There has never been a more perfect time to revamp your living space
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Lockdown 3.0 has left many of us in a predicament. Facing several weeks confined indoors – apart from essential trips out for food, medicine or exercise, of course – we have developed a newfound appreciation of our own four walls and what’s inside them.
From upgrading our sofa to investing in cosy blankets and inspirational artwork, all this extra time inside has left us wanting to make some serious home improvements.
But, with non-essential retail closed for the time being, we are no longer able to browse fancy showrooms or scour the shelves of our favourite shops for those finishing touches.
The solution here, as it has been with many other lockdown-related dilemmas, is to head online, where you will find a wealth of interiors inspiration and home decor brands to spruce up your living space.
That being said, the plethora of choices can make shopping on the internet overwhelming, so to make things easier we’ve rounded up the best places to get your hands on stylish homeware.
Whether you’re looking for furniture, decorative accessories, or smart storage solutions, read on for our picks of the best online interior retailers.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Anthropologie is well known for its bohemian womenswear, but it’s the brand’s range of home decor that really sets it apart. As well as Art Deco-inspired pieces of furniture, such as armchairs, coffee tables, beds and desks, other highlights include its statement kitchenware, wall mirrors and luxurious cushions and throws.
The retailer’s gifting section is also worth a browse, where you’ll find everything from monogram mugs and trinket dishes to scented candles.
Standard delivery costs £3.95 and it takes three to five working days for your order to arrive, while express delivery costs £6 and means your goods will arrive the next working day, as long as your order was placed before 4pm.
No matter how many furniture items you place in a single order, delivery has a £95 flat-rate fee and can take one to two weeks to arrive.
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If you are looking for super-stylish furniture for your home, then you have come to the right place. Cult Furniture has a wide range of pieces to adorn your living space, including many mid-century-inspired designs such as rattan chairs, sideboards and glass pendant lights.
There is also plenty to choose from for fans of Scandi minimalism and must-have accessories too, including tableware, wall art that’s worthy of galleries, embroidered cushions and rugs.
Cult Furniture has a showroom in Clapham, London, where customers can take a seat in its comfy sofas and check out different fabric swatches, but it is currently closed due to the national lockdown.
As for delivery, orders for small items start at £5.95, while bulkier pieces cost £10.95. The retailer aims to have all in-stock items dispatched within five working days.
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This independent family-run business has been synonymous with fun and quirky homeware since it first opened in Notting Hill in 1974.
Graham & Green’s eclectic pieces range from furniture and home accessories to soft furnishings and kitchenware, all of which are guaranteed to inject a little life into your home.
One of our favourite things about the website is that you can shop by theme, making finding something to suit your interiors style a breeze.
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The Swedish retailer might be best known for its clothing, but since it launched its interiors range in 2009, H&M Home has gone from strength to strength.
A go-to for anyone looking for budget-friendly decor, the brand’s offerings have expanded over the years to include everything from bed linen and dinnerware to lighting. The pieces are largely inspired by Scandinavian simplicity, with clean, modern lines and neutral hues, but fans of colour and prints will also be pleased with H&M’s array of jungle-themed cushions and abstract prints.
H&M Home is also known to collaborate with designers, the most recent being American potter and decorator Jonathan Adler, while a new range with fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg is set to launch later this year.
Standard delivery costs £3.99 with your items arriving within two to four days, or you can choose next-day delivery for £5.99.
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Having been around since 1964, it’s fair to say that Habitat knows a thing or two about chic interiors.
Ideal for anyone who loves contemporary design and wants to put a decorative stamp on their home, Habitat sells everything from seriously comfy sofas to stylish dinnerware, patterned rugs and funky lighting.
Over the years, it has launched collaborations with everyone from supper club founders Laura Jackson and Alice Levine to cult fashion brand Shrimps, meaning customers can fill their homes with design-led pieces that are still affordable.
Depending on your location, type and size of product, Habitat has different delivery prices, with home accessories and small items costing £4.95, unless you spend over £50, in which case delivery is free. Any furniture or bulky item orders cost £25 to be delivered if you spend over £500, or £15 if you spend less.
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As a household name, you know you’re in good hands at John Lewis & Partners, which has been a go-to for great-quality homeware for many years.
Its offering includes everything from luxurious bedding to bookcases and decorative bowls, as well as larger furniture items like sofas and wardrobes. John Lewis also has a particularly great selection of home fragrances, stocking diffusers, candles and room sprays from brands like Jo Malone and Neom.
Smaller items are usually delivered within five working days, while customers can select a delivery date on furniture and appliances. You will get free delivery when you spend £50 and over, or, if you spend less, you will be charged £3.50.
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Whether you’re looking for new bath towels or a trendy mirror, you’re likely to find it at La Redoute. With one of the largest, most varied offerings out there, the retailer, which was founded more than 180 years ago in France, has a host of stylish products to suit all budgets.
Affordable and chic, it has something to suit every home, including shaggy Berber rugs, woven baskets and retro-inspired textiles that will instantly refresh any space.
If you’re lacking inspiration, the website has dedicated “influencer hub”, where you will find a wealth of ideas from interiors experts.
