This Is Where I Find Designer Homeware for as Little as £12

last updated 27 July 2020

I'm not going to tell you that I don't shop for most of my homeware from IKEA. Of course, I do. I have spent countless hours in the blue-and-white furniture mecca deciding which kind of Malm chest of drawers I should get and whether I can buy the bag of mini Daim bars and not eat all of them in a weekend. While I genuinely think the Swedish giant offers great furniture for brilliant prices, there is a catch: It doesn't give you a sense that your home will look that much different from everyone else's. True, it's all about how you arrange it, but there is another trick I have to ensure originality⁠: Invest in one-off, quirky designer homeware pieces that make a statement. Put another way, it's the equivalent of wearing mostly high street and adding in bits of vintage and designer to an outfit to make it feel uniquely you. I'm not the only one who does this⁠—plenty of style influencers do the same, from Lucy Williams to Who What Wear columnist Monikh and Pandora Sykes.

One of the most underrated places to shop for cool homeware pieces that make an impact is MatchesFashion. The luxury retailer started selling a range of soft furnishings in 2018, and it consistently stocks fun, chic, and interesting designers. There are the fashion pack's favourites such as Bella Freud and House of Hackney, but there are also pieces, such as floral cushions, from British designer Richard Quinn. In terms of style, whether you're a fan of fun, chintzy quilts or love more minimalist aesthetics, you'll definitely find a piece that suits your tastes. But what I love especially is that there are incredible items for as little as £12. I've created an edit of the coolest homeware items on the site right now, so keep scrolling to give your house a fresh look.