okaybee

I’ve always had a love for interiors. Growing up with my mom, it’s kind of ingrained in me.

I remember painting the kitchen walls with my mom, the patch that was going to be behind the dresser obviously, getting our new white couches (yes, white couches with a toddler), going to Ikea in Sheffield when we visited our cousins, leafing through interiors magazines and ripping out the things we liked. Interiors was always something we were encouraged to take an interest in, and now that I’m an adult, it’s become an obsession.

Having recently done up my new room, I’ve been more invested in finding great interiors stores. I realise that a lot of my room is Ikea, but I want to start investing in other pieces from different places, as well as mixing in those more affordable brands. Below are some of my favourite interiors stores that I spend hours scrolling through their sites. I hope it helps with any inspiration or redesign projects that you’re doing!

Ikea

Let’s start with the obvious one. I’m a big Ikea fan. It’s made redecorating so much more accessible for people. It’s reasonable price tag, combined with it’s aesthetic makes it so appealing. I love how they set up rooms in their stores to cater for different people with different needs. They’re so clever with space and make you think outside the box and look at what potential the room has. When it comes to closets especially, I’m a big fan. There’s so many solutions that make organising and storing your clothes so much easier. This comes from the girl that hates throwing clothes out, so you know there was a lot to store! I could actually spend hours in their basement sections among the glassware, lights, posters and boxes, sifting through things and finding products I didn’t even know existed. It’s one of the best places to start if you’re looking to redecorate. Let’s just ignore the whole self assembly thing. We just won’t talk about it for now!

Sostrene Grene

I am low key obsessed with Sostrene Grene. I don’t even remember when I first found out about this place, but I’ve been a big fan ever since. It’s got great things for the home, parties, decorations, seasonal items, all at a great price point and all super cute. I have bought everything from chairs, to lamps, to gift boxes, to balloons in this place. They’re due to open their second Dublin store soon, and I can’t wait as it’s a lot closer to my new place. I love that their products change all the time, there’s always new things in store. Although be warned, because their stock changes so often you need to be ready to buy when you see something, as there’s no guarantee that it will be there next time. If you’re looking for nice details to change up a space, then Sostrene Grene is where it’s at.

Next

I have to admit I hadn’t been into Next in years. It just wasn’t on my radar for a long time. It was only when I went to buy new sheets that I realised how many nice things they have. Firstly, if you have sensitive skin like me, or suffer from allergies, then you’ll love their hypo-allergenic range of bedding. They have a great range of bedding sets that are really reasonable too. There are also tonnes of things in Next that help you to personalise your home. They were leaning a little too heavily on the rose gold trend when I was in there, not everything needs to, or should be rose gold you know! But a few touches here and there can add warmth to a room. Aside from that, they had a great range of candles, clocks, lamps and little trinkets to help you make your house a home. Definitely worth a look.

Crate & Barrel

When I was in one of the gigantic shopping malls in Dubai, I got overly excited when I realised there was a Crate & Barrel. How sad is that?! I wish Crate & Barrel was in Dublin. I would be in there every week. Their stuff is gorgeous! However they do deliver online, so I’ll have to make do with that for the time being. Crate & Barrel is definitely on the more expensive side of things. I was seriously considering spending €100 on a few baskets the other day. But it’s ok to splurge once in a while. My feeling is, a mix of cheaper items, more high end items, and vintage or inherited items, ensures that your home will be more unique, rather than looking like a showroom. Definitely keep your eye out for sales in Crate & Barrel, you can snag yourself an amazing bargain if you’re on the ball!

TK Maxx

I believe this is called TJ Maxx in the States, no idea why that one letter has to be different, but how and ever. Some people can be a little snobby about TK Maxx, they don’t want to root through all the stuff to find that hidden gem. My feeling is, you’re missing out! I love finding little random bits and pieces in TK Maxx. My laundry basket and the bin from my room are my most recent purchases from there and I love them. It’s such a great price for those essential items that you need. Take the time and have a look, you’d be amazed at some of the great things you can find in there. Especially great for soft furnishings, which can be really expensive elsewhere.

Anthropologie

Another favourite not located in Ireland. I guess my desperate emails to their head office haven’t worked. Yet. Anthropologie is one of those shops I go into and I just want to sit there with a coffee and a magazine enjoying the surroundings. Is it expensive? Yes. Is that going to stop me from obsessing over things in the store? Absolutely not. It’s the perfect mix of quirky (who doesn’t need a ice cream scoop that has a handle shaped like a fox?), and pretty. Anthropologie is the kind of place that I go into and whisper “Treat yourself” about 20 times until my basket makes my bank card melt. But hey, it’s not based in Ireland yet so those times are rare. For now.

Zara Home

I’m starting to torture myself now. Yet another favourite not located in Ireland. Which, if you walk around Dublin for 5 seconds, you’ll realise it makes no sense as you’ll quickly see that everyone is obsessed with Zara clothing. Zara Home is great for those pretty household things that you need, like bedding, towels, bathmats, as well as the more functional things like bed side tables, mirrors and the like. I haven’t bought much from Zara Home before because I’ve always been on holidays when I’ve wandered/intentionally marched into one of the stores. I feel like, maybe it’s best it’s not in Ireland? Because given how much I spend in Zara a month, I would probably end up declaring bankruptcy if it was based here.

Not On The High Street

If you’re looking for things for your home that are a little more unique, then Not On The High Street is where you should go. Everything from personalised chopping boards, to stunning fire pits, to marble door stoppers, you can literally find everything there. It’s very easy to get lost in a rabbit hole on that site, you’ve been warned. But more than likely you’ll come out with something beautiful and unique for your home, or as a gift for someone else.

Penneys/Primark Home

This is another home department that I didn’t give much thought to a few years ago, but Penneys have really upped their game! I find I gravitate towards this for more decoration pieces, like wall planners, blankets and cushions. Their website has some really nice features, showing you how you can integrate different pieces into your home. There’s no better feeling than getting a bargain, and in Penneys, you get that feeling every time! Well worth a look.

Made.com

Literally as I was typing this post, a friend came over to me and said, ‘I know a site you’d like. It’s called Made.com‘. Firstly, this guy gets me. Secondly, he was clearly looking at my screen as I was drooling over Crate & Barrel. Regardless, this late contender for this post is amazing! Nice things, well made, at reasonable prices. Why didn’t I know about this before?! Excuse me while I wrap this post up to spend the next three hours putting things into my Made cart…

So there you have it, my favourite stores for interiors. A mix of high and low there, but I’d always recommend to repurpose things you already have, a lick of paint goes a long way, or to highlight vintage or inherited items too. The main thing with interiors is the same as fashion in my opinion. Have fun with it, make it your own, develop a style and don’t be afraid to switch things up if you get bored!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other favourite interiors stores that I should check out. The addiction is real!

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