15 Australian homewares stores to redecorate your makeshift home office

New additions to your working from home wishlist.

Working from home can be tough. Yes, anyone currently WFH is in a privileged position, but that doesn’t negate the fact that attempting to suddenly convert your bedroom/lounge/kitchen/shed into a bonafide, functional office space can be challenging.

But you should never underestimate the power of decor. The right lamp or painting, a swish new ceramic pen holder or an uplifting piece of artwork can transform your space and make it somewhere you look forward to working from each day.

Australia is spoilt for choice when it comes to homewares stores, and supporting local businesses has never been so important – purchasing from these stores can help ensure they make it through this difficult period. With that in mind, here’s our selection of the best Australian homewares brands.

Mr Kitly 

Mr. Kitly’s Brunswick-based outlet sells hugely popular self-watering plant pots, in addition to bed and bath accessories, handmade vases, helpful trinkets for the home cook and a number of ceramic bowls, plates and handmade mugs. The collection is sourced from a combination of Australian and Japan-based designers and artisans.

Third Drawer Down

Since 2003, Third Drawn Down has been an outlet for Melbourne-based creators – painters, sculptors and print-makers. Female artists supply up to 65 per cent of the collection, and you can continue to support the Fitzroy collective online, with a full inventory of homewares, wall art and a sizable David Shrigley collection available for viewing.

The Panton Store 

Shelly Panton’s eponymous store originally launched as an outlet for her ceramics collection, all of which she makes out the back of the store. Shop handmade bowls, plates, mugs and a selection of soaps, fragrances, books and artwork. The in-store experience is a curated, carefully arranged selection of handmade bowls, plates, mugs, and a selection of fragrances, books and artwork.

Designstuff

Everything at Designstuff is Scandinavian influenced – soaps, lamps, placemats, even birch wood toothbrushes all have a minimalist and (mostly) monochromatic aesthetic. There’s a reason Scandinavian nations have a reputation for superior design, and this Aussie store boasts the widest online selection of more than 2500 niche Nordic brands, with new styles added every week.

Cibi 

Meaning ‘little one’ in Japanese, Cibi stocks thoughtful kitchenware and homeware, all thoroughly rooted in Japanese practicality. There’s books, giftwares, artisanal Japanese dining wares and home decor.

Made in Japan

Made in Japan is usually sold at a number of high-quality Melbourne markets and it has its own Mornington outlet store, supplying us with high-quality, Japanese-made ceramics, directly from family-run businesses in Japan. Products are hand-made, one of a kind, and direct to the public. You can shop restaurant-quality wares of every colour, print and glaze, at wholesale prices.

Jardan

Jardan is a family-owned Australian business specialising in timeless furniture staples. Starting with sofas, chairs, beds, rugs and lighting, its in-house design team, Jardan Lab, has developed a trend-conscious and still classic collection. Shop a range of lamps, homewares and accessories online today, to bring to life the Jardan-fit out you’ll be wish-listing (definitely a verb) after browsing its website.

Modern Times

Modern Times’ Fitzroy store stocks vintage European classics alongside contemporary Australian-made designs. Owners Joel and Amy are still offering online steals – you can shop home accessories, gifts, furniture, lamps and artwork, and some second-hand vintage styles from around the world.

Scout House 

Bespoke furniture and authentic artisanal products are Scout House’s specialty, along with fragrances and vintage finds.

Fenton and Fenton

Fenton and Fenton has a strong Instagram presence, most likely thanks to its colourful aesthetic of feminine pinks, prints and patterns. You can shop its Mother’s Day edit online – it’s packed full of pink serving platters, paintings, sculptures and flower vases.

Pop & Scott

Melbourne’s Pop & Scott is well-known for its range of eye-catching, handpainted pots, but furniture, lighting and other accessories are also on offer both in-store and online. Its luxe range of velvet cushions deserves a special mention for their ability to brighten up a very dull room.

The Boroughs

The Boroughs’ East Brunswick store and online store sells functional home accessories to brighten things up. Think prints, posters, coffee table books and bars of artisanal soap, candles and kitchen accessories. Plus, it’s in the business of supporting Australian designers and makers – check out its neighbourhood map of Brunswick’s best-kept secrets, Like a Local.

Mud

Since 1994, Mud’s Shelley Simpson has earned a name for herself specialising in hand-finished ceramics. Mud is known for its minimalist mixing bowls, ceramic cups, mugs and kitchen sets, and better yet, they are all oven, dishwasher and microwave safe. Mud’s products are handmade in Sydney from clay sourced in France, and a new collection of colours is released each season.

Lightly

Lightly’s Melbourne showroom houses a selection of geometric-style, fun and functional ceramic products. Expect plates, trays, lamps, furniture and even bookshelves, filing solutions and garden pots, all in a distinctly minimalist, Melbourne style.

Vincent

Vincent’s South Melbourne store is a family-run, curated collection of Scandinavian-inspired styles, selling a little bit of everything, from rugs, placemats and doormats, to blonde-oak style stools and sofas, kitchenware and even clothing. Its products are sourced from Stockholm and Copenhagen, and there’s also a new in-house collection designed by the Vincent family themselves.

As you’re no doubt already aware, coronavirus has well and truly taken hold in Australia, and an increasing number of us will be self-isolating or working from home. We’re living through a scary, uncertain time right now, and it’s easy to get swept up in the neverending cycle of negative news. Over the coming weeks, we hope to provide you with a little reprieve from all the heaviness, and lots of ideas for how to fill all that time you’ll be spending at home. Take care out there and don’t be a stranger. We’re all in this together. Love the FJ team xx