As soon as I walked into this grand furniture showroom on Whiteladies Road, despite the fact that…read moreit's a chain, I thought of the houses on the Downs. Can you imagine living in one of those beautiful mansions? Oh wow. Suffice to say, if I owned one of those houses, I'd furnish it with pieces from Wesley Barrel, especially one of their floral print classic sofas. Also not to be missed is their magnificent dining range. Be careful though; grand furniture for a grand house, or it could end up looking a little dated and stuffy.

From the frames of each bit of furniture being hand crafted from seasoned wood to the springing,…read morepadding and covering - each item of furniture here is made with love and care. It may carry a price tag that looks more like a phone number, but in this place it's really worth it. Sofas, armchairs and dining accessories the same - everything about this place oozes charm and sophistication. This is the sort of thing Country Living thrives upon. And so it should. Bravo.

If I had a thousand pounds to decorate my room, I would come to Sense…read more Very contemporary, very chic, very nice! I couldn't help but feel a little in awe wandering round this shop, they have thought of just about everything from furniture, to decoration, lighting of every kind even garden accessories. At the moment they have some huge, and I do mean huge, cups and sauces outside which I assume you would plant a pretty plant in, though they looked way to good to put soil in if you ask me! As well as quite extravagant things they do have a good selection of affordable bits and pieces ideal from presents or to brighten up your room, like picture frames, fairy lights, and statement cushions! Not everything in here is to my taste, I think you will either love or hate some pieces but it's definitely work popping in on your way past.

"DO NOT ENTER if you have a dreary, grey, misty, Autumn outlook, as you may be distressed by the…read morecontents of this shop and might have convulsions". This sensory warning should be displayed prominently at the door of the excellent shop - 'Sense Clifton' - all bright and glittering, colourful pinks, blues and shiny metals. On the other hand, if you have a sparkling magpie persona, fine. Or if you just want to be shocked out of your November torpor, come to Sense for a quick fix. You dont have to buy anything, just browse and you'll fell much better. Though of course, the owners would also feel much better if you did buy something, so why disappoint - they will have done you a good turn. According to some blurb, Sense "...offers a smart mix of design-led products with a contemporary edge...". Apparently, the owners' frequent trips to Holland have given them a new perspective on design. They wanted to attack all the senses and create a complete home environment, everything from comfortable leather seating, exciting lighting and soft furnishings to unusual gifts. Pay a visit yourself, check it out, but take heed of the sensory warnings - highly recommended.

Oskar, the furniture shop is definitely a cool place to go to deck out your abode. It's something…read moreof an expensive and better quality Ikea, and more central, which is definitely a plus point for a pedestrian like myself. I really like the style of the furniture here, it's kind of Eastern, but also modern and trendy, and I always nearly persuaded to buy something every time I go in here. The price tag is a little off putting though, but I will definitely visit again when I can afford to.

This modern furniture shop, situated towards the bottom of Whiteladies Road, is a great place to…read morecome for inspiration, even if your wallet can't quite stretch to some of the price tags. A mix of Eastern and Western design ideas, Oskar is certainly more upscale than Ikea and slightly more individual than nearby Habitat. As well as the shop, which acts as a showroom, there is a warehouse around the corner which can be seen by appointment. I found the woman in the shop to be a little distracted the last time I went in but this place is still worth a visit, particularly for the accessories, which are more affordable and a great way to jazz up a living room.

Person from Bristol in buying furniture from somewhere other than IKEA scandal! We went here after…read morewe bought our house and I've aways thought of their products as being a bit cheap and nasty. However, I've since noticed that the stuff that has since broken was either: a) put together by me, or b) broken by me when I fell over. Everything else is still fine five years later. It sits opposite Temple Meads and they sell complete sets of wooden bedroom furniture, beds, tables, mirrors and the like. They have friendly staff who will help you carry your goods to their handy off street car park around the back. Once you get it back, make sure you: a) apply the requisite amount of glue, and b) dry your feet when you get out of the shower. Do this and you can get a bargain!

A bit of a odd shop here - it has the style and presentation of a swanky home store but the prices…read moredon't match so your immediate thought is that it is actually cheap and nasty. Any fears will go when you talk to the lovely owners - a couple of guys who I'm guessing have worked their way up from a pokey little shop in out of town high streets to get this high-profile spot opposite the train station. They know their stuff, have a down to earth attitude and don't try and push sales onto you. I bought my bed frame from here, which they delivered promptly and carried up my stairs. I chose to put it together myself and the instructions were clear as a bell. It was really well made and has survived being taken apart and back again when we had to get it out of the way to put carpets in. They also sell mirrors, bedside tables and dining tables. They have a choice of woods ranging from pine to oak so you can find what will suit your budget. If you're stuck just ask as they know their stock inside out and what they have coming in soon as well.

It's all for char-i-dee dahlings! Homeless people of Bristol are given worthwhile jobs here (and an…read moreensuite room)- restoring second-hand furniture and then selling them on from the shop- helping them get a foot on the shaky ladder of housing & employment. I took a few odds and ends - to take pride of place in someone else's living room, and returned with a newly sanded coffee table for just a few pounds. Unlike the soul-draining limbo world of Ikea, here you feel ethically good about shopping and get to see real daylight at the same time!

This second hand shop over in St Philips is a really good find. From sofas to bedside cabinets…read morethey have a full range of furniture in varying conditions. Granted, some of the stuff isn't particularly great, but some items are surprisingly good quality for the same cheap price as the rest of their stock. There's a few friendly staff who work there who will try to dig something out for you if you let them know what you want, and there's also a small potential for bartering - always worth a try! I managed to pick up a couple of cool prints to put on the walls in my new flat when we came, and my flatmate got hold a good chest of drawers for under £20. Definitely worth a look in if you're furnishing on a budget.

There are obviously a plethora of charity chops around Bristol (and indeed here on East Street…read morealong) and generally speaking what you get in each one from day to day is down to the luck of the draw. This one, however, is a bit different as it concentrates solely on home furnishings and electronics. Basically they've gone to the trouble of selecting all the best donations of this kind and stocking them here. Because of the extra trouble they've gone to the prices are perhaps a little higher than your average charity shop, but they are saving you time and the money of course still goes to a good cause. If you need some home furnishings, this is one of the few charity shops in the city that it's worth traveling a distance to have a good browse in.

The British Heart Foundation is a national charity that supports research, prevention and care of…read morethose with heart diseases. A specialist charity shop where they have gathered together all the electricals and furniture donated into one big shop. You can pick up toasters, TVs and a bed all here. Items are very good quality and all electricals have been tested.