London. Following sixteen years working at Harvey Nichols, owner Jo opened the store in December 2017. She sells a curated collection of ‘simple designed, accessible products’, from understated homewares to unusual vintage finds sourced by herself. You can find beautiful French antique ceramics as well as thoughtful gifts including my favourite Austin Austin Organic beauty products.

‘The ethos of the shop was to provide great, simply designed accessible products, which were handpicked and curated for their enduring quality, provenance (wherever possible) and feel good factor,’ she says. ‘As important as the products I sell however is the in-store atmosphere I hope to have created. A million miles away from a sterile department store atmosphere, instead a warm, honest, friendly and laid back unpretentious shopping environment, which is also inspiring and aspirational….The door is always open and everyone is welcome to drop by.’

Jo’s website is coming soon, but in the meantime it’s a good excuse to make a trip to the lovely area of south London!

images: Cate St Hill

6. Workshop, Brighton
A trip to Brighton isn’t complete without popping into Workshop. Workshop is a lifestyle store for simple, uncomplicated, everyday living (you can probably tell why I like it so much…). The pared-back, utilitarian shop sells a selection of honest, considered products, with an edited collection online. I love their matte glazed Japanese ceramics, kelp storage baskets and hand carved wooden chopping boards.

‘At Workshop we share our passion for all things created with a simple approach to design and functionality. We value form, function, place and purpose and select goods from around the world that compliment our values and design aesthetic,’ Workshop says. ‘We believe that our lives are better enriched with possessions and objects that get better with time and add to our life stories.’

images: courtesy Trouva

 

7. Goodhood store, Old Street, London
Goodhood store in east London might be known for its fashion, but downstairs in the two-storey shop is a treasure trove of minimalist homewares, known as the Goodhood Lifestore. As well as the usual suspects such as HAY and Ferm Living, Goodhood also sells luxurious home scents, unique ceramics by independent designers and an array of pretty stationery. They always have a great selection of cosy, monochrome blankets and designer scented candles. If you’re in the area, pop into design store SCP next door and Artwords bookshop around the corner to pick up an indie mag.

images courtesy Goodhood

 

8. Smug, Islington, London
Design-led lifestyle store SMUG was founded ten years ago by creative entrepreneur Lizzie Evans. Located in Islington’s Camden Passage, the store sells a selection of quirky and contemporary homewares, colourful stationery and retro-inspired accessories. As well as hosting podcast ‘How to Curate Your Life – Work Life Balance for the Creative Entrepreneur’ (that you might have heard me on!), Lizzie now designs her own stationery and homeware products for Smug under the new brand Lizzie for SMUG. 

At SMUG, you’ll also find workshops and events taking place on the first floor – Lizzie herself runs one on mindful goal setting and also a Saturday bookclub for like-minded creatives. While you’re there, make sure to stop for a coffee at Café Smug in the basement, open Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy an Ozone coffee and a pastry from their hidden courtyard at the back of the building.

images: courtesy Trouva

 

9. Form Lifestyle Store, Manchester
This is one on my list to visit in real life, but in the mean time I’ve been enjoying browsing the website for lovely gifts. Form Lifestyle Store was founded in Manchester’s Northern Quarter by couple Elly and Harry. Everything they sell has a focus on design, function and simplicity. They look for products that have been made on a small scale and with respect to the environment, from Earl of East candles and James Wilson prints to handmade cushions ethically made in Morocco. You’ll also find workshops, events and pop-ups run by local creatives at Form Lifestyle Store.

They say: ‘We believe in slow-living and taking a thoughtful approach to buying – choosing to buy fewer, well-considered, products that have been made to last and that will be cherished for years to come. Everything that you see, we would genuinely love to have in our home (and in most cases do have) or would love to gift to others.’

image courtesy Form Lifestyle Store

 

10. HAYGEN, Islington, London
HAYGEN is another one of the independent homeware shops located a few doors down from SMUG on Camden Passage. It was founded by Irish-born owner Jenny Hughes in 2011, who had a dream of opening her own store selling a curation of everything she loves. HAYGEN sells a mix of trend-led interior and lifestyle products as well as jewellery and a few fashion pieces. You’ll find popular Scandi brands such as House Doctor, Hubsch, Bloomingville and HK Living. The look is contemporary, feminine and effortlessly stylish.

images: courtesy Trouva

I hope you enjoyed my round-up of independent homeware shops, tell me, which are your favourites?