Delivery for smaller items costs £3.99, and £8.99 for larger pieces. While La Redoute aims to have orders delivered within 14 days, it has recently warned customers to allow more time due to transport disruption.
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While M&S might be best known for its delicious food, its interiors offering is just as enticing.
Its homeware features plush rugs and pretty cushions, trendy planters and contemporary lighting, all of which are stylish and high quality, but still affordable. Is there anything M&S can’t do?
To save you from hours of scrolling, the website has a “best of M&S Home” section, where you will find the retailer’s bestselling items, from luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding to kitchenware for rustling up a feast.
M&S stores are still open during lockdown, so you can order online for click and collect. Alternatively, you can choose standard delivery for £3.50 or next-day delivery for £4.99.
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Arguably one of the most stylish homeware brands around, Made.com has built an impressive fanbase for its highly Instagrammable designs at affordable prices.
The retailer releases new collections every two weeks and works directly with independent designers and makers. Some of the brand’s most sought-after offerings include plush sofas, modern kitchenware, contemporary lighting, elegant dining sets and statement rugs.
Alongside its in-house design team, Made.com often collaborates with designers and brands, including Sebastian Fox and the Natural History Museum. In addition to the website, the retailer also has showrooms in London and West Yorkshire, where you can see products up close before you buy. However, these are currently closed due to lockdown.
Delivery times are entirely dependent on the products but there are set fees. If you spend under £50, delivery will cost £4, while orders up to £149.99 will cost £15.
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The second French company in our round-up, Maison du Monde is in high demand among interiors fans thanks to its impressive range of homeware inspired by the latest trends.
The website is fully stocked with stylish products to suit all budgets, from arty figurines and bell jars to mirrors, baskets and larger items such as display cabinets. It really has got your home renovations covered.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, check out the styles and trends section where you will find products sorted into different categories, including vintage, exotic and seaside.
Delivery for orders under £150 costs £6.95, while orders over that amount are free. Maisons du Monde aims to have your order with you within three to five working days.
Shop at Maisons du Monde now
A stalwart on the British high street, Next strikes the perfect balance between style and affordability.
As well as furniture, the Next home collection includes many pieces designed to kit out your home for less, from statement printed cushions to lamps and ornaments. The retailer also has a handy guide to the latest interior trends on its website alongside curated collections such as “posh tropics” and “ochre and abstract”.
In addition to Next’s own-brand collection, it also stocks a wide range of home products from well-known brands like Silent Night and Joseph Joseph.
You will only pay a £3.99 delivery charge on each order regardless of how many items you purchase.
Shop at Next now
We love Oliver Bonas for its fun and colourful take on homeware. The retailer manages to seamlessly marry Art Deco influences with contemporary style when it comes to furniture, but where it really excels is with decor like beautiful wall hangings, gold and marble accessories, velvet furnishings and bright plant pots.
New designs arrive online every week, so there’s always something fresh to discover, whether you’re after a statement photo frame or some new additions to your at-home bar.
Standard delivery is free for orders over £50, or £3.95 if you spend less, and takes two to four days to arrive. Alternatively, you can choose next-day delivery, which costs £5.95.
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An online platform that’s home to some of the best independent boutiques across the UK, Trouva has an excellent online interiors offering, with something for every taste and style.
From table lamps and dried flowers to vases and tableware, the retailer makes it easy to discover new shops and products without having to leave the comfort of your own home. We love that the website has a “shop nearby” feature, meaning you can find and support local businesses in your area. It’s more than just homeware too – there’s women’s and menswear, kids, jewellery and beauty.
Delivery costs £4.99 and times vary depending on the boutique you purchase from, but most aim to have your order arrive within three to five working days.
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Based near Manchester, William Wood Mirrors has skyrocketed in popularity in recent months, boasting more than 300,000 followers on Instagram.
As the name suggests, the brand specialises in mirrors of all styles, including Art Deco, industrial, shabby chic and antique. While it stocks hundreds of mirrors, some of the most popular styles go quickly, but the retailer offers a handy pre-order option so you can make sure you don’t miss out.
Ideal for anyone looking for pieces that will be treasured for years to come, any of its mirrors are sure to perk up a corner of your home. If you’re looking for a specific style, the website allows you to search by size, shape, colour and the retailer’s bestsellers.
Free delivery applies to all items, regardless of size or weight, but times will depend on stock availability. Smaller items are sent via courier within one to two days, while larger items take up to three days to arrive.
Shop William Wood Mirrors now
Not content with taking all our money for stylish additions to our wardrobes, Zara is also the place to go if you’re on the hunt for on-point homeware with pleasing price tags.
The brand delivers an elegant selection of everything you could possibly need to fill your home, from blankets and cushions to glassware, furniture and reed diffusers, all of which look more expensive than they really are.
While most of Zara Home’s pieces are inspired by the latest trends, some embrace Scandinavian simplicity, with a focus on natural materials like jute, rattan and acacia wood.
Next-day delivery is free for orders over £50, or £3.95 if you spend less, while those who live in London also qualify for same-day delivery, which costs £7.95.
Shop Zara Home now
For more interior inspiration, read our guide to the best armchairs and our round-up of bookcases for displaying your home library
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