Credit: Originals Studio
5 min read
Get acquainted with the coolest homeware brands from independent makers, and support small businesses when you shop.
Who doesn’t like to be in the know about the coolest new thing before their friends catch on? We’re certainly guilty of getting a little thrill from finding a chic independent brand before they go big.
We love seeing indie homeware brands serve up beautiful, imaginative designs across the home accessories spectrum, giving us somewhere new to focus our homeware obsession.
This winter, whether you’re going the whole hog and redecorating or want to invest in a few key pieces to change things up, there are plenty of ways to update your pad with something from a small maker.
Not sure where to get started? Here are 24 homeware pieces from independent labels we think should be on your radar…
Petiotes Animal Print Personalised Cushion
Statement cushions artfully arranged on a sofa or bed is an easy way to breathe new life into a room – even more so when they’re emblazoned with a personalised name or word. Available in three classic animal prints – zebra, leopard and grey leopard – Petiotes’ cushions can be customised with up to 10 letters in the colour of the season, neon pink. The 100% cotton covers (stuffed with plump fibre-filled cushions) are machine washable, too. Stuck for an original birthday gift idea? Not anymore…
Sheepers White Long Haired Sheepskin Rug
Heating still firmly switched off? We don’t blame you. Help keep chilly drafts at bay by draping these chic 100% sheepskin rugs over your WFH chair or place under your desk to keep your feet extra toasty. Available in black, cream, grey and chocolate brown, they’ll instantly turn any space into a cosy Scandi-esque hideaway.
Olive and Co Pinch Pots
Give Salt Bae a run for his money with these delicate porcelain pinch pots – the ideal addition to your kitchen counter (or for keeping jewellery tidy for those who aren’t so gifted in the kitchen). Handmade in Frome by artisan Rebecca Wordsworth, they’re available in four variations – with the gold rim design perfect for adding a finishing touch to your festive dining table. Keeping salt and pepper in easy reach has never looked so chic.
Leaflace Foliage Arrangement
Leaflace’s striking arrangements are perfect if you have a habit of accidentally neglecting your houseplants. Each 100% natural frond is made from fibre that’s been stripped from leaves and woven into a delicate net-like pattern (a method inspired by an old rope-making technique), before being dried. They’ll last for months and look as good as they did on the day you bought them – no watering required.
Six blades will create an instant statement in your favourite vase, while nine create a show-stopping centrepiece (or try splitting into two smaller arrangements). To top it all, Leaflace plants a tree through its partner Ecologi for every box sold.
Black & Beech Slogan Mug
Fact: you can never have too many mugs. Especially when they have as much attitude as Black & Beech’s six graphic slogan mugs. Made in the UK from fine china, there’s a slogan for every mood, whether you’re in need of personal motivation, feminist energy or a reminder of women’s rights. One thing’s for sure – your earl grey will taste 300% better when you drink from one of these.
Sun and Day Gold Solid Brass Large Clam Shell
With an exclusive saving only available on The Drop, we’re very busy coveting Sun and Day’s oversized solid brass clam shell for one key reason: it’s impossible to take your eyes off it.
Whether you’re looking for a housewarming gift for that friend whose house looks like it should be in a magazine or after a statement piece to upgrade your coffee table/sideboard/tablescape, its undulating curves are perfect on their own or for showcasing trinkets, using as a fruit bowl or as a really fancy dumping place for bills.
No matter what it’s used for, we can guarantee it’ll get a compliment from everyone who lays eyeballs on it.
Shop Sun and Day Gold Solid Brass Large Clam Shell at The Drop, £65
My Doris Block Print Cushion
From In Casa By Paboy’s signature style to Kitri’s recent homeware collaboration with Amuse La Bouche, ruffled cushions are the interiors trend that isn’t going anywhere. And if your bank account can’t quite stretch to those options, you’ll find a more affordable version bursting with colour via My Doris’ pattern-clash cushions featuring fabric that’s hand-printed by artisans in Jodhpur, India.
Available in two colourways – pale blue and coral pink and zesty lime and pastel pink – this is a piece bursting with detail. From the thick ruffle trim to the botanical designs, it’s maximalist cottagecore at its finest.
Liga Organic Cotton Printed Coastal Tea Towels
Whether you give Nigella and Nadiya a run for their money or can barely boil water, your kitchen is always on display – and no one wants to see grubby, threadbare tea towels every time they head to the fridge for a snack. Yes, chic sustainable tea towels do exist, as proven by these coastal-inspired options from Cornish family-run lifestyle label Liga.
Made from 100% durable cotton, they come in three eye-catching designs: navy fishes, red lobsters and, our personal favourite, a gloriously green Matisse-esque seaweed print. The mere thought of these hanging over our oven door is enough to make us start dreaming of our own photo shoot in interiors bible Architectural Digest…
Shop Liga Organic Cotton Printed Coastal Tea Towels at The Drop, £12
Tiger and Lily Studio William Morris 18x18-inch cushion cover
Patterned cushions are the ideal way to showcase a botanical aesthetic without sacrificing your deposit, and Tiger and Lily Studio’s mini-William Morris homages are our top pick.
With your choice of three classic navy prints on offer – Lodden, Bramble or Strawberry Thief – each one is guaranteed to revamp dodgy sofas quicker than you can say “exquisite floral print”.
Founder Leah carefully handmakes each cushion using official Morris & Co fabric, backed with luxurious navy velvet, in her Bristol sewing room, taking care to place each pattern perfectly.
Shop Tiger and Lily Studio William Morris 18” cushion cover at The Drop, £29
Fern & Thistle hanging test tube block
Reclaimed wood: check. Rustic twine: check. Faux or dried flowers: check. With the juxtaposition of test tubes used as mini-vases, Fern & Thistle’s hanging floral display ticks just about every box on our interiors checklist.
Whether it’s hung above a cushion-laden sofa or arranged above a well-stocked bar cart, this nifty curated display will be a hit with lovers of muted interiors. Handmade by Fern & Thistle founder Jennie, the recycled wood block holds four glass test tubes to neatly showcase a collection of stems.
Shop Fern & Thistle hanging test tube block at The Drop, £32
Blackbelle Prints bordeaux and copper leaf agate style resin coasters
When is a coaster more like a piece of art? When it’s one of Blackbelle Prints’ leaf-flaked agate resin coasters. Handmade by founder Victoria, the Afro-inspired coastal design features mesmerising details courtesy of the gold leaf swirling throughout. The glitter-adorned textured edge, reminiscent of precious agate stones, looks as if it were sliced straight from the source. If you’re after a tablescaping texture boost, look no further.
Shop Blackbelle Prints bordeaux and copper leaf agate style resin coasters at The Drop, £12.60
Cocolulu personalised candle pair
Some modern candles are an acquired taste. We love fruit and bum-shaped designs, but we’ll happily admit they’re not for everyone. Slender dinner table tapers, though, are a timeless classic that make an ideal engagement/wedding/birthday present.
Cocolulu’s pair of dinner table candles come in three colours: spring-ready lilac, deepest black and a rose shade reminiscent of antique terracotta pots.
Better still, they can be personalised with hand-painted names, meaningful dates or phrases, and are packaged in fully recyclable wrapping and adorned with a luxury bow. Every time your giftee lights their candles for dinner, they’ll think fondly of you.
My Doris enamel brass vase
Somewhere along the line, we got really into vases. So, we’re frankly obsessed with these designs by small British brand My Doris, designed in Suffolk and ethically made by skilled artisans in India.
Each vase is made from solid brass and hand-enamelled with glossy colour. Fans of kitsch pastels will love the bubblegum pink, while those with an earthier aesthetic will prefer the burnt orange, but if you’re tempted to invest in both, we don’t blame you. Fill with everything from dried eucalyptus stems to cheery supermarket tulips and enjoy.
Dar Leone ronko hibiscus cushion
Think of the hibiscus flower and you’ll instantly be transported to balmy temperatures, sun-drenched streets and clusters of cheering colour – making Dar Leone’s Ronko Hibiscus cushions just the thing to transform your home during grey winter days.
Sierra Leonean-American designer Isatu Funna took inspiration from gardens in Freetown to create this hibiscus-splattered design that’s printed on soft linen in four different colours. Whether they’re for your sofa, armchair, bed or a housewarming gift, it’s a handy floral reminder that summer is a state of mind…
Jasmine Alice Home rattan hand-crafted vintage glass vases
While rattan has been a firm favourite of interior connoisseurs for some time, not everyone wants to invest in a rattan headboard, dining table chairs or statement lampshade. If you’d rather dabble lightly with the trend, Jasmine Alice Home’s rattan-accented vases are the perfect entryway into the world of textured interiors.
The pair of glass jars come with a handwoven rattan sleeve and neck trim, providing a subtle boho accent, and can be used not only as a vase but also to display collectibles such as seashells or to store kitchen utensils or make-up brushes. They also make great table decorations for weddings, dinner parties or to add interest to mantelpieces and bookshelves. Because sometimes, less is more…
Shop Jasmine Alice Home rattan hand-crafted vintage glass vases at The Drop, £14.99
Sun and Day rattan hand-woven vase
Rattan has made a Winona Ryder-style comeback in recent years, popping up in stylish homes across the nation in the form of headboards, lampshades, drinks trolleys and more. Now, you can incorporate wickerwork into your tablescape with Sun and Day’s hand-woven rattan vase, available with 5% off on The Drop by Stylist – our marketplace for all the best offerings from indie brands.
Not too big and not too small, simply fill with a fresh or dried bouquet or a spray of pampas grass for a natural, elegant aesthetic.
Bax + Gore hand painted lamp and shade
Stripes or spots? It’s an age-old conundrum, but Bax + Gore’s adorable lamps make it even harder to choose. Handpainted and made to order, the striped shade with its red base brings to mind the beach umbrellas at Positano, while the red, pale pink and white spot version is the home accessory of Instagram dreams.
With an exclusive price available only on The Drop, we can’t think of a better way to brighten up your bedside table, sideboard or add interest to a bookshelf. Match or clash? Only you can decide…
Shop Bax + Gore hand painted lamp and shade at The Drop, £30
Catkin Studio Evermore wreath
Founded by designer Louise McWilliams in 2019, Catkin Studio’s wreaths are handmade with an individual mix of dried berries, burgundy leaves and festive foliage making each one totally unique – choose from two sizes (10 or 18 inches) and three colour schemes (autumnal, wintry or Christmas). Did someone say ‘future family heirloom’?
Bax and Gore hand-painted dalmatian lamp shades
If there’s one way to instantly refresh your living space, it’s to switch things up with your home accessories – and it doesn’t get much more statement than dalmatian print. Available in three sizes – small (17cm x 30cm), medium (19cm x 35cm) and large (24cm x 40cm) – Bax + Gore’s new lampshades are suitable for most lamps and lights, so you can inject a shot of personality anywhere in your house.
Shop Bax and Gore hand-painted dalmatian lamp shades at The Drop, £35
Dar Leone round tray
Whether it’s for decoration, organisation or entertaining, these gold-rimmed striped trays come in five different colours, so there’s one to suit every type of interiors scheme, whether you’re after something tonal or clashing.
Sun and Day scallop edge rattan wicker straw placement set
“With natural fibres such as rattan, raffia and wicker having a moment in the interiors world, the boho look isn’t going anywhere, especially over summer,” says The Drop’s editor Gemma Crisp. Used as a place setting or to protect surfaces from hot dishes, this set of two scalloped wicker mats also make a great housewarming gift.
Shop Sun and Day scallop edge rattan wicker straw placemat set from The Drop by Stylist, £25.50
Lolly & Kiks African wax print storage baskets
Looking for a prettier home storage solution? Lolly & Kiks’ colourful and versatile fabric baskets need to be on your radar. Inspired by her Nigerian heritage, founder Xandra hand-makes every basket at her London home, using bold Ankara wax prints.
Shop Lolly & Kiks African wax print storage basket from The Drop by Stylist, from £16
Moanna & Co raffia cushion
There’s not much better than making your home look good while also doing good. When you shop these eco-friendly raffia cushion covers, a percentage of every purchase is donated to Metamorfosa, a Balinese charity that helps to conserve the island’s reef and works with villagers to build a better future for the community.
Available in three colourways, the hand-woven texture and fringed edges add instant boho vibes to any sofa, chair or outdoor setting.
Shop Moanna & Co raffia cushion from The Drop by Stylist, £40
Originals Studio Mia colour block stack candle
First the bubble cube candle flooded our Instagram feeds. Then, the spiral taper took over our candle sticks, followed quickly by a plethora of handpainted dinner candles. What’s next on the agenda, you ask? The stacked geometric candle – and Yod and Co’s creations from Originals Studio are our pick of the bunch.
Available in two sizes and three different coloured stacks, the richly coloured paraffin-free candles are the perfect addition to your coffee table, bookshelf or sideboard. And while they have a 20 or 30-hour burn time, we’re not sure we could bring ourselves to light something that’s so visually pleasing…
Shop Originals Studio Mia colour block stack candle at The Drop, from £15
Images: courtesy of brands
